Project managers worry about job security
10 posts across 5 communities in the last 60 days; 50% from r/projectmanagement.
“So, this seems to be very against the rules here despite this occurring somewhat annually. You are collecting data for some undisclosed purpose. And if you do basic analysis and pull in username, you’ve now got some level of details that just seem inappropriate. I’m not sure if…”
“Costs going up, prices going up, customer demand going up. Yet my paycheck stays the same. Trumps winning economy has us pms just grateful to have a job I guess.”
“Limited to professional project management topics only. Search before you post a common question such as "what PM software to use?" Mod discretion will be used regarding topics or themes of the sub. Career related questions may be removed by mods. They can be re-asked over at…”
Multiple project management professionals express concern regarding their professional standing and the potential consequences of online activity. Some feel undervalued, while others are cautioned about maintaining privacy on public forums.
SOURCES (60)
“Costs going up, prices going up, customer demand going up. Yet my paycheck stays the same. Trumps winning economy has us pms just grateful to have a job I guess.”
“Limited to professional project management topics only. Search before you post a common question such as "what PM software to use?" Mod discretion will be used regarding topics or themes of the sub. Career related questions may be removed by mods. They can be re-asked over at r/PMcareers . • getting my first PM role • transitioning industries • salary questions • resume/interview advice • what certification should I get Homework/interview is an assessment of your skills, not ours.”
“yeah this thread is an outlier not the norm. people decided to bumble brag about their huge salaries whereas someone making less is not as inclined to share”
“We frequently receive recurring career-related questions, such as: - How to enter the project management field? - How to transition into a different industry? - Which certification should I pursue? - Educational-related questions - Interview and resume advice - Salary-related inquiries For these types of questions, please refer to r/PMcareers , review our wikis, or search the subreddit using the bar at the top.”
“We frequently receive recurring career-related questions, such as: - How to enter the project management field? - How to transition into a different industry? - Which certification should I pursue? - Educational-related questions - Interview and resume advice - Salary-related inquiries For these types of questions, please refer to r/PMcareers , review our wikis, or search the subreddit using the bar at the top.”
“• Location: MCOL • Industry: Manufacturing • YOE: 10 / 7+ PM • Title: Project Manager • Education: MsPM • Certifications: none • Salary: $110k • Bonus, etc: $10k stock options • Other:”
“We frequently receive recurring career-related questions, such as: - How to enter the project management field? - How to transition into a different industry? - Which certification should I pursue? - Educational-related questions - Interview and resume advice - Salary-related inquiries For these types of questions, please refer to r/PMcareers , review our wikis, or search the subreddit using the bar at the top.”
“• Location: HCOL • Industry: Financial Services • YOE: 30 / 18 PM • Title: VP, Head of PMO • Education: MBA + BSEE • Certifications: CSM, SS Green Belt • Salary: $180k • Bonus, etc: 20% annual + equity”
“Yup I’m in Dubai. Scene here has retracted significantly, hiring freezes all over the place and mass layoffs. However Doha and Riyadh are hiring like crazy with great salaries. Most PMs here have either moved there or are planning to as UAE will take some time to recover.”
“We're discussing it rn. Thanks for the proposal, I will contact with you when we are ready.”
“• Location: MCOL • Industry: Fintech • YOE: 5 • Title: Technical Project Manager • Education: BS Structural Engineer • Certifications: PMP, IELTS Academic C1 • Salary: 30k$ • Bonus, etc: %20 annual if KPIs are fulfilled • Other: Open to remote job offers, relocation opportunities :)”
“• Location: LCOL • Industry: industrial/commercial systems • YOE: 2 years as PM at current company, 3 years as site manager in same industry • Title: Project Manager • Education: unrelated bachelor of arts • Certifications: OSHA 30 (x2) • Salary: 125,000 • Bonus, etc: 10% • Other: Fully remote with travel, great team and company. Tons of PTO and make my own schedule. Still feeling like I need a change even though im in a very ideal situation”
“Location: HCOL • Industry: FinTech • YOE: 12 years • Title: VP, Technical Project Manager • Education: BS • Certifications: PSM • Salary: 165,000 USD • Bonus, etc: 30,000 USD, RSUs • Other:”
“Location: HCOL - DMV • Industry: AEC • YOE: 19 • Title: Senior Project Manager • Education: BS Mech Eng • Certifications: PE, CEM • Salary: 170 K USD, 4 weeks PTO, 5% 401 K match, all med ins premiums covered 100% • Bonus, etc: Not guaranteed but possible • Other: WFH 50%”
“Location: (HCOL) Singapore • Industry: (aec) • YOE: 21, pm: 5 • Title of current position: Sr. PM • Educational background: M.Arch • Certifications: none • Compensation: 130k sgd (100k usd). + ~30k annual bonus. Full Healthcare coverage for me and my family, 25 days vacation.”
