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Job outlook for project manager/test managers in the United States
Project manager/test manager job and salary trends over time
Project manager/test manager jobs over time
Project manager/test manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,528 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 16,010 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 11,417 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 6,982 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 5,782 | 0.00% |
Average project manager/test manager salary over time
Project manager/test manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $107,107 | $51.49 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $103,578 | $49.80 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $101,233 | $48.67 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $99,259 | $47.72 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $97,016 | $46.64 | +1.5% |
Project manager/test manager jobs by state
Most common states for project manager/test managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 708 | 102% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,557 | 30% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,092 | 30% |
| 4 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 2,129 | 29% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,619 | 27% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 330 | 25% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 991 | 24% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 745 | 24% |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 251 | 24% |
| 10 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,303 | 23% |
| 11 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 176 | 23% |
| 12 | Vermont | 623,657 | 146 | 23% |
| 13 | Delaware | 961,939 | 204 | 21% |
| 14 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,099 | 20% |
| 15 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 376 | 20% |
| 16 | California | 39,536,653 | 7,253 | 18% |
| 17 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,848 | 18% |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,051 | 18% |
| 19 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 386 | 18% |
| 20 | Alaska | 739,795 | 130 | 18% |
Most common cities for project manager/test managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Kingstown | 1 | 4% | $117,556 |
| 2 | Newark | 1 | 3% | $108,371 |
| 3 | Tustin | 2 | 2% | $104,134 |
| 4 | Cedar Falls | 1 | 2% | $94,804 |
| 5 | Palo Alto | 1 | 1% | $117,807 |
| 6 | Atlanta | 2 | 0% | $102,683 |
| 7 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $97,022 |
| 8 | Colorado Springs | 1 | 0% | $79,704 |
| 9 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $103,977 |
| 10 | Saint Louis | 1 | 0% | $93,982 |
| 11 | Tacoma | 1 | 0% | $124,424 |
Project Manager/Test Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of project manager/test manager experts
Ohio State University
Heidelberg University
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
University of Minnesota Crookston
Wofford College
University of Kansas
Northeastern University
Franklin and Marshall College
Binghamton University
Old Dominion University
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Indiana Wesleyan University
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Dalton State
Dr. Laura Deeter PhD
Professor of Practice: Horticulture and Crop ScienceOhio State University
Applied Horticulture And Horticultural Business Services
What general advice would you give to a Project Manager/Test Manager?
Dr. Laura Deeter PhD: Be open to learning and trying something outside of your comfort zone.
Be willing to work hard and don't expect to be project manager right out of school. Hard work will get you there fast enough.
What will help Project Manager/Test Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Laura Deeter PhD: There are more than enough positions out there to find one with a good starting salary. Apply for as many as you can.
Be willing to relocate to another city or state.
Dr. Trish Berg
Associate Professor of Management, Heidelberg University, Tiffin, OhioHeidelberg University
Business Administration, Management And Operations
What general advice would you give to a Project Manager/Test Manager?
Dr. Trish Berg: Being a project manager involves constant change, learning, and interaction with diverse teams in various departments of an organization. The best parts of being a project manager include working with diverse people, building relationships, creating something new with each new project, empowering and motivating teams, gaining global knowledge, collaboration, impacting organizational culture, and delivering value with completed projects. Some of the difficult parts of working as a project manager include sometimes having accountability without the needed authority to be successful, not having diverse enough skills and having to use estimation and guesswork at times and relying on others for their knowledge. Project managers deal with a lot of uncertainty and must be resilient in how they react to each bump in the road.
Dr. Longzhu Dong Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Management + Marketing Department
What soft skills should all Project Manager/Test Managers possess?
Dr. Longzhu Dong Ph.D.: The world of international business has changed a great deal in the past few years. Due to increased globalization, massive technological advances in online coordination, and the Covid pandemic, the need to develop project managers who can lead fully functioning global virtual teams (GVTs) has never been greater. Indeed, studies show that virtual teams are becoming the norm, and more and more multinational companies rely on GVTs to deal with their day-to-day challenges.
However, leading and working in GVTs poses unique challenges that traditional leadership approaches do not seem suited to tackling well. Such challenges include cross-cultural misunderstandings, lack of trust and spontaneity, poor communication, hard to focus and hold teammates accountable, all of which may result in low productivity. Therefore, to thrive in the international business world today, a manager may need an entirely different set of skills.
