Learn about the different factors that can affect your salary as an assistant project manager.
When project managers (PMs) have a large workload, they usually need someone to help. That's where assistant project managers come in. They report directly to the project manager and help plan and carry out projects. Many assistant project managers eventually go on to become project managers or advance their careers in other ways, which makes this an opportune role for gaining work experience and honing human and technical skills.
Learn what assistant project managers earn and the different factors that contribute to salary considerations. If you’re ready to start building expertise in project management, enroll in the Google Project Management Professional Certificate, where you'll have the opportunity to gain an immersive understanding of the practices and skills needed to succeed in an entry-level project management role in as little as six months. When you’ve finished, you’ll have earned a career certificate to add to your resume.
An assistant project manager is a junior professional who reports directly to a project manager and helps execute various projects. Assistant project managers may be responsible for handling some of a project's administrative work, like keeping a schedule, focusing on budgets and spending, communicating with stakeholders, and performing other routine duties.
Assistant project managers must be adaptable and have good organizational skills. They must also possess many of the same skills as the actual project manager, such as an understanding of the major project management methodologies, attention to detail, communication, and time management.
Read more: 12 Key Project Management Skills
According to Glassdoor, the median total salary for an assistant project manager in the US is $81,000 [1]. This includes base pay and additional financial incentives for this role, including bonuses and stock.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts the need for project management specialists will grow at a rate of 6 percent between 2024 and 2034 [2]. That's faster than average, meaning there's a strong opportunity for growth in this field.
However, the need for project managers in certain areas may grow even faster. Areas like information technology (IT) and computer systems design services may see faster-than-normal growth.
Factors like geographic location, industry, previous experience, education, and any certifications you earn might impact how much you will make as an assistant project manager. Let's review each one in more detail.
According to Zippia, 68 percent of assistant project managers have a bachelor's degree, while 14 percent have an associate degree, and 10 percent have a master's degree [3]. In fact, many assistant project manager job postings look for a degree over experience. Common majors for this role include business, construction management, and civil engineering.
More advanced degrees tend to earn higher salaries [3]:
Associate degree: $70,303
Bachelor's degree: $81,695
Master's degree: $89,457
Doctorate degree: $93,465
While many assistant project manager job postings don't require experience, gaining some exposure to project management, whether that's through volunteer work, internships, or side projects, can be useful and lead to slightly higher salaries. Over the course of your career, experience will yield higher salaries.
Take a look at how years of experience could impact your pay, according to Glassdoor [1]:
Years of experience | Median total salary |
---|---|
0–1 | $73,000 |
1–3 | $78,000 |
4–6 | $85,000 |
While direct project management experience might not be required for entry-level PM roles like assistant project manager, having some experience working with project-based tasks in your current role might be beneficial. You can also work on freelance projects for your portfolio to showcase your project management skills to potential employers.
To get an assistant project management role without any work experience, focus on building your skills related to project management. You may achieve this through part-time roles, training sessions or webinars, certifications like the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), or online courses like the Google Project Management: Professional Certificate.
Assistant project managers can work in any industry, though the BLS reports that project management positions are most common in professional, scientific, and technical services, as well as in construction [4].
The industry in which you work can impact your salary. The top-paying industries for assistant project managers include [1]:
Industry | Median total salary |
---|---|
Construction, repair, and maintenance | $94,618 |
Government & public administration | $93,857 |
Energy, mining, & utilities | $90,498 |
Aerospace & defense | $89,679 |
Information technology | $85,201 |
Where you're located can also impact how much you make, as some companies account for higher costs of living by offering higher salaries. The top ten highest-paying cities for assistant project managers are [5]:
Bumpass, VA: $97,797
Barrow, AK: $91,020
Nome, AK: $90,635
Cupertino, CA: $90,141
Point, TX: $89,930
Mercer Island, WA: $89,483
Berkeley, CA: $89,462
Redwood City, CA: $89,455
Aspen, CO: $88,313
San Carlos, CA: $88,223
Zippia reports that assistant project manager jobs in certain states pay better than others. The top five states for this role include [6]:
Connecticut: $92,369
California: $89,463
New Jersey: $88,285
Delaware: $84,192
Massachusetts: $83,786
The career path of a project manager typically begins with an entry-level role like an assistant project manager and can develop toward an executive role, such as the chief of operations, though the experience you gain and the skills you develop can lead you to other opportunities as well.
Project manager: $105,000 [7]
IT project manager: $131,000 [8]
Technical project manager: $140,000 [9]
Construction project manager: $112,000 [10]
Health care project manager: $104,000 [11]
Senior project manager: $140,000 [12]
Director of project management: $167,000 [13]
*All median yearly total salaries sourced from Glassdoor as of September 2025. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.
Curious about where your skills can take you? Get career insights for your industry by subscribing to our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat! If you’re looking to learn more about project management careers and concepts, check out these resources:
Find the right role for you: Project Management Career Paths
Watch on YouTube: How to Become a Project Manager: 6 Essential Steps
Bookmark for later: Project Management Terms and Definitions
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Glassdoor. "How much does an Assistant Project Manager make?, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/us-assistant-project-manager-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,28.htm." Accessed September 16, 2025.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Project Management Specialists, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/project-management-specialists.htm#tab-1." Accessed September 16, 2025.
Zippia. "Assistant Project Manager Education Requirements, https://www.zippia.com/assistant-project-manager-jobs/education/?src=chatbot_popout_displayed." Accessed September 16, 2025.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Occupational Outlook Handbook: Project Management Specialists, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/project-management-specialists.htm#tab-3." Accessed September 16, 2025.
ZipRecruiter. "Assistant Project Manager Salary, https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Assistant-Project-Manager-Salary." Accessed September 16, 2025.
Zippia. "Best States for Assistant Project Managers, https://www.zippia.com/assistant-project-manager-jobs/best-states/." Accessed September 16, 2025.
Glassdoor. “How much does a Project Manager make?, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/project-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,15.htm.” Accessed September 16, 2025.
Glassdoor. “How much does an IT Project Manager make?, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/it-project-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,18.htm.” Accessed September 16, 2025.
Glassdoor. “How much does a Technical Project Manager make?, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/technical-project-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,25.htm.” Accessed September 16, 2025.
Glassdoor. “How much does a Construction Project Manager make?, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/construction-project-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,28.htm.” Accessed September 16, 2025.
Glassdoor. “How much does a Healthcare Project Manager make?, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/healthcare-project-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,26.htm.” Accessed September 16, 2025.
Glassdoor. “How much does a Senior Project Manager make?, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/senior-project-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,22.htm.” Accessed September 16, 2025.
Glassdoor. “How much does a Director Project Management make?, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/director-project-management-salary-SRCH_KO0,27.htm.” Accessed September 16, 2025.
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