Post job

Project executive vs contract project manager

The differences between project executives and contract project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a project executive has an average salary of $123,391, which is higher than the $81,263 average annual salary of a contract project manager.

The top three skills for a project executive include construction management, project management and healthcare. The most important skills for a contract project manager are project management, project scope, and contract project.

Project executive vs contract project manager overview

Project ExecutiveContract Project Manager
Yearly salary$123,391$81,263
Hourly rate$59.32$39.07
Growth rate16%8%
Number of jobs137,160159,765
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4746
Years of experience-8

What does a project executive do?

A project executive spearheads the projects and programs of an organization, ensuring its completion within deadlines, budgets, and standards. They mainly have administrative duties, such as streamlining project requirements and guidelines, establishing goals and budgets, setting timelines, delegating responsibilities among teams, selecting resources and materials, and monitoring operations, addressing issues and concerns when any arise. Additionally, a project executive leads employees to reach goals and implements the company standards and policies for an efficient workflow and service.

What does a contract project manager do?

A contract project manager is an executive professional who provides project management and business analysis to fill the needs of an organization. Contract project managers are required to monitor and inspect contract projects to maintain a high level of safety and quality traffic control in highly variable conditions. They assist contract project administration with the review of project progress reports. Contract project managers must also manage the relationship between clients and the organization while monitoring the progress of the project to ensure that it complies with the terms of the corporate contract.

Project executive vs contract project manager salary

Project executives and contract project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Project ExecutiveContract Project Manager
Average salary$123,391$81,263
Salary rangeBetween $79,000 And $191,000Between $53,000 And $124,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaMassachusetts
Best paying companyEckardt GroupPRO Unlimited
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between project executive and contract project manager education

There are a few differences between a project executive and a contract project manager in terms of educational background:

Project ExecutiveContract Project Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Project executive vs contract project manager demographics

Here are the differences between project executives' and contract project managers' demographics:

Project ExecutiveContract Project Manager
Average age4746
Gender ratioMale, 74.4% Female, 25.6%Male, 66.1% Female, 33.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 2.8% White, 70.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage10%4%

Differences between project executive and contract project manager duties and responsibilities

Project executive example 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.
  • Coordinate and manage project delivery of healthcare design and construction projects in collaboration with hospital staff.
  • Lead operational transformation projects, perform service line volume projections, and feasibility exercises for various facilities.
  • Show more

Contract project manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage weekly CMS build outs from feature prioritization through implementation including test cases and training documentation.
  • Manage RFI's, field directives, construction changes, payments, and billing associate with project.
  • Manage the day to day duties of the turn-key/design build/plan and specification and retrofit-installation of the HVAC contracting department.
  • Manage, monitors and measures project portfolio status, recommending corrective action as necessary and communicate portfolio status to their management.
  • Install hundreds of replacement windows and doors.
  • Install windows, doors, and hardware for commercial and residential projects.
  • Show more

Project executive vs contract project manager skills

Common project executive skills
  • Construction Management, 13%
  • Project Management, 11%
  • Healthcare, 9%
  • Business Development, 7%
  • Client Satisfaction, 5%
  • Portfolio, 4%
Common contract project manager skills
  • Project Management, 21%
  • Project Scope, 7%
  • Contract Project, 5%
  • HR, 4%
  • Infrastructure, 4%
  • Project Budget, 4%

Browse executive management jobs