What is a technical project manager and how to become one

Q: Can anyone become a project manager?

Yes, anyone can become a project manager. Many project managers are team members that have been promoted into the position based on the project's subject matter. A project manager should be very organized, a good leader, and has great attention to detail. These skills are important at this position and require knowledge of all aspects of a given project.

Q: Do you need to be technical to be a project manager?

Yes, you need to be technical to be a project manager. You need to have a strong technical understanding in order to communicate with your team as a project manager in a specialized field of technology.

Q: What are the technical skills of a project manager?

The technical skills of a project manager relate to understanding software development and hardware such as computers, servers, and networking systems. It is important to have a background in computer science, engineering, or information technology and strong management skills.

Q: What is the difference between a project manager and a technical project manager?

Technical project managers are different from standard project managers because technical project managers have specialized knowledge in a specific field. All project managers are expected to keep workflow moving smoothly. The work of project management requires proficiency in communication, organization, and punctuality.

Q: What is the job of a technical project manager?

The job of a technical project manager is responsible for having technical expertise that allows for smooth planning, development, and delivery of products according to client or company vision.

Q: What qualifications do you need to be a project manager?

The qualifications required to become a project manager depend on the industry you're working in. Because of the large scope of responsibilities, the project manager needs to have had a relevant education. Typically candidates have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in computer science or business.

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted expert

Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.

A technical project manager oversees the planning, execution, and delivery of technical projects. They work closely with stakeholders to define project goals, timelines, and budgets, and manage a team of technical professionals. Technical project managers also identify and manage project risks, as well as communicating progress to stakeholders. They use communication and leadership skills and have a strong understanding of technical concepts. Successful technical project managers deliver high-quality projects for stakeholders.

What general advice would you give to a technical project manager?

Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior, Franklin and Marshall College

Be flexible. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a lot of uncertainty, but has created new opportunities in others. Staying flexible allows individuals to shift focus away from industries or occupations that may be in decline, and re-focus on employment opportunities that may be more aligned with our current moment.

ScoreTechnical Project ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.8

Avg. Salary $108,205

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.4

Growth rate 16%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 11.99%

Black or African American 6.24%

Hispanic or Latino 8.82%

Unknown 4.70%

White 67.73%

Gender

female 26.77%

male 73.23%

Age - 43

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 - 43

Stress level

7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.7

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a technical project manager?

Pros

Good salary and career growth potential
Opportunity to work with and learn from diverse teams
High demand for technical project managers in many industries
Ability to make a significant impact on the success of a project
Ability to solve problems and overcome challenges on a regular basis

Cons

High level of stress and pressure to meet deadlines and deliver results
Potential for conflicts between team members or stakeholders
Potential for miscommunication or misunderstandings with team members or stakeholders
Need to make difficult decisions that may impact the success of the project
Potential for burnout due to high workload and stress levels

Key steps to become a technical project manager

Explore technical project manager education requirements

Most common technical project manager degrees

Bachelor's

65.9 %

Master's

18.4 %

Associate

10.3 %

Start to develop specific technical project manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Project Management	15.36%
Technical Project	10.06%
Scrum	6.50%
Infrastructure	4.91%
Jira	4.84%

Complete relevant technical project manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New technical project managers 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 technical project manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real technical project manager resumes.

Research technical project manager duties and responsibilities

Develop and manage project plan with PeopleSoft support team.
Manage development through launch of first-ever Microsoft OS touchscreen and keyboard smartphone.
Lead the complete system re-write of the mission critical enterprise POS retail system.
Manage the daily operations and support of the legacy systems while PeopleSoft are implemented.

Prepare your technical project manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your technical project manager 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 technical project manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable technical project manager resume templates

Build a professional technical project manager 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 technical project manager resume.

Apply for technical project manager jobs

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

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

How do technical project managers rate their job?

1/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Technical project manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2023

Pros

I like to work with a team. Satisfaction of seeing the successful completion of a project

Cons

Strict deadlines, and stakeholders. Feeling undervalued or underappreciated.

1.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

not applicable because I dont work as a technical project manager

Cons

not applicable because I dont work as a technical project manager

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020

Pros

I enjoy problem-solving and identifying a path to completing a complex project. I like to ensure that moving parts come together smoothly and communicating successes and celebrating with the team.

Cons

Without the right support from project sponsors, a project manager is doomed to failure. There is an enormous amount of responsibility on a project manager to deliver a product on time and on budget, though without proper authority or backing, it's basically wheel spinning.

Technical project manager FAQs

What is a technical project manager and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a technical project manager?

What are the pros and cons of being a technical project manager?

Technical project manager career paths

Key steps to become a technical project manager

Explore technical project manager education requirements

Most common technical project manager degrees

Start to develop specific technical project manager skills

Complete relevant technical project manager training and internships

Research technical project manager duties and responsibilities

Prepare your technical project manager resume

Choose from 10+ customizable technical project manager resume templates

Apply for technical project manager jobs

How did you land your first technical project manager job

Average technical project manager salary

How do technical project managers rate their job?

Technical project manager reviews

Technical project manager FAQs

Can anyone become a project manager?

Do you need to be technical to be a project manager?

What are the technical skills of a project manager?

What is the difference between a project manager and a technical project manager?

What is the job of a technical project manager?

What qualifications do you need to be a project manager?

Search for technical project manager jobs

Technical project manager jobs by state