Research Summary. Here are some key points about hiring project managers in the United States:

  • There are currently 426,229 project managers in the US, as well as 167,116 job openings.
  • Project managers are in the highest demand in New York, NY, with 774 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a project manager is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new project manager to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

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How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Project Manager

Hiring a project manager comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting project managers involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of project manager recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

Project managers earn a median yearly salary is $91,578 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find project managers for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $30 and $62.

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How to hire a Project Manager, step by step

To hire a project manager, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a project manager:

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

1
Identify Your Needs

The first step to find project managers for hire is determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

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Before you hire a project manager, you should also consider the ideal background you'd like them to have. For example, what industry or field they have experience in, what level of seniority or education the job requires, and how much it'll cost to hire a candidate that fits the bill.

This list presents the salaries of various project manager positions.

Type Of Project ManagerDescriptionHourly Rate
Project ManagerProject managers have the responsibility of the planning, procurement and execution of a project, in any domain of engineering. Project managers are first point of contact for any issues or discrepancies arising from within the heads of various departments.$30-62
Information Technology Project ManagerAn information technology project manager is responsible for supervising the technology department, ensuring that all tasks are being done by following technological strategies and solutions. Information technology project managers' duties include monitoring the technology team's daily operation, handling team members' concerns, managing customers' inquiries and complaints, helping team members' in achieving their professional growth, creating reports, sharing updates during team and board meetings, and maintaining effectivity of operational procedures... Show More$36-71
Manager, Project ManagementThe 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

2
Create An Ideal Candidate Profile

Before creating a project manager job description, imagine the ideal employee for this position and begin creating a profile. What skills do they have and what responsibilities do they have to be proficient in?

Here are some of the most common project manager skills:

Common Skills:
  • Project Management
  • Project Scope
  • Customer Service
  • Infrastructure
  • Status Reports
  • Risk Management
  • Construction Management
  • Customer Satisfaction
  • Project Documentation
  • Quality Standards
  • Construction Projects
  • Process Improvement
  • Business Development
  • Scrum
Check All Skills

Here are the responsibilities that most project managers perform:

Responsibilities:
  • Schedule and manage the GCP audit process.
  • Define, develop and manage metrics and KPIs systems for new product business group.
  • Manage the application process for the FDA medical device, minority and small business certifications.
  • Manage multiple projects and resources simultaneously while mentoring, coaching and implementing best practices, SOX and HIPAA compliance standards.
  • Lead teams using the Informatica ETL tool for the design and development of multiple financial and risk enterprise data warehouses.
  • Administer and manage Salesforce requirements.
Check all Duties

Beyond the nuts and bolts, cultural fit is an important factor. It might help to ask yourself how your ideal project manager will live by the company's mission statement and contribute to the team dynamic you already have in place. Clearly communicating this vision in your project manager job description will help attract candidates who are better suited for the role.

Most Common States For Project Managers In The US

Rank #State# Of Jobs% of PopulationAvg. Salary
1Virginia2,11025%$91,100
2Washington2,01227%$91,396
3Massachusetts1,79426%$99,738
4Georgia1,75417%$82,855
5New Jersey1,36615%$98,945

Professional Project Manager CV example

3
Make A Budget

Including a salary range in the job description is a good way to get more applicants. A project manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, their level of experience, education and certifications, and the prestige of the employer. For example, the average salary for a project manager in Idaho may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level project manager. Additionally, a project manager with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

Updated March 16, 2023

Project Manager Salary Estimate

$91,578

$44.03 hourly

Entry level Salary
$64,000 yearly

Project Manager Average Salary By Location

RankStateAvg. SalaryHourly RateJob Count
1California$108,794$5291
2Massachusetts$99,862$48227
3New Jersey$99,177$4827
4Connecticut$98,841$4859
5New York$95,322$46377