Perhaps the most important soft skill is cultural intelligence (CQ). CQ refers to the ability to relate and work effectively across different cultures, triggering a train reaction in GVTs. It first requires people to have an open mindset, which helps them realize that cultural differences are just differences and that every culture has its own way of defining "right" and "wrong." Just as the famous Confucius teaching goes, "all people are the same; only their habits differ." Indeed, when differences are seen as something neutral, the negative consequences of cultural bias can be minimized. CQ can also improve GVT communication effectiveness by better understanding visual and auditory cues such as body language and facial expressions so that GVT members will not form false impressions based on stereotypes. When everyone on your team is ready for open dialogue, GVTs can easily clarify shared team goals and guidelines, set clear expectations of each role, and foster trust along the way.
If CQ is the most important soft skill, then being tech-savvy would be the most important hard skill. Technological advances in online coordination/communication make global virtual teams possible and function well. As of right now, there are a lot of great online tools (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet, etc.) that integrate all key types of communication: conference call, breakout rooms, text messaging, file sharing, and online collaboration. However, simply being able to use various virtual meeting tools well is not enough because there's no one-size-fits-all tool for every team all the time. Being tech-savvy asks managers to steer the digital transformation in their teams promptly. It requires managers to constantly evaluate the emerging new technologies and make sure their choice of the tools "fits" their teams' needs over time, which may include members' network conditions, tool preferences, work style, tech skill levels, and the nature of the task/project.
Working in a global virtual team isn't necessarily only about challenges and lower productivity. It can become a valuable advantage and even build a 24/7 work cycle in teams, with proper training on CQ and technological skills.
What skills stand out on Project Manager/Test Manager resumes?
Rutherford Johnson Ph.D.: Well, familiarity and proficiency with the technology I just described is now important. I also always promote language as a highly valuable skill -- and if you are working internationally, even remotely, it is a definite skill that makes you stand out. Even though English is now the main international language, do not just rely on that if that is your main language. Knowing the language of your clients, for example, even just a little of it, can pay off and make you get noticed. It also helps you understand the culture and people of that country a lot better.
Dr. Smriti Bhargava Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of EconomicsWofford College
Economics Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Project Manager/Test Manager job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Smriti Bhargava Ph.D.: This is a hard question to answer given the uncertainty that exists. One trend that is likely to stay is the possibility of working remotely or working-from-home. More and more companies are gravitating towards this trend, and this may open many exciting and flexible opportunities for new graduates and current workers. It may also take a while for the job market to heat up again and to create new jobs.
What skills stand out on Project Manager/Test Manager resumes?
Dr. Smriti Bhargava Ph.D.: I think skills of data analysis in addition to knowledge of software programs (through prior experience in terms of a research project with a faculty member or an internship) will stand out on a resume as college graduates search for jobs. Such experience signals abilities of quantitative reasoning and critical thinking, which are highly valued. In addition, good communication skills, both written and verbal, are extremely important.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Project Manager/Test Managers?
Milena Stanislavova Ph.D.: Along with all the obvious negatives, I feel that we were forced to experiment and innovate the way we teach and learn, and it has brought a lot of ingenuity and creativity on the part of both professors and students. This past semester I have seen so much depth of experiences and focus on what really matters, optimization of the amount of facts versus hands on problem solving techniques, and just sheer planning of the time spent in the classroom time on the part of professors. At the same time, students are forced to be more organized and self-sufficient, skills that will serve them well on the job market and beyond. This new and more focused way of teaching and learning, using every instrument in our toolbox and varying the virtual, in-person and hands-on practical will definitely remain after the pandemic is over.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Project Manager/Test Managers?
Milena Stanislavova Ph.D.: In today's highly technological world, strong quantitative skills are a must for every job. These come with deep mathematical foundations, but more is needed - knowledge of statistics and computational techniques or programing languages, ability to read and interpret data in various formats and familiarity with economics are all great prerequisites. Such courses and technical skills allow one to gain a deep understanding of how the world really works and to create quantitative mathematical models for it. The more we ask students to work on real world research projects that emphasize these skills, the better prepared and competitive they become.
What soft skills should all Project Manager/Test Managers possess?
Milena Stanislavova Ph.D.: Working and collaborating in groups, presenting to different audiences, writing technical reports, grant applications and researching new topics are all essential soft skills. Much of today's world relies on data, so collecting, summarizing, organizing and presenting data is also an important soft skill that is becoming quite fundamental.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Project Manager/Test Managers to find work opportunities?
