How to hire a project manager/scrum master

How to hire a project manager/scrum master, step by step

Here's a step-by-step project manager/scrum master 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 manager/scrum master job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new project manager/scrum master
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a project manager/scrum master do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The project manager/scrum master hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A project manager/scrum master's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, project managers/scrum master from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents project manager/scrum master salaries for various positions.

   Type of Project Manager/Scrum Master	Description	Hourly rate
   Project Manager/Scrum Master		$33-61
   Release Manager	A release manager is responsible for supervising project releases across various platforms by closely coordinating with technology and project teams, ensuring the stability and efficiency of outputs according to clients' specifications and business needs. Release managers handle the delivery management procedures from conceptualization to production, maintaining budget requirements and adherence to timetables... Show more	$38-70
   Information Technology Project Manager	An 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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Sprint Planning
   • Jira
   • Scrum Meetings
   • Agile Scrum
   • Software Development
   • User Stories
   • Business Stakeholders
   • Kanban
   • Project Scrum
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Agile Project
   • Scrum Ceremonies
   • Product Backlog
   • Project Scope

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Utilize VersionOne to groom backlog, create epics and stories and manage movement through the storyboard.
   • Lead and manage various technical projects in IBM z/OS mainframe, end user UI Java, Linux mid-tier.
   • Manage and supervise adherence to project schedule utilizing JIRA.
   • Manage ERP conversion to standalone financial and HR/Payroll applications.
   • Manage execution of day-to-day project activities including SDLC and SOX documentation and approvals.
   • Project manage all customer connectivity projects involving EDI and CXML configurations and feature development efforts.

   More project manager/scrum master duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your project manager/scrum master job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A project manager/scrum master salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a project manager/scrum master in Montana may be lower than in California, and an entry-level project manager/scrum master usually earns less than a senior-level project manager/scrum master. Additionally, a project manager/scrum master with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average project manager/scrum master salary

   $95,047yearly

   $45.70 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level project manager/scrum master salary

   $70,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average project manager/scrum master salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$120,227	$58
   2	New York	$105,705	$51
   3	Virginia	$98,767	$47
   4	District of Columbia	$97,467	$47
   5	Washington	$95,572	$46
   6	Connecticut	$95,279	$46
   7	Pennsylvania	$95,213	$46
   8	New Jersey	$95,173	$46
   9	Massachusetts	$92,821	$45
   10	Arizona	$89,871	$43
   11	Rhode Island	$89,582	$43
   12	Minnesota	$88,244	$42
   13	North Carolina	$87,892	$42
   14	Texas	$87,886	$42
   15	Utah	$86,795	$42
   16	Illinois	$85,676	$41
   17	Georgia	$84,635	$41
   18	Indiana	$84,319	$41
   19	Florida	$83,910	$40
   20	Colorado	$76,958	$37

   Average project manager/scrum master salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Citi	$125,617	$60.39	11
   2	Exact Sciences	$123,806	$59.52	2
   3	Harley-Davidson	$119,313	$57.36
   4	Amgen	$118,277	$56.86	2
   5	Albertsons	$116,070	$55.80
   6	Populus Group	$115,753	$55.65
   7	Royal Bank of Canada	$114,655	$55.12	1
   8	Turbonomic	$114,503	$55.05
   9	Cybersource	$114,185	$54.90
   10	TSR Consulting Services	$112,835	$54.25
   11	Walmart	$110,874	$53.30	57
   12	Bosch USA	$110,686	$53.21	5
   13	Cigna	$110,625	$53.19
   14	Booz Allen Hamilton	$106,709	$51.30	22
   15	Kforce	$106,348	$51.13	74
   16	Data	$105,638	$50.79	1
   17	Baxter International	$105,407	$50.68	4
   18	Eliassen Group	$105,252	$50.60	117
   19	Salesforce	$105,161	$50.56	13
   20	TCG Digital	$104,956	$50.46

4. Writing a project manager/scrum master job description

   A good project manager/scrum master job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a project manager/scrum master job description:

   Project manager/scrum master job description example

   GovCIO is a team of transformers-people who are passionate about transforming government I.T. We believe in making a difference by developing digital strategies and delivering the technology-related innovation that improves governmental operations each day.
   
   But we can't do it alone. We welcome and nurture an inclusive and diversified work culture. Because different backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives make us better decision-makers, problem solvers, and creators. We're changing the face of I.T. - from our diverse staff to the end-products we develop. And we're excited to expand our team. Are you ready to be a transformer?
   Responsibilities
   Creates integrated project plans for contract deliverables and new products in development projects. Manages a project team comprised of a multidisciplinary staff. Reviews, manages and controls status of projects and budgets; manages schedules and prepares status reports. Assesses project issues and develops resolutions to meet productivity, quality, and client-satisfaction goals and objectives. Develops mechanisms for monitoring project progress and for intervention and problem solving with team members and line managers. Generally reports to a Program Manager.
   
   1. Manages the direction of a project through the design, implementation, and testing in accordance with project objectives.
   2. Defines requirements and plans project lifecycle deployment.
   3. Supervises professional and technical support personnel performing in their regular disciplines.
   4. Schedules tasks and coordinates with various team members to accomplish the results.
   5. Manages the integration of vendor tasks and tracks and reviews vendor deliverables.
   6. Ensures adherence to quality standards and reviews project deliverables.
   7. Conducts project meetings and is responsible for project tracking, analysis and reporting.
   Qualifications
   Bachelor's with 8+ years (or commensurate experience)
   
   Required Skills and Experience
   Must be a US citizen Must have or be able to acquire Secret Clearance and DEA suitability
   Preferred Skills and Experience
   PMP or CSM certification Experience working in an Enterprise Architecture environment

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right project manager/scrum master for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your project manager/scrum master job on Zippia to find and attract quality project manager/scrum master candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with project manager/scrum master 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. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview project manager/scrum master candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   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/scrum master

   Once you have selected a candidate for the project manager/scrum master position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   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 manager/scrum master. 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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How much does it cost to hire a project manager/scrum master?