Project manager salary | A concise guide
Project management is an important part of many organisations to ensure everything runs smoothly and to budget. It can be a particularly lucrative option, especially in security cleared sectors and when an individual reaches the advanced stages of their career.
Once you’ve successfully completed the project manager CV and interview stages, your attention is likely to turn to salary negotiations. Understanding what senior project managers make across the industry is key to ensuring you’re properly compensated for the role.
Senior project management salary
The average salary for a senior project manager in the UK is £63,481 annually, according to GlassDoor. This information is based on 7,517 submissions and the amount a professional in the role can expect to receive will depend on the type of organisation they’re working for.
While salaries can vary from £48,000 to £72,000 a year, senior project managers should also be aware of additional cash compensation. While the average sum for this is £5,045, it can be as much as £9,694, so bonuses and other perks should be factored into any pay negotiations.
These are the types of project management interview questions you can ask, as not knowing all the additional compensation could impact whether you take the role. In some circumstances, bonus packages can make all the difference.
A senior project manager salary in the UK can also cover a wide range depending on geographical location. Areas where there aren’t enough candidates with the relevant experience to take on a senior role could represent a good place to move to if you’re prepared to relocate for a job.
Salary based on senior project management roles
Taking a snapshot of some of the senior project manager salaries currently recruiting for those with security clearance allows you to get a sense of the types of roles available and their corresponding compensation.
- Senior engineering project manager salary - average £100,538 a year
- Senior enterprise resource planning (ERP) manager salary - £62,753 per year, with some firms offering £71,000 annually
- Senior project manager in counter terrorism salary - £523.38 per day
Senior project management salary by various sectors
Senior project managers are required in many sectors, but being security cleared will immediately open the door to more high-paying positions. For example:
- Senior project manager in defence salary - average £53,000 per year
- Aerospace engineer senior project manager - £62,753 annually
- Cyber security senior project manager - £62,753 a year
What affects a senior project manager’s salary?
How much a company is advertising a senior project manager’s salary will be affected by a number of factors. These include:
- Location, as bigger cities may command higher salaries
- Size of the business, with larger organisations offering higher wages
- Level of responsibility, with security cleared sectors requiring more discretion
- Amount of experience a candidate brings to the job
- Number of projects the manager will be expected to handle at the same time
- Knowledge of project management methodologies like Kanban, Scrum and Agile
The route to becoming a senior project manager
Senior project managers don’t enter the higher tier of salaries without moving through the appropriate career steps beforehand. It typically takes a number of years ascending through the ranks from a number of roles and on to project manager before being considered for a more senior position.
A senior project manager is likely to be expected to organise multiple projects and teams simultaneously. This is why they can command such a high salary, as their responsibilities go beyond the ability to see one assignment from start to finish efficiently.
Ready to take the next step in your project management career? Browse our selection of senior roles.