What Is a Scrum Master (And How Do I Become One)?

Key takeaways

• A Scrum Master is a professional who leads, supports, and coaches a team on Scrum principles and the Agile project management framework methodology.

• You can earn a Scrum Master certification, such as Certified ScrumMaster from the Scrum Alliance, to demonstrate your expertise in preparation for Scrum Master jobs.

• Scrum Master jobs may vary in name to indicate expertise level, for example, Scrum Master II, Senior Scrum Master, or Scrum Master Consultant.

Scrum master salary averages $118,300 per year in the US according to ZipRecruiter [1]. Learn more about the role and what it takes to become one in the following article. If you’re ready to start building your Scrum Master skills, consider enrolling to earn the IBM IT Scrum Master Professional Certificate. In as little as three months, you'll master in-demand skills like iterative development and adaptive planning while getting hands-on experience with software development tools and DevOps essentials.

What is a Scrum Master?

A Scrum Master facilitates all the communication and collaboration between leadership and team players to ensure a successful outcome. Scrum is an Agile framework for developing complex projects, most often software. The Agile project management methodology uses short development cycles, called sprints, that result in the continuous improvement of a product or service. There are many Agile frameworks, and Scrum is a popular option for fast-moving projects. The methodology is highly collaborative and requires efficient processes, and the results of the process depend upon the expertise of the Scrum Master.

Agile methodologies may have started in tech companies, but Scrum Master jobs can be found in all kinds of industries and for all kinds of companies around the globe.

Scrum Master vs. project manager

The fundamental difference between a Scrum Master and a project manager is in their focus. Project managers focus primarily on project outcomes, including budget, timeline, resources, and communication between teams. Where a project manager focuses on the project, a Scrum Master focuses on the team, taking steps to ensure the team and individual team members achieve success.

What does a Scrum Master do? Tasks and responsibilities

The role of a Scrum Master is to use Agile project management to champion a project, teams, and team members. Since Scrum Masters can work in many settings, your tasks and responsibilities may vary. Depending on where you work, you may find yourself taking on the role of a facilitator, coach, or project manager. Your duties will often vary from day to day, but might include:

• Leading daily stand-up meetings, reviews, demos, and other project-related meetings

• Supporting team members in their tasks

• Coaching the team on Scrum principles and best practices

• Facilitating open discussion and conflict resolution

• Proactively identify and resolve issues

• Updating activities in a project management tracking tool

Scrum Master skills

Effective Scrum Masters often have a set of workplace skills in common. Whether you’re just getting started or advancing within your career, building these skills will empower you to lead your team to the best of your ability.

• Problem-solving skills help you navigate complex projects.

• Adaptability enables you to make changes as necessary to achieve the best possible outcome.

• Motivational skills empower you to bring out the best in your team to improve productivity.

• Communication skills allow you to collaborate effectively with team members and stakeholders.

• Organizational skills help you manage multiple tasks, meetings, resources, and priorities.

As a Scrum Master, it’s also important to be proficient in specific technical skills related to Agile management and software development.

• With the Agile project management methodology, you can ensure that your teams follow specific processes to complete and release projects and products in stages for customer input at every step.

• Software development and management skills are necessary when working on software projects and products. You’ll need to know the goals, structure, expectations, processes, requirements, planning, and monitoring that go into producing better software.

• Business analysis skills help you focus on how to continuously improve a product to meet customer, stakeholder, and company needs.

If you're considering transitioning into a Scrum Master role, you might consider learning from a leading company in the tech space. You can gain job-ready skills with IBM in just 11 hours by enrolling in Introduction to Agile Development and Scrum:

Scrum Master jobs

As a Scrum Master, you can play an integral role in a company’s success. This leadership role provides the opportunity to foster a positive working environment and ensure the most successful outcome of a product or project. Scrum Master is the standard job title for this role, but you may encounter variations to indicate the level of expertise or a specialization. Examples include:

• Scrum Master I (or II, III)

• Associate or Junior Scrum Master

• Senior Scrum Master

• Scrum Master Consultant

Read more: Scrum Master Salary: Your 2026 Guide

How to become a Scrum Master

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Educational requirements

Some employers may prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree in IT, business administration, or a related field. According to Zippia, 66 percent of Scrum Masters have a bachelor's degree, and 26 percent have a master's [2]. Earning a college degree can also open up opportunities to gain on-the-job experience, another requirement that often shows up on Scrum Master job listings.

Scrum Master Certification

Earning an industry credential is another excellent way to validate your knowledge of the Scrum framework to potential employers. Among the most popular options for Scrum Masters is the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) from the Scrum Alliance. As you prepare for the certification exam, you can begin to build practical skills to help you successfully lead teams.

Read more: 7 In-Demand Scrum Master Certifications

Scrum Master career path

Becoming a Scrum Master will open up doors to numerous careers, companies, and industries. Many people who start as Scrum masters advance to become Scrum coaches, product owners, or project managers.

Explore our free project management resources

Explore career paths, assess your skills, and access resume guidance with our Career Resources Hub. Or if you want to learn more about project management, check out these free resources:

• Watch on YouTube: Agile vs. Scrum: A Quick Guide to Mastering These Project Management Philosophies

• Take the quiz: Which Project Management Course Should You Take? Find Out in 1 Minute

• Study key terminology: Project Management Terms and Definitions

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)