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What is a project management assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Matthew Gilbert,
Brian Starr Ph.D.

Project management assistants contribute and support the planning and execution of projects. You will communicate with stakeholders regarding the needs of the project and goals and support the coordination and management of projects. You will also perform administrative tasks like preparing invoices, estimates, or scheduling meetings. In addition, you will perform any tasks assigned by the project manager in an efficient and timely manner. For feedback, you will keep track and create a report of the project while it is in progress till the end of the project.

The educational requirement for the post of project management assistant is a degree in business management or a related field. A previous experience in project management or a similar role is an added advantage. You must pay strong attention to details, possess problem-solving skills, and excellent verbal and written communication. The project management assistant earns an average of $22.9 an hour or $47,629 a year.

What general advice would you give to a project management 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 Management AssistantUS Average
Salary
4.4

Avg. Salary $56,789

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 3.85%

Black or African American 9.40%

Hispanic or Latino 16.45%

Unknown 3.88%

White 65.69%

Gender

female 66.75%

male 33.25%

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

Project management assistant career paths

Key steps to become a project management assistant

  1. Explore project management assistant education requirements

    Most common project management assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    65.3 %

    Associate

    15.2 %

    Master's

    10.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific project management assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Project Management32.30%
    Purchase Orders6.73%
    Financial Reports5.53%
    Assist Project5.42%
    Meeting Minutes4.70%
  3. Complete relevant project management assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New project management 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 management assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real project management assistant resumes.
  4. Gain additional project management assistant certifications

    Project management 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 management assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for project management assistants include Master Project Manager (MPM) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research project management assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Process submittals, RFI, subcontract change orders, manage project correspondence, track project documents, closeout documentation.
    • Manage quality assurance checks for FDA and internal audits which result in no documentation/information error and successful completion of the audits.
    • Print and make changes to AutoCAD drawings and convert drawings to Visio when request.
    • Perform manual QA testing for new and update work orders.
  6. Prepare your project management assistant resume

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

    Build a professional project management 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 management assistant resume.
    Project Management Assistant Resume
    Project Management Assistant Resume
    Project Management Assistant Resume
    Project Management Assistant Resume
    Project Management Assistant Resume
    Project Management Assistant Resume
    Project Management Assistant Resume
    Project Management Assistant Resume
    Project Management Assistant Resume
  7. Apply for project management assistant jobs

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

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

How did you land your first project management assistant job

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Average project management assistant salary

The average project management assistant salary in the United States is $56,789 per year or $27 per hour. Project management assistant salaries range between $28,000 and $112,000 per year.

Average project management assistant salary
$56,789 Yearly
$27.30 hourly

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How do project management assistants rate their job?

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Project management assistant reviews

profile
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.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Cons

I would rather work remote with little travel.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019
Pros

Interaction with clients and or customers is what I mainly liked, especially when confidentiality was needed! I also liked multitasking for different. departments.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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