Technical Project Manager Salary

Created by Henry Steele

By Henry Steele - January 8, 2018
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The following article discusses the career path of Technical Project Manager. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Technical Project Managers.

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Job Duties

The main role of a technical project manager is to create new technology project plans, develop them and implement them. These plans must make it clear what the goal of the project is, what the milestone dates are, what its current status is, which resources are available, and who does what. These plans must be presented to the involved stakeholders.

The responsibility of technical project managers is to make sure that each step is clearly defined and quantified, and to set achievable deadlines for each step of the project and achieve them. Hence, they must be able to anticipate issues and having resolutions in place long before a problem can occur and derail the completion of a project, or milestone within that project.

Typically, technical projects have very long life cycles. As a result, the project manager has to be able to deal with all of the project’s complexities for the duration. These change regularly in order to meet changing economic and market conditions, however. This, in turn, has a direct impact on the cost of implementation, the viability of the market, and the potential profitability of the project itself, all of which the project manager must anticipate.

Other job duties of the technical project manager include:

  • Developing and coordinating the schedules, milestones, and goals of a project and make assignments accordingly.
  • Developing technical documents and reports as required discussing the progress of the project overall.
  • Ensuring that all work is done within budgetary constraints
  • Making sure that projects are completed on time.

Where We Work

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 367,600 computer and information systems managers in 2016, of which the technical project manager is a part. The largest employers of these professionals were:

  • Computer systems design and related services: 22%
  • Information: 11%
  • Finance and insurance: 11%
  • Management of companies and enterprises: 10%
  • Manufacturing: 8%

How to Become

A technical project manager usually has a bachelor’s degree in management information systems (MIS) as a minimum, although computer science or a related field of engineering may also be acceptable. Furthermore, they should be certified through the Project Management Institute (PMI) in different areas so that they can showcase their understanding of project management, the terminology, and effective processes.

Education Requirements

Technical project managers are generally expected to hold a bachelor’s degree in information or computer science, or a related field. This means they have an in-depth understanding of software development, computer programming, and mathematics. They may also complete business classes and courses in management information systems (MIS).

It is increasingly common for these professionals to also hold a master’s degree, particularly the MBA. This takes two years to complete and is usually studied while working. This matters, because work experience is also very important. A technical project manager will usually already have several years of working experience before they take on managerial responsibilities.

Because computer systems are used in every organization in the world, technical project managers can have industry-specific experience as well. Indeed, this is now commonly expected. Someone who has gained IT experience in a manufacturing environment, for instance, is unlikely to become a systems project manager in an educational setting afterwards.

Traits & Qualities

The most effective technical project managers have the following traits to some degree or other:

  • Strong analytical skills
  • Excellent business skills
  • Perfect communication skills, both verbal and written
  • Excellent decision-making skills
  • Great leadership skills
  • Strong organizational skills

Minimum Education

Bachelor’s Degree

National Salary

The national average salary estimate for Technical Project Manager was $100,971. This number is estimated from over 796,324 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $52.59 and monthly of $8,414.

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$35,000

$201,000

Salary Distribution

Salary by State

The following section lists Technical Project Manager salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, DC had the largest quoted salary of $116,483 while Alabama had the smallest quoted salary of $68,392.

AlabamaIllinoisNorth CarolinaSouth Carolina
ArizonaIndianaNebraskaTennessee
CaliforniaKansasNew JerseyTexas
ColoradoKentuckyNew MexicoUtah
ConnecticutMassachusettsNew YorkVirginia
DCMarylandOhioWashington
DelawareMaineOklahomaWisconsin
FloridaMichiganOregon
GeorgiaMinnesotaPennsylvania
IowaMissouriRhode Island
Alabama – $68,392Rank: 37th
The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Apex Systems.

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$14,000

$171,000

Salary Distribution
Arizona – $87,781Rank: 23rd
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Wells Fargo, STRATEGIC SYSTEMS, INC, IBM, and IntraEdge, Inc..

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$29,000

$176,000

Salary Distribution
California – $106,587Rank: 9th
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Walmart, Apple, TEKsystems, and TriStaff Group.

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$41,000

$202,000

Salary Distribution
Colorado – $86,951Rank: 24th
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Randstad, Volt, and Georgia IT Inc..

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$27,000

$180,000

Salary Distribution
Connecticut – $94,334Rank: 17th
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, IBM, Kforce, and Transcendent Talent.

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$36,000

$180,000

Salary Distribution
DC – $116,483Rank: 1st
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Piper Companies, American Institutes for Research, Primastep LLC, and indev.

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$53,000

$203,000

Salary Distribution
Delaware – $92,332Rank: 19th
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Ampcus Inc.

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$24.25

$72.90

Salary Distribution
Florida – $84,856Rank: 26th
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Chetu, Inc., Robert Half Technology, IBM, and CyberCoders.

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$29,000

$170,000

Salary Distribution
Georgia – $88,299Rank: 21st
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like DELTA CONSTRUCTION, iLink Systems, Inc., isgf, and AT&T Mobility.

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$30,000

$176,000

Salary Distribution
Iowa – $80,241Rank: 32nd
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Technology.

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$21,000

$177,000

Salary Distribution
Illinois – $91,700Rank: 20th
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Trinity Group Inc., GGK Technologies, Inc., OtterBase, and IDC Technologies.

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$29,000

$189,000

Salary Distribution
Indiana – $79,914Rank: 33rd
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders.

