How to hire a project associate

How to hire a project associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step project associate hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a project associate job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new project associate
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a project associate do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a project associate, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a project associate to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a project associate that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of project associates and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Project Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Project Associate		$18-38
   Development Team Member	A development team member performs various support tasks to help complete projects according to client specifications and requirements. In the information technology industry, a development team member writes codes, creates programs, implements test systems, troubleshoots issues, performs repairs and upgrades, maintains records, and presents reports to managers... Show more	$8-18
   Manager, Project Management	The role of a project management manager involves the planning, execution, monitoring, control, and closure of projects. Project managers oversee the scope of the entire project, the team, success or failure, and its resources... Show more	$35-69

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • Data Collection
   • PowerPoint
   • Data Analysis
   • Data Entry
   • Meeting Minutes
   • Excellent Interpersonal
   • Patients
   • Lean Six Sigma
   • FDA
   • Status Reports
   • SharePoint
   • Clinical Trials
   • Data Management

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead project by managing project schedules, collating project data, creating project metrics and submitting periodic project status updates.
   • Manage assets and ensure the deployments meet the agreed SLA.
   • Lead enterprise wide (30k machines) multiple large scale business unit software integrations using the SDLC and ITIL standard.
   • Manage creation of brochure distribution site including CSS layout and custom administration functionality.
   • Communicate with end users and executive management and manage coordinated development and testing activities between mainframe and open systems programming teams.
   • Code are written using HTML, CSS, PHP and SQL.

   More project associate duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your project associate job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A project associate can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, project associates' average salary in florida is 38% less than in pennsylvania.
   • Seniority. Entry-level project associates 51% less than senior-level project associates.
   • Certifications. A project associate with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a project associate's salary.

   Average project associate salary

   $56,523yearly

   $27.17 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level project associate salary

   $39,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average project associate salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$74,154	$36
   2	Pennsylvania	$67,385	$32
   3	New York	$62,210	$30
   4	New Jersey	$61,014	$29
   5	Maryland	$59,073	$28
   6	Arizona	$56,737	$27
   7	District of Columbia	$55,968	$27
   8	Texas	$54,128	$26
   9	Massachusetts	$53,659	$26
   10	Colorado	$53,559	$26
   11	Virginia	$53,550	$26
   12	Ohio	$51,635	$25
   13	Indiana	$51,401	$25
   14	Illinois	$51,082	$25
   15	Connecticut	$50,345	$24
   16	Washington	$50,330	$24
   17	Michigan	$46,145	$22
   18	Minnesota	$45,726	$22
   19	Hawaii	$45,478	$22
   20	Nebraska	$42,570	$20

   Average project associate salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$125,379	$60.28	123
   2	Google	$117,244	$56.37	119
   3	SAP	$103,001	$49.52	9
   4	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$102,026	$49.05	177
   5	MongoDB	$99,780	$47.97	1
   6	Goldman Sachs	$89,410	$42.99	19
   7	Activision Blizzard	$89,283	$42.92	1
   8	ResMed	$87,529	$42.08	5
   9	Uber Technologies	$87,020	$41.84	2
   10	Noblis	$86,948	$41.80	11
   11	Bridgewater Associates	$83,649	$40.22	1
   12	J.P. Morgan	$82,277	$39.56
   13	Regeneron	$79,448	$38.20	5
   14	Environmental and Energy Study Institute	$77,993	$37.50
   15	Novartis	$77,737	$37.37	1
   16	Zocdoc	$76,929	$36.99
   17	Novo Nordisk	$76,881	$36.96	1
   18	RAND	$73,095	$35.14
   19	Gilead Sciences	$72,819	$35.01	8
   20	San Jose State University	$71,888	$34.56	1

4. Writing a project associate job description

   A project associate job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a project associate job description:

   Project associate job description example

   The temporary Project Associate II supports the Global Development PMO by providing support to PMO team and project teams as appropriate. Includes managing meeting invites and logistics, coordinating events, meetings and projects with administrative support for applications: Microsoft, SharePoint, or other specialized support such as data capture, metrics capture, project plan updates and material coordination as required.
   A typical day may include the following:
   Manage team calendar/inbox and individual calendars for PMO team as directed by Head, PMO Manage scheduling and preparation for all PMO team meetings and PMO governance Manages workshops, events and meetings Orders and prepare session materials and equipment/support for PMO events/ workshops Attend project events and record project team output Develop and maintain solid understanding of PM tools and applications to enable tech savvy meetings without interruption Support PMO projects in tandem with PMO Lead Build initial PMO team project plans based on subteam output as directed by PMO lead Build project team folders and granting access in Teams Work with PMO Leads to work throughout checklist for each project; implement assigned tasks with minimal direction Manage PMO Project teams roster - attendance, team participation Support PMO onboarding activities; point person for all new employees within the department(s), coordination with IT, Facilities, and Procurement, communicates with space planning Coordinate basic administrative workflows within the department and may help streamline processes; make recommendations for solutions to issues Use judgment to escalate issues to the appropriate team members for consideration and resolution Apply knowledge of company policies and standard practices to resolve problems Update PMO Academy page Manage security and wifi for vendors and guests
   This job may be for you if:
   Highly collaborative with strong written and oral communication skills; effective customer service; ability to interact with all levels of employees and maintain confidentiality. Ability to prioritize and multitask is required while maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. Is a quick learner and can cope with change; can handle risk and uncertainty; can shift gears comfortably Takes the time to listen to and build relationships with others High level of organizational skill Works independently
   To be considered for this opportunity, you have a Bachelor's degree with 2+ years' experience in pharmaceutical industry or event planning or project management preferred.
   
   Does this sound like you? Apply now to take your first steps toward living the Regeneron Way! We have an inclusive and diverse culture that provides amazing benefits including health and wellness programs, fitness centers and stock for eligible employees at all levels!
   
   Regeneron is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or belief (or lack thereof), sex, nationality, national or ethnic origin, civil status, age, citizenship status, membership of the Traveler community, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, familial status, marital or registered civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, gender identity, gender reassignment, military or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application process. Please contact us to discuss any accommodations you think you may need.
   
   #GDDOPMJobs
   
   #LI-Hybrid

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right project associate for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with project associates they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit project associates who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your project associate job on Zippia to find and recruit project associate candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with project associate candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new project associate

   Once you've found the project associate candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new project associate. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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