Ravi Sarathy Ph.D.: Given the interest and acceptance of remote working, geographic location is less likely to be of primary importance. Having said that, cities such as Boston, New York, LA, San Francisco, Austin (TX), Seattle, Miami, Atlanta, Nashville and Miami are all likely to be significant growth centers for such jobs and skills.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Project Manager/Test Manager job market given the pandemic?
Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.: One big trend we will see is the continuation of working from home. It may not be for all employees every day, but I think that is definitely here to stay. Many employees have been asking for this benefit for years. After almost a year of working from home, many employers that were reluctant in the past have likely realized that employees can still be very productive and they can decrease expenses related to office space.
Another is related to the focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion related efforts. While the majority of the country was quarantined, we all witnessed the same horrific murder of George Floyd, and there was nothing else to distract us from finally directly addressing issues related to race in this country. Many employees of color, and particularly Black employees, are no longer interested in making everyone else around them feel comfortable. Organizations that issued statements and initiatives in the spring will likely be held more accountable than ever before.
Another trend may be the elimination of jobs in their previous iteration. Many companies that have survived, or even thrived, during COVID likely did so by adapting. As such, these organizations may not return to their prior ways of doing business, which may require employees and applicants to increase or highlight a different skill set.
Denise Lorenzetti
Director of Binghamton University's Fleishman Center for Career and Professional DevelopmentBinghamton University
Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development
What skills stand out on Project Manager/Test Manager resumes?
Denise Lorenzetti: Employers have been placing a large emphasis on finding candidates with skills that demonstrate the ability to utilize technology and demonstrate adaptability, resilience and taking initiative.
Tech skills such as programming, coding, and Excel continue to be valuable to employers for both tech and non-tech roles.
Employers are also interested in learning how graduates spent their time during the pandemic. If internships were not an option, continuing to build skills through online classes such as LinkedIn Learning or Coursera, virtually volunteering, and demonstrating to employers a commitment to growing during the pandemic is critically important.
Job seekers can demonstrate this by earning microcredentials and digital badges relevant to the industry they are interested in or in areas they are passionate about.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Project Manager/Test Manager job market given the pandemic?
Denise Lorenzetti: It is likely to see a continuation of remote job opportunities even after the pandemic is resolved. Many positions that have been successfully moved to remote options may in fact stay remote, depending on the employer.
The pandemic has increased the number of jobs available in specific industries and decreased the amount in others.
Industries and fields that have and will likely continue to grow include:
Supply chain/logistics and positions related to production, distribution, and selling of goods such as e-commerce
Technology and industries that help support businesses such as software, developers, artificial intelligence.
Healthcare
Biotechnology
The service industries were affected by the pandemic, making these positions harder to come by. This would include entertainment, travel, lodging, and full-service restaurants among others.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Project Manager/Test Managers to find work opportunities?
Denise Lorenzetti: This will vary from industry to industry.
Many organizations have seen success with the transition of jobs to a virtual environment. It is uncertain how things will progress, however we anticipate there to be less of an emphasis on geographic region as a part of the job search than pre-pandemic. The pandemic has opened up opportunities for new graduates to find opportunities that traditionally were only available in large metropolitan areas such as Silicon Valley or NYC.
Many companies are still providing flexibility with working from home and/or not needing to be physically located in the city where the position resides. Some are work-from-home indefinitely and others are offering the flexibility to telecommute more than physically being in a location every day.
Large cities will likely continue to be a major hub for industries that will continue to require in-person jobs, such as healthcare roles.
What experience really stands out on Project Manager/Test Manager resumes?
Robert Mcnab Ph.D.: Young graduates need to think about the job market in terms of signaling. How do you tell a prospective employer that you have a unique set of skills? Graduates often fail to understand that there are hundreds of applicants with similar traits competing for the same job, so you need a strong signal to the employer that separates you from the crowd. One such signal is practical experience. Have you been able to apply the concepts and tools from your college experience in the workplace? Did you seek out and find an internship, externship, or other type of formative experience that shows initiative, responsibility, and the acquisition of experience? If you don't have a strong signal, then you need to develop a plan. Find more experience economists in your area, ask questions, and develop a network. Figure out what you can do to separate yourself. It may sound like a cliche, but you need to market yourself.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Project Manager/Test Managers?
