How to become a project manager in Australia + salary guide

Do you pride yourself on being punctual and getting things done on time? Are you the friend in your group who's known for rallying everyone for meals, nights out and holidays? Maybe you keep an old-school Filofax or have more than one calendar app going on at a time?

If so, chances are you've thought about becoming a project manager.

Jokes aside though, project management is a rewarding profession personally and financially. There's massive opportunity and growth projected for the future, too. According to some of the latest stats:

• Construction project managers are officially listed as a national shortage occupation in Australia, with only 86% of vacancies being filled

• Up to 30 million additional project professionals will be needed globally by 2035 to meet demand

• Entry-level project manager salaries in Australia start at around $73,000, climbing to $111,000 for experienced roles and $168,000 for senior project manager salaried positions

Those are certainly some promising numbers. But what's it really like to be a project manager? And how long does it take to become a project manager in the first place?

In this article, we'll explore how to become a project manager in Australia, covering daily tasks and responsibilities. We'll also look at project manager qualifications worth pursuing, from core skills to certifications that boost your salary in Australia.

What does a project manager do?

Project managers plan, execute and deliver specific initiatives within organisations by coordinating teams and resources to achieve defined goals on time and within budget. You’ll take projects from initial concept through to completion whilst juggling people, timelines, costs and quality standards that make or break success.

These roles are needed everywhere. Healthcare systems implement new patient record software, construction firms build apartment towers, marketing agencies launch product campaigns and government departments roll out policy changes. And right now, Australian companies are desperate to fill these positions. Research shows that 73% of project teams can’t find enough qualified candidates, which creates brilliant opportunities for anyone entering the field with the right training.

Your daily tasks will vary widely depending on what you’re managing, but here’s what project managers usually handle:

• Scope definition: You’ll sit down with stakeholders to nail down exactly what the project needs to deliver and, just as importantly, what’s outside your scope.

• Budget and timeline management: Tracking costs against your plan and mapping out schedules helps you prevent financial disasters and missed deadlines.

• Risk mitigation: Being able to identify potential disasters before they explode and creating backup plans is one of the most important skills you could have as a project manager.

• Team leadership and stakeholder communication: Motivating people, resolving conflicts and keeping everyone informed with regular updates keeps everyone calm and confident in the project’s success.

Skills needed to become a project manager

The best project managers mix tech skills with people skills. Hybrid approaches combining traditional planning with flexible methods have grown by 57% since 2020, so it’s important to be adaptable in these roles. These are the skills you need to become a project manager Australia:

How to become a project manager in Australia

You can become a project manager in Australia by obtaining formal qualifications, industry certifications or by transitioning from related roles where you’ve already been coordinating projects without the official title. The route you choose depends on where you’re starting from and how fast you want to land your first role.

Here are the three main ways people become project managers in Australia:

1. Vocational qualifications through providers like Monarch: A Certificate IV in Project Management Practice takes 12 to 24 months and teaches you exactly what you need to start coordinating projects immediately. The Diploma of Project Management adds advanced skills in cost management and team leadership that can help you level up faster. Both are nationally recognised, cost way less than uni and focus purely on practical skills.
   

2. University degrees in business, management, engineering or IT: These take three to four years and give you the theoretical foundations you need to break into the industry. You’ll learn organisational behaviour and financial management but graduate with limited real-world experience. Expect to start in junior positions whilst you figure out how actual projects work.
   

3. Transitioning from roles where you’re already managing stuff: You might be a team leader running small initiatives, a virtual assistant coordinating complex schedules or a specialist who’s seen enough projects to know what works. Add the right qualifications to what you’ve already been doing and you’re in.
   

Project manager qualifications and certifications in Australia

Certifications aren’t just fancy letters after your name. Research across 21 countries shows that certified professionals earn 17% higher median salaries than colleagues without credentials. Employers trust that certified candidates start delivering results immediately instead of needing months of one-on-one help.

Experience beats certifications once you’ve built a solid track record, but landing that first opportunity usually requires proving your knowledge on paper. These are the best project manager qualifications in Australia:

How long does it take to become a project manager?

How long it takes you to become a project manager varies depending on where you’re starting from and which pathway you choose. Someone with relevant work experience who gets a Certificate IV can land their first project manager job within months. Fresh graduates from university programmes usually spend years building practical experience before they’re trusted with real projects.

If you’re starting from scratch, your fastest route to project management is to get a targeted qualification and some relevant experience. Monarch’s Certificate IV in Project Management Practice gets you ready for your first job within 12 to 24 months whilst you’re working in a related role. You’ll learn the basics of project management through coursework and apply them immediately in your current position so you can build your credentials and confidence.

These are the different pathways to becoming a project manager in Australia:

Factors that affect how long it takes

You don’t have to cut corners to get