Project Manager Average Salary By Company

RankCompanyAverage SalaryHourly RateJob Openings
1The Citadel$153,774$73.93
2Apple$139,620$67.1345
3Meta$139,071$66.86830
4Reed Smith$138,841$66.75
5Google$136,483$65.62212
6Intuitive Surgical$133,831$64.34
7ServiceNow$133,042$63.9611
8Varian Medical Systems$132,638$63.7760
9Western Digital$131,926$63.43
10PayPal$131,277$63.114
11Airbnb$130,710$62.84
12Mayo Clinic$130,460$62.7220
13NVIDIA$128,976$62.0125
14Waters$128,943$61.991
15Bridgewater Associates$128,658$61.85
16Lyft$128,410$61.742
17BP America Inc$127,859$61.47
18Chegg$127,814$61.45
19Safeway$127,424$61.26
20The New York Times Company$127,117$61.11

4
Writing a Project Manager Job Description

A project manager 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 manager job description:

Example of Full Job Description

Job Description (Posting)

Resource having Project Management skill for:1. ARB Notes and to add the updates into documentation and follow up approvals2. To reduce the huge count of Software approvals queue, adding into Tech Stack3. Update the ARB , EA repository with new and existing updates Input from Chris 1) Detail Oriented incumbent will need to be extremely detail-oriented to track multiple and various approvals and other status on technology that is covered within three different areas of managing new technologiesa. Our Technology Stack management of technology lifecycle states which is our reference for authorized technology productsb. Our Software Governance and approval of new and existing technology requestsc. Our ARB approval process for technology solutions including follow up of conditional approvals to confirm final approvals2) Ability to derive concise and accurate notes on technology discussions that occur at our Architecture Review Board meetings to provide mandatory meeting minutes3) Technical understanding of EA s strategic goals and the ability to translate and align these goals to our EA operating model.Of course as you have suggested, the combination of multiple resources is likely the best approach where someone with a Project Manager skillset should be able to handle completing meeting minutes that address the historic record as well as someone who can identify clear next steps and needed outcomes within a known timeframe. They would be able to track down and garner needed responses, deal with logistics and be adaptive to potential unknowns. The first two skillsets would be able to be addressed by this type of person.There would also be a need for someone technical with writing skills to help draft and finalize our documentation, starting with a Policy level document and including existing Standards and Procedures (and Job Aids) to clearly identify the requirements of such documents and provide clearcut ways for us to comply with such requirements. The last one in the list is aligned to this particular area.My other thought goes to having someone that can build out our automated forms and process workflow (Nintex, Coupa- working with them, and any other SharePoint forms) that can help create the streamlined intake and dashboard results that would make it so much easier for us to work through the volume and improve our turnaround times. (1.) To create all quality documents, collect metrics data and conducting Audits. To perform Value creation and KM activities. (2.) To create project plans and keep track of schedule for on time delivery as per the defined quality standards (3.) To ensure process improvement and compliance, and participate in technical design discussion and to review technical documents (4.) Co-ordination with On-Site Engineers and attending customer calls (5.) Raising risks, issues and escalation to senior management and customer

Qualification

B Tech, B.E.

Skill (Primary)

Project Management Skills (APPS)-Project Management-Project Analytics

5
Post A Job

There are a few common ways to find project managers for your business:

  • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
  • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
  • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
  • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

Post your job online:

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

6
Interview Process

Your first interview with project manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and their specific 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 a good idea to ask about candidates' special skills and talents to see if they map with 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 Manager

Once you've found the project manager 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, as well as the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer needs to be competitive if you really 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

To prepare for the new project manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources needs to make sure that a new employee file is created for internal recordkeeping.

8
Go Through The Checklist For The Hiring Process

  • 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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Hiring Project Managers FAQs

How Much Does A Good Project Manager Cost?

A good project manager costs $44.03 an hour in the US. However, it can vary based on factors such as the project manager experience, abilities, industry, and the specific requirements of your business.

What Are The Duties Of A Project Manager?

The duties of a project manager are:
  • Schedule and manage the GCP audit process.
  • Define, develop and manage metrics and KPIs systems for new product business group.
  • Manage the application process for the FDA medical device, minority and small business certifications.

Should I Hire A Project Manager With No Experience?

Yes, you should hire a project manager with no experience. Hiring an entry-level project manager with no experience offers versatility for your team. They may lack some qualifications, but are adaptable and have not yet formed problematic habits. However, more training may be required compared to experienced.

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