Robert Mcnab Ph.D.: Graduates will enter a workplace that is dramatically different than a couple of years ago. Remote work, which once was frowned upon by many managers, has become commonplace for many organizations. It is likely that many graduates will do most of their interviewing on Zoom or similar software and some may start their jobs remotely. We should not expect remote interviewing to go away as it increases efficiency and effectiveness. Economics graduates are likely to be in demand given the numerous economic shocks from the pandemic. Understanding how to communicate economic concepts and apply tools and techniques is of increasing importance.
Mark Paquette
Principal Program CoordinatorUniversity of Colorado Colorado Springs
College of Business
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Project Manager/Test Manager job market given the pandemic?
Mark Paquette: The pandemic has caused employers to assess their work capabilities and shift positions to virtual environments. As a result, I think the trends we will see are:
-An increase and shift to permanent or long-term work-from-home opportunities. Many companies are recognizing that the shift to working remotely may actually improve morale, efficiency, quality, and job satisfaction among staff. Additionally, companies are seeing financial savings with reduced need in utilities, ancillary, and auxiliary services. As a result, I believe employers will be looking at their structures and making decisions to increase remote work opportunities, which also allows the employers to access a broader talent pool outside of their regional areas.
-A demand in flexible work arrangements from employees and candidates. As companies see the benefits of remote work, so do the employees and those searching for work. Individuals are seeing benefits of commuting less, having greater flexibility with time, and the ability to have more independence. I would suspect we will see individuals asking for more flexible arrangements, including the option to work from home at least part of the time. Prior to COVID, candidates were already asking for options that allowed for, at least in part, some remote work arrangements, and with COVID, this will likely be magnified.
-Contract workers may experience more opportunities. As businesses grapple with the impacts of COVID, many are also seeing the need to have more control of time-sensitive changes that impact their business. When lockdowns and limitations are imposed on the number of people allowed in spaces, the need to have a workforce that can pivot quickly is becoming more essential. I think this will lead to more contract, or contingent, type work rather than full-time employment as it allows the employer greater flexibility.
-Expanded benefits may also be a trend, especially around mental health support services. The pandemic has forced many people to feel isolated, not in control, and questioning their value. To combat this, I anticipate employers will focus on promoting their health and wellness programs as benefits, and helping job seekers see the value in a company that has a well-rounded benefits package versus just a standard health plan or limited paid time off.
-Social distancing may be the norm for some time. As the vaccine rollout is underway, there are many months ahead of us for true results, and even then, questions linger on how many people may choose not to be vaccinated, or how many new strains there will be for which the vaccine may or may not work. This will impact business operations, and companies (and governments) may impose requirements for job seekers such as wearing personal protective equipment during the interview and onboarding process or as a standard operating practice throughout the year.
-Virtual interviewing is likely a big trend over 2021, whereby companies will focus on phone and video interviewing rather than in-person opportunities. Many individuals may onboard virtually as well. Virtual interviewing was on the rise prior to COVID, but the need was magnified. As a result candidates may also need to be adaptable to using various types of platforms and more products are coming to market, and existing products are enhancing their service options.
What skills stand out on Project Manager/Test Manager resumes?
Mark Paquette: Many skills standout on resumes, but I believe these are the four best: technical skills, leadership skills, problem-solving skills, and communication-specifically the ability to be concise and accurate. I think a better way to think about this is that relevant information is what stands out. Many resumes are packed full of irrelevant details, subjective statements of soft skill, and lack quantifiable bullets that show skill or accomplishment for the role to which one is applying. Recruiters lose interest in irrelevancy, and they do so quickly (average amount of time a recruiter spends on a resume is just 6 seconds).
Additionally, I've seen hundreds of resumes full of errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and even the individual's own name, yet they also claim to have "excellent communication skills" or be "detail-oriented"-so there is a disconnect. Candidates who tailor their resumes to the job, ensuring their experiences and education showcase relevancy to such position, and who do so with accuracy, demonstrate the best skill of all-that they are qualified for, and understand, the position at hand.
What skills stand out on Project Manager/Test Manager resumes?
Joseph Snider: Experience, certifications, and degrees. Some are must-haves, and some are nice-to-have.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Project Manager/Test Manager job market given the pandemic?
Cortnee Young: I believe work-from-home/virtual job opportunities will become more available. For recent graduates, this comes with pros and cons. I believe a big pro is the availability to more opportunity (versus narrowing down their search to specific geographic locations). A major con that I see would be the inability to learn hands-on skills and teachable moments from being in the office, for their first job.