Assistant Project Manager Salary: Your 2025 Guide

When project managers 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. Afterward, if you're interested in embarking on this career, consider enrolling in the Google Project Management Professional Certificate, where you'll gain an immersive understanding of the practices and skills needed to succeed in an entry-level project management role.

What is an assistant project manager?

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 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.

Assistant project manager salary

According to Glassdoor, the average US base salary for an assistant project manager is $73,606 [1]. Some companies may offer additional financial incentives for this role, including bonuses and stock.

Job outlook

The BLS predicts the need for project management specialists will grow at a rate of 7 percent between 2023 and 2033 [2]. That's faster than average, meaning there's strong job opportunity and 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 higher-than-normal growth. 

Factors that affect an assistant project manager's salary

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.

Education 

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

Experience

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]:  

Industry

Assistant project managers can work in any industry, though the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (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].

Location

Where you're located can also impact how much you make, as some companies account for higher cost of living by offering higher salaries. The top ten highest-paying cities for assistant project managers are [5]:

1. Bumpass, VA: $97,797

2. Barrow, AK: $91,020

3. Nome, AK: $90,635

4. Cupertino, CA: $90,141

5. Point, TX: $89,930

6. Mercer Island, WA: $89,483

7. Berkeley, CA: $89,462

8. Redwood City, CA: $89,455

9. Aspen, CO: $88,313

10. 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]: 

1. Washington: $83,476

2. Nevada: $81,124

3. New Hampshire: $83,521

4. Connecticut: $92,369

5. California: $89,463

Potential assistant project manager career paths 

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: $90,144

• IT project manager: $124,008

• Technical project manager: $125,425

• Construction project manager: $101,506

• Health care project manager: $125,567

• Senior project manager: $126,297

• Director of project management: $154,674

*All average US salaries sourced from Glassdoor January 2025.

Build project management skills with Coursera

A career in project management can be a good choice if you're an organized individual with strong communication skills. Get started by enrolling in the Google Project Management Professional Certificate. Over six courses, you'll learn the fundamentals of project management, including how to create effective project documentation and artifacts throughout the various phases of a project.