How long does it take to become a Project Assistant?

It takes 3 years of professional experience to become a project assistant. That is the time it takes to learn specific project assistant skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 6 to 8 years years to become a project assistant.

How do you become an assistant project manager?

To become an assistant project manager requires some formal education and project experience. The most common path is a bachelor's degree in project management, business, or related fields. In some cases, however, having some prior project experience and an associate's degree is enough.

How much do project manager assistants make?

Project manager assistants make around $53,637 a year. However, there is a considerable range in how much an assistant project manager can earn. Starting as low as $34,068 annually to as high as $100,926 annually.

What are the qualifications to be an assistant?

The qualifications needed to be an assistant include a high school diploma and some prior related work experience. An assistant can work in many different industries (e.g., technology, academic, publishing) and on many different levels (e.g., assistant to the manager, assistant to the CEO) within the company.

What makes a good project assistant?

What makes a good project assistant includes time management skills, adaptability, and organizational skills. Working as a project assistant is an excellent way to start your career in project management, and having the right skills to start can really help you to advance in your career.

How To Become A Project Assistant: What It Is and Career Path

What is a project assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Experts

Matthew Gilbert,

Brian Starr Ph.D.

If you are passionate about managing a project, getting an entry level role as a project assistant is definitely a good idea. This role is equivalent to a management trainee program but at a project level. It will give exposure to the different elements required in executing a project successfully.

The primary role of a project assistant is to help a project manager in executing operational and administrative tasks. This includes organizing project schedules, overseeing project budgets, preparing project status reports, and creating project presentation materials. Besides that, they also manage project correspondence and maintain project documentation.

Employers require project assistants have a bachelor's degree related to business. A project management certification such as Prince2 will be advantageous in securing this role. Depending on the job scope, some require 1-2 years of relevant work experience. A project assistant earns, on average, $18 per hour.

What general advice would you give to a Project Assistant?

Matthew Gilbert

Lecturer of Marketing, Coastal Carolina University

The unique circumstances caused by COVID-19 have impacted every area of our lives. New graduates will likely find themselves in a more challenging situation than was the case previously. Given this, I encourage graduates who are just beginning their careers to be ACES: adaptive, communicative, effective, and supportive. ACES is a slang term meaning being highly regarded; in the context of the suggested acronym, consider the following explanation.

Adaptive: Remain open to top unexpected opportunities. Venturing into a new normal requires flexibility and openness; this could mean taking a job that wasn't considered, but recognizing it could yield skills, connections, and experience that could be useful in future endeavors.

Communicative: Leverage LinkedIn to network professionally and politely for opportunities, but don't connect with someone and immediately ask for a job. Call your contacts and catch up without a specific agenda; you never know what ideas might emerge. Email individuals, you respect for insights and advice.

Effective: Make use of your time to learn new skills or acquire certifications that demonstrate the value you can add to an organization. Consider volunteering for a cause close to your heart; it makes you feel better, but you could connect personally and/or professionally with new people.

Supportive: Finding a job in a normal year is challenging enough, but in a pandemic, it's an entirely different experience. Keep in contact with your friends and fellow graduates; even a short message asking how they're doing or inviting them to a social distance coffee together could brighten a day you didn't know was dark for someone else.

ScoreProject AssistantUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,564

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.0

Growth Rate -8%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 3.84%

Black or African American 9.31%

Hispanic or Latino 16.29%

Unknown 3.87%

White 65.96%

Gender

female 67.09%

male 32.91%

Age - 52

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 52

Stress Level

6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

4.4

Complexity Level is basic

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.6

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a project assistant

Explore project assistant education requirements

Most common project assistant degrees

Bachelor's

65.0 %

Associate

12.9 %

Master's

12.5 %

Start to develop specific project assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Data Entry	10.70%
PowerPoint	8.09%
Customer Service	7.95%
Project Management	7.69%
Meeting Minutes	4.20%

Complete relevant project assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New project assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a project assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real project assistant resumes.

Gain additional project assistant certifications

Project assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific project assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for project assistants include Medical Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

More About Certifications

Research project assistant duties and responsibilities

Manage SharePoint document repository and ensure that project managers comply with PMO policies.
Manage facilities by coordinating relocation of departments by using the facilities management database and VISIO.
Compose and balance departmental grants, tabulate and process payroll distribution, manage and maintain office routine during supervisor's absence.
Manage QA budget for assign projects by identifying actual and potential budget over-runs and under-runs, develop and monitor project/program plans.

Prepare your project assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your project assistant resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a project assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Project Assistant Resume templates

Build a professional Project Assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Project Assistant resume.

Apply for project assistant jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a project assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do project assistants rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Project Assistant reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020

Pros

I believe being genuine and true to yourself, is an essential combination for people in my field. Skills such as Leadership, Critical thinking, problem solving, communication and presentation skills, managing time and people at the same time, networking, planning and many more, are developed as we attain experience in this field. The usage of clear and concise communication to interact professionally with co-workers, supervisors and to the managers. Working in a team with people from diverse backgrounds with a deep understanding and awareness of differences in both individuals and organizations. I am focused and attentive to details when addressing high-volume tasks to meet the deadlines. I am inspired by making a positive impact to whatever task is assigned. These qualities and skills will help to support your company’s mission and I could become a great asset to your company, while reflecting positively on the professionalism in its employees.

Cons

So, basically I do not if my work is organized or systematic. I would redo my work in that case. I always like it in a systematic way. I also do not like if someone is planning according to the schedule. I always have my work schedule and work according to that.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019

Cons

The people I work with.

Pros

Managing projects & expanding my computer & soft skills.

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019

Pros

Meeting some interesting people which are kind and few and far between the nasty crowd.

Cons

Nasty people calling in with a bad attitude. Favoritism is so blatantly obvious it's painful. The under tone of racism of higher management.

What is a project assistant and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a Project Assistant?

Project Assistant career paths

Key steps to become a project assistant

Explore project assistant education requirements

Most common project assistant degrees

Start to develop specific project assistant skills

Complete relevant project assistant training and internships

Gain additional project assistant certifications

Research project assistant duties and responsibilities

Prepare your project assistant resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Project Assistant Resume templates

Apply for project assistant jobs

How Did You Land Your First Project Assistant Job

Average project assistant salary

How do project assistants rate their job?

Project Assistant reviews

Project Assistant FAQs

How long does it take to become a Project Assistant?

How do you become an assistant project manager?

How much do project manager assistants make?

What are the qualifications to be an assistant?

What makes a good project assistant?

Search for project assistant jobs

Project Assistant jobs by state