“I’m simply saying you are collecting data. That in itself is dangerous, but you have not expressed what you are doing it. I’m just cautioning people to consider what they are giving you. I think it’s an inappropriate, but that’s the mods decision.”
“• Location: HCOL, Greater Seattle area • Industry: Tech (F100) • YOE: 1 as PM, 5 in Tech • Title: Technical Project Manager • Education: BS in Family and Human Development • Certifications: None • Salary: $128,700 • Bonus, etc: 10% annual, $12.8k cash signing bonus (3 years), • Other: Remote, unlimited PTO, 4.5% 401k match,”
“I PM’d the mods before I posted, as I’ve done every year. I understand your caution, but undisclosed purpose?? I just explicitly told you my intent and how these threads helped me. I don’t know why you assume I’m doing something malicious. Maybe consider me ignorant, but I genuinely don’t even know what kind of malicious thing I can do with this information along with a Reddit username. Again, call me ignorant and close minded.. but I’d hope these threads would help someone out like it did me.”
“So, this seems to be very against the rules here despite this occurring somewhat annually. You are collecting data for some undisclosed purpose. And if you do basic analysis and pull in username, you’ve now got some level of details that just seem inappropriate. I’m not sure if you are a mod here, but everyone needs to be a bit more aware of what you are doing. This is a bit of a privacy nightmare.”
“Location: MCOL, central Scotland Industry: public sector, environmental, I do mostly IT YOE: 10 in project management, 2.5 at current company. Title: project manager Education: nothing relevant, no degree at all. Certifications: AgilePM Practitioner, Prince2 Practitioner, postgrad course in project management from the university of Stirling. Salary: £50k Bonus, etc.: no bonus but a decent pension scheme and access to certain public sector benefits Other: hybrid working but no specific office day”
“Hm is that because of the title or of the skillset? Cause the skillset is fading away really, being focused on a more zoomed out / management view”
“I am in a similar boat to you. How are you finding the workload at the moment? Would be interested to know as I am currently fighting for my life with 30+ utility, mostly elec, projects!)”
“This is a common question every year and it’s a fair question so don’t take my response as combative. PMI is great for macro trends and broad insights. The value of this thread is the ability to interact with a specific data point. If someone posts an interesting salary/background, I can ask them about that industry, how they got there, work-life balance, interviews, bonus structure, and so on. I’ve even seen some people refer others to a specific job. PMI is a static report that I cannot have a”
“• Location: HCOL, USA • Industry: Tech (non-FAANG/MAG7) • YOE: 24 years • Title: Director, Technical Program Management • Education: BSc Management Information Systems, MBA • Certifications: None • Salary: $203k • Bonus, etc: 12%-20% pro rated per quarter (performance-dependent), ~$80k per year in RSU, vesting at 6.24% per quarter • Other: Fully remote, unlimited open PTO”
“• Location: M-HCOL • Industry: Cloud Tech • YOE: 10yr total (2 BA, 3 Product Mgmt, 5 Program Mgmt) • Title: Sr. Project Manager • Education: Unrelated (BA in Anthro) • Certifications: PMI-ACP, PSPO, CSM, PSM-II • Salary: $150k • Bonus, etc: Diddly squat other than I WFH and the amount of effort I have to put in is minimal • Other: Minimal effort allows me to do side work for about $125k”
“Why are you reinventing a wheel that PMI does already to a much larger data set with a higher level of accuracy and is used by real hiring managers?”
