All About Information Technology Project Managers

Example of Information Technology Project Manager Job Plan, initiate, and manage information technology (IT) projects. Lead and guide the work of technical staff. Serve as liaison between business and technical aspects of projects. Plan project stages and assess business implications for each stage. Monitor progress to assure deadlines, standards, and cost targets are met.

Information Technology Project Manager Responsibilities

• Assess current or future customer needs and priorities by communicating directly with customers, conducting surveys, or other methods.
• Confer with project personnel to identify and resolve problems.
• Develop implementation plans that include analyses such as cost-benefit or return on investment (ROI).
• Monitor or track project milestones and deliverables.
• Identify, review, or select vendors or consultants to meet project needs.
• Negotiate with project stakeholders or suppliers to obtain resources or materials.

Skills Needed to be an Information Technology Project Manager

Information Technology Project Managers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Other Information Technology Project Manager Job Titles

• Project Manager/Team Coach
• Senior Project Leader/Team Lead
• Software Project Manager
• IT Manager
• Information Systems Planner (IS Planner)

Information Technology Project Manager Employment Estimates

In the United States, there were 287,200 jobs for Information Technology Project Manager in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 26,600 new jobs for Information Technology Project Manager by 2026. There will be an estimated 22,400 positions for Information Technology Project Manager per year.

The states with the most job growth for Information Technology Project Manager are Washington, Utah, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maryland, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Information Technology Project Managers Make A Lot Of Money?

The typical yearly salary for Information Technology Project Managers is somewhere between $47,350 and $144,820.

Information Technology Project Managers who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or New Hampshire, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Information Technology Project Managers in different U.S. states.

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$87,060
Alaska	$98,830
Arizona	$85,010
Arkansas	$73,670
California	$103,270
Colorado	$102,470
Connecticut	$100,340
District of Columbia	$117,540
Florida	$78,900
Georgia	$90,140
Hawaii	$89,960
Idaho	$80,610
Indiana	$79,310
Iowa	$78,810
Kansas	$79,300
Kentucky	$79,420
Louisiana	$66,600
Maine	$79,790
Maryland	$113,330
Massachusetts	$92,110
Michigan	$76,400
Minnesota	$81,650
Mississippi	$81,280
Missouri	$82,610
Montana	$68,430
Nebraska	$86,230
Nevada	$72,610
New Hampshire	$112,440
New Jersey	$99,210
New Mexico	$79,540
New York	$90,750
North Carolina	$88,650
North Dakota	$70,730
Ohio	$82,440
Oklahoma	$78,490
Oregon	$79,610
Pennsylvania	$87,040
Rhode Island	$81,290
South Carolina	$92,100
South Dakota	$81,250
Tennessee	$74,000
Texas	$90,290
Utah	$76,890
Vermont	$72,220
Virginia	$105,270
Washington	$91,620
West Virginia	$83,660
Wisconsin	$74,600
Wyoming	$75,780

Tools & Technologies Used by Information Technology Project Managers

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Information Technology Project Managers:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Hypertext markup language HTML
• JavaScript
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Git
• Microsoft Outlook
• Python
• jQuery
• React
• Microsoft Access
• Node.js
• MySQL
• Data entry software
• MongoDB
• SAP
• Microsoft Windows
• Microsoft Project
• Autodesk AutoCAD

Becoming an Information Technology Project Manager

Education needed to be an Information Technology Project Manager:

What work experience do I need to become an Information Technology Project Manager?

Where do Information Technology Project Managers Work?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Craig Dennis via Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license

More about our data sources and methodologies.