Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
What is a project executive and how to become one
A project executive is a management executive that directly oversees the running of short-term and long-term projects. You will be expected to develop guidelines and strategies to ensure that all project goals are attained within the stipulated time frame.
Some of your responsibilities include creating and managing the company's fiscal operating and capital budgeting expenses, regular monitoring of the company's performance metrics, and approving funding plans. Your job is to see to the completion of projects right from the ideation stage. You will also be charged with the responsibility of setting timelines, delegating responsibilities, addressing any issues and concerns, and ensuring company standards and policies are upheld.
Project management is no doubt a top skill for this role. Excellent communication skills, analytical skills, and leadership skills are highly essential for this role. The most commonly required educational level is a bachelor's degree. Project executives earn as high as $63.53 an hour and $132,000 annually.
What general advice would you give to a Project Executive?
Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior, Franklin and Marshall College
Avg. Salary $123,391
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 16%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%
Asian 8.97%
Black or African American 7.62%
Hispanic or Latino 12.77%
Unknown 4.70%
White 65.28%
Genderfemale 25.58%
male 74.42%
Age - 47American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 47Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Project Executive career paths
Key steps to become a project executive
Explore project executive education requirements
Start to develop specific project executive skills
Skills Percentages Construction Management 12.70% Project Management 11.27% Healthcare 8.94% Business Development 6.99% Client Satisfaction 4.75% Research project executive duties and responsibilities
- Note for co-authoring and managing RFP process.
- Manage projects using ITIL and SDLC methodologies.
- Manage vendors and internal service owners to create the proper operating model to deliver service against SLAs.
- Lead cross-functional team delivery execution of top-of-rack and embed converged network architecture switches.
Get project executive experience
Apply for project executive jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a project executive 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 did you land your first project executive job
Are you a project executive?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average project executive salary
The average project executive salary in the United States is $123,391 per year or $59 per hour. Project executive salaries range between $79,000 and $191,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do project executives rate their job?
Project Executive reviews
I like to work with a team. Satisfaction of seeing the successful completion of a project
Strict deadlines, and stakeholders. Feeling undervalued or underappreciated.
I enjoy problem-solving and identifying a path to completing a complex project. I like to ensure that moving parts come together smoothly and communicating successes and celebrating with the team.
Without the right support from project sponsors, a project manager is doomed to failure. There is an enormous amount of responsibility on a project manager to deliver a product on time and on budget, though without proper authority or backing, it's basically wheel spinning.
I like working with Clients and challenges.
I would rather work remote with little travel.
Updated January 8, 2025