“• Location: LCOL • Industry: fintech • YOE: 5 • Title: implementation consultant • Education: bachelors • Certifications: PMP • Salary: 104,000/year”
“• Location: MCOL • Industry: Healthcare • YOE: 25+ total; 15+ PM exp (project/program/product) • Title: Sr Project Mgr II • Education: Unrelated (experimental & clinical psych grad degrees) • Certifications: PMP, CSSGB, other industry specific • Salary: ≈$151k • Other: up to 15% annual bonus, RSUs, 401k match up to 6%, 29 days PTO + 8 holidays, benefits (health, dental, vision, STLDI, AD&D, life, pet)”
“• Location: MCOL • Industry: Electrical Distribution • YOE: 17 total, 11 with project management work • Title: Manager of Project Management • Education: high school, using every job/role I could work to become the best at it, taking every supplier training I could get my hands on, advocating for high level supplier/product training to become a specialist. • Certifications: none • Salary: $110k • Bonus, etc: Managers incentive up to 25%, SMTO with 4 weeks as a baseline, 401k match up to 6% and d”
“• Location: VHCOL • Industry: Federal IT • YOE: 13 • Title: Senior PM • Education: Bachelors in Management • Certifications: PMP, SPC, ITIL, PMI-ACP, SSM, PMI-PMOCP • Salary: 150k • Bonus, etc: N/A • Other: Fully Remote”
“• Location: South NJ • Industry: Tech • YOE: 1 • Title: JR Project Manager • Education: Bachelors • Certifications: CAPM • Salary: 60,000 • Bonus, etc: 0 • Other: 0”
“Location: HCOL Industry: Tech YOE: 11 years Title: Senior Program Manager Education: Bachelor's Certs: PMP Salary: $145USD Bonus: 10% bonus, RSUs Other: full time WFH”
“• Location: HCOL (Norcal) • Industry: banking • YOE: 10+ • Title: Sr IT Project Manager • Education: AAS, PM Cert • Certifications: PMP • Salary: 164,000 • Bonus, etc: variable, usually ~$15K • Other: fully remote, full paid benefits”
“Respectfully whats a fair salary in Los Angeles? Im a single guy who eventually wants to own a home, Im thinking of transitioning from Atlanta, GA to Los Angeles, CA. Im a simple guy, but I wanna make sure Im not struggling either. Sr. TPM 41yrs old m, $150K, Bs Finance, MS Data Science”
“Location: NYC suburb • Industry: aerospace • YOE:2.5 (few months as PM, 2 years as project engineer, same company) • Title: Program Manager 1 • Education: MS in mechanical engineering • Certifications: None (taking CAPM exam in a week) • Salary: 125K • Bonus, etc: target 10% • Other: n/a”
“Location: HCOL (SoCal) • Industry: Healthcare • YOE: 8 • Title: IS Project Manager • Education: Bachelor’s in Computer Technology • Certifications: Certified Scrum Master, studying for PMP • Salary: $135k Other: 100% remote”
“• Location: US northeast (HCOL) • Industry: Utilities • YOE: APM for 6 months, 5 years in current department, 8 total years experience • Title: Associate Project Manager • Education: 4 year degree in engineering • Certifications: PE, PMP • Salary: 130k USD • Bonus, etc: target 15%, typically ends up being 15%-22%. • Other - AMA”
“• Location: HCOL (Seattle) • Industry: Construction (Owner Rep) • YOE: 1 in PM, 3 in Facility Management • Title: Project Coordinator • Education: HS Diploma • Certifications: Half way through my CAPM • Salary: 83k • Bonus, etc: 10% Of billed time exceeding 2x monthly salary. (Approx 9k per year) • Other: Bonus ups to 20% then 30% with certifications. 25 days of PTO (disincentivized by bonus structure) One week off between Christmas and new years.”
“• Location: US HCOL • Industry: Gaming (Previously automotive) • YOE: 8 (non-linear and not all PM roles; current company & industry less than 1 year) • Title: Project Manager • Education: Bachelors in Business • Certifications: PMP, CSPO • Salary: $145k • Bonus, etc: Bi-annual Bonus based on performance Paid PTO for the last 2 weeks-ish of the year from Xmas Eve thru past New Year’s Day. Same at my last company in automotive (pretty common as production is stopped for holiday break). Hybrid”
“Location: LCOL Industry: Automotive Manufacturing YoE: 15 years (12 manufacturing, 3 current role) Title: Purchasing Project Manager Education: A couple AS degrees in technical fields; BS in Business Administration Certifications: None Compensation: $104k, 4% Bonus, 9% 401k Match”
“My job offered them. I was thinking of going towards quality management. My three jobs after didn’t require them at all. Six sigma and pmo are more useful in my opinion”
“• Location: HCOL area • Industry: Pharma Marketing • YOE: 2 years • Title: Assistant Project Manager • Education: High School diploma • Certifications: CAPM • Salary: 80k • Bonus, etc: 5% bonus, depends on company performance + personal • Other: I got lucky that I had a friend whose company hired me for a low level role 2 years ago & the company didn’t care if I had a degree.”
“• Location: HCOL • Industry: Medical • YOE: 20 years total, 6 years as PM • Title: Program manager • Education: BS Engineering, MS Data Analytics • Certifications: None • Salary: $175k • Bonus, etc: 15% Bonus, 10% 401k match • Other: Unlimited PTO, Hybrid”
“• Location: LCOL - East Coast USA • Industry: manufacturing/engineering • YOE: 9 total (7 analytical lab + 2 manufacturing) • Title: Project manager • Education: BSc Biology • Certifications: PMP • Salary: $90K • Bonus, etc: 2-10% annual salary - based on personal performance plus company health, starting in 2027 • Other: 401k match up to 6% and flexible wfh + PTO rules. I have my own office. My boss is chill and very hands off.”
