What is the salary and career path for a program manager?
Program managers are reported under Project Management Specialists (SOC 13-1082), the broad BLS code for project professionals, and program managers sit in its upper range above project managers. The OEWS May 2025 code median is $102,320 a year ($49.19 an hour), from $61,580 at the 10th percentile to $167,970 at the 90th, and program managers typically land in the upper quartile toward that top. BLS projects the code to grow 5.6% over 2024–2034, faster than average, with roughly 78,200 openings a year. A bachelor's degree plus years of project delivery is the base, with the PMP and PgMP the recognized credentials.
- Program Managers are reported under SOC 13-1082 with a $102,320 code median (BLS OEWS May 2025); program managers sit in the upper quartile toward the $167,970 top decile.
- The role coordinates a portfolio of related projects, reached from project management with a bachelor's degree and the PMP.
- BLS projects the code to grow 5.6% through 2034, faster than average, with ~78,200 openings a year.
- The ladder runs from project manager to program manager to senior program manager and on to PMO or program director.
Career Path
How do you become a program manager?
Project manager
Owning a single project's scope and budget starts above the $61,580 10th percentile and climbs.
Program Manager
Coordinating a portfolio of related projects earns in the upper half above the $102,320 code median.
Senior program manager
Running large, cross-functional programs reaches the $133,100 75th percentile.
Director of programs / PMO
Leading a portfolio or program office pushes pay to the $167,970 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays program managers the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1082. National median: $102,320. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does program manager pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles program managers most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: program managers rank 2 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +5.6% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly program managers clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1082 (program managers) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do program managers need?
The typical baseline in business, engineering or a related field. See all state licences →
The Project Management Institute's flagship certification, standard for program roles.
PMI's advanced credential specifically for managing programs of related projects.
Scaled-agile certifications valued for technology and product program management.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do program managers use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 13-1082
Salary Levers
How do program managers earn above the $102,320 BLS median?
Own a larger, higher-stakes program
Bigger budgets and more projects lift pay from the median toward the $133,100 75th percentile.
Add PgMP and cross-functional scope
Advanced credentials and portfolio breadth push pay toward the $167,970 top decile.
Specialize in technology programs
Technical program management in high-demand sectors commands the upper end of the code.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a program manager worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1082. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Program Manager Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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