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$25,000

$164,000

Salary Distribution
Kansas – $84,913Rank: 25th
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Sprint and Genesis10.

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$26,000

$176,000

Salary Distribution
Kentucky – $99,609Rank: 12th
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TEKsystems.

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$21.35

$95.40

Salary Distribution
Massachusetts – $107,323Rank: 8th
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like IBM, TechInMotion, Jobspring Partners, and Waltech Inc.

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$47,000

$191,000

Salary Distribution
Maryland – $113,598Rank: 4th
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, CareFirst, MBTechnosolutions, and nTech Connect, Inc..

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$46,000

$210,000

Salary Distribution
Maine – $69,061Rank: 36th
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Tidestone Solutions.

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$31,000

$122,000

Salary Distribution
Michigan – $83,001Rank: 29th
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Info Services LLC, C-VISION, INC., Revize Software Systems, and Staffing & Recruiting Company.

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$20,000

$188,000

Salary Distribution
Minnesota – $95,673Rank: 16th
The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Technology, Pioneer IT Associates, and CyberCoders.

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$35,000

$184,000

Salary Distribution
Missouri – $114,766Rank: 2nd
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TEKsystems, INA Solution Ltd., Disney ABC, and Strategic Staffing Solutions.

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$53,000

$198,000

Salary Distribution
North Carolina – $88,264Rank: 22nd
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Wells Fargo, IBM, Robert Half Technology, and TEKsystems.

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$29,000

$179,000

Salary Distribution
Nebraska – $101,307Rank: 11th
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like EROS Technologies India Pvt. Ltd., Robert Half Technology, and CyberCoders.

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$51,000

$164,000

Salary Distribution
New Jersey – $113,167Rank: 5th
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Hsssoft, Joseph Harry Ltd, Washington Frank, and Dynamic IT Staffing, LLC.

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$41,000

$220,000

Salary Distribution
New Mexico – $114,460Rank: 3rd
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Los Alamos National Laboratory.

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$31,000

$249,000

Salary Distribution
New York – $108,028Rank: 7th
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like IBM, Selby Jennings, CitiHub – US, and Joseph Harry Ltd.

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$36,000

$217,000

Salary Distribution
Ohio – $84,737Rank: 27th
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Beacon Hill Staffing, itelligence, Inc., IBM, and CenturyLink.

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$21,000

$189,000

Salary Distribution
Oklahoma – $84,610Rank: 28th
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders.

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$25,000

$178,000

Salary Distribution
Oregon – $99,407Rank: 13th
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Adecco and Task Management, Inc..

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$34,000

$197,000

Salary Distribution
Pennsylvania – $95,676Rank: 15th
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TechInMotion, Workbridge Associates, CyberCoders, and Cranium-IT.

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$33,000

$190,000

Salary Distribution
Rhode Island – $94,004Rank: 18th
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders.

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$40,000

$169,000

Salary Distribution
South Carolina – $76,238Rank: 35th
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Technology.

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$14,000

$188,000

Salary Distribution
Tennessee – $77,636Rank: 34th
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Silversphere and NationStaff.

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$14,000

$192,000

Salary Distribution
Texas – $98,014Rank: 14th
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Chetu, Inc., Apex Systems, CyberCoders, and Staffing & Recruiting Company.

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$34,000

$195,000

Salary Distribution
Utah – $80,867Rank: 31st
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ConsultNet and CyberCoders.

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$31,000

$153,000

Salary Distribution
Virginia – $110,226Rank: 6th
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Dynamis, Next Generation Recruitment & Staffing Agency, sln software, and Infinite Resources, Inc..

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$47,000

$198,000

Salary Distribution
Washington – $101,398Rank: 10th
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Edifecs, Inc., Microsoft, Bluehawk Consulting, and Smartlink, LLC (HQ).

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$38,000

$193,000

Salary Distribution
Wisconsin – $82,382Rank: 30th
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Blueline Consulting, LLC and CyberCoders.

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$18,000

$194,000

Salary Distribution

Top 20 National Employers

According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Technical Project Manager. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.

Employer NameLocationAverage Salary
Selby Jennings Technical Project ManagerNew York$190,372
Next Generation Recruitment & Staffing Agency Technical Project ManagerVirginia$157,000
Apex Systems Technical Project ManagerMaryland$154,279
NationStaff Technical Project ManagerTennessee$150,000
CitiHub – US Technical Project ManagerNew York$150,000
RockHammer Talent Solutions Technical Project ManagerMaryland$148,752
Walmart Technical Project ManagerCalifornia$148,677
Joseph Harry Ltd Technical Project ManagerNew York$147,304
Primastep LLC Technical Project ManagerMaryland$146,643
The Forum Group Technical Project ManagerNew York$146,007
Apple Technical Project ManagerCalifornia$142,322
indev Technical Project ManagerDC$140,809
sln software Technical Project ManagerVirginia$137,597
Washington Frank Technical Project ManagerNew Jersey$136,464
Dynamic IT Staffing, LLC Technical Project ManagerNew Jersey$135,637
TEKsystems Technical Project ManagerCalifornia$134,539
Infinite Resources, Inc. Technical Project ManagerDC$134,325
ALTA IT Services LLC Technical Project ManagerDC$133,175

Learn More

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Henry Steele
Managing Editor
Henry is Managing Editor of BusinessStudent.com. He is a seasoned business professional who regularly consults with local business's throughout Southern California. Henry pursued his undergrad in Business and Economics at the University of San Diego and gained valuable life changing experience through a unique internship upon graduation.

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