“I had to leave my last job because they didn't care about the PMP. Unless you love your workplace, please use the PMP to seek better opportunities. Good luck!”
“My job is covering the PgMP. My projects have often had mini projects and we call it workstreams but I’d prefer we called it components of a program. Felt like the right move to get my PgMP based on my experience and the way I am currently working at my company. PgMP is a tough application process and apparently an even tougher exam with terrible english.”
“• Location: Souther California • Industry: Aviation • YOE: 6 • Title: Sr. Program Manager • Education: MS Project Management, BS, AS • Certifications: PMP • Salary: $240k/year • Bonus, etc: $20k • Other: Pension/401k, hybrid schedule, occasional travel”
“Location: vhcol (southern CA) Industry: pharma YOE: 8.5 Title: project manager Education: bachelor of arts x2 Certifications: PMP Salary: $145k + $20k yearly stock Bonus: $22k yearly Other: our office is closed a week between christmas and new year - never had this perk before and it's HUGE. bonus week of PTO on top of the 3 wks given (and you get additional days/weeks after hitting 5 years with the company) mostly in office but i have flexibility to be remote as needed. i usually do 1 day a”
“Location: Extremely HCOL (SF/NYC) • Industry Nonprofit Education • YOE: 3 • Title: Executive Project Manager • Education: Masters, not related to PM • Certifications: None • Salary: $84,000 • Bonus, etc: None • Other: 10% 401k match on my 3rd year onward, but no other bonuses. My job mixes executive support and project management to ensure the ELT has what they need to push major projects through. High (28+ days) of PTO outside of regular holidays and great benefits. Hybrid with three days in-pe”
“Location: HCOL(N.E USA) Industry: Government/Public Sector (Innovation Strategy and Implementation consulting) YOE: 15 Title: Program/Delivery Manager Education: B.E Electronics & Computers Certifications: PMP Salary: Base- $196k, Commissions - 0-50k(capped). Bonus: None....I think the Chinese have a term for it called "Neijuan". Meaning, you're working harder and competing intensely just to stay in the same place or maintain your current status and not be redundant. Other: Fle”
“• Location: MCOL • Industry: construction (heavy) • YOE: 15 • Title: Project Controls Manager • Education: BS Civil • Certifications: PE • Salary: $140k • Bonus, etc: ~$1-20k dependent on projects, 6% 401k match, vehicle allowance • Other: Onsite at job sites in region. Occasional WFH when the weather is bad”
“• Location: LCOL • Industry: manufacturing • YOE: 15 • Title: Sr Manager Growth • Education: BA Economics • Certifications: IATF 16949, ISO 9001 • Salary: 155k • Bonus, etc: 20% • Other: Remote, 23 days PTO, 5% match 401k (1 to 1)”
“• Location: LCOL (WI) • Industry: Finance (tech) • YOE: Officially/Resume level: 1yr as a PM, 4 as a "please help with this" including PM, 9 in tech (2 in inside sales) • Title: Project Manager • Education: MBA (2025) • Certifications: None • Salary: 89k • Bonus, etc: None • Other: Most of my MBA was paid for. Fully remote. Unlimited vacation. Management is extremely flexible - if work gets done and stakeholders are happy, no worry.”
“Location: LCOL? (Houston) Industry: Biotech Years of experience breakdown: 8 years (2 MFG, 2 Deviation Investigator, 4 Program Manager) Title: Project Manager Educational background: BS Biotechnology Certifications: none Compensation breakdown: $120k base, 15% bonus target, 5% 401K match Other: free healthcare, super low stress compared to another CDMO I moved from Edit: formatting”
“Location: Ontario, Canada • Industry: Construction • YOE: 3 years • Title: Project Manager • Education: BA Psych • Certifications: N/A • Salary: $90,000.00 • Bonus, etc: 5% based off salary bonus • Other: remote work, 2 week vacation”
“Location: MCOL Industry: Energy & Utilities YOE: 20, all in PM roles, 4 years current company Title: Senior PM Education: BS, Mechanical Engineering Credentials: PMP, EIT/FE Salary: $175,000 Bonus: 12-15% Other: 6% 401k match all cash no vesting period, $1,500 towards HSA, 4 weeks vacation, 3 days in office/at site, optional 9/80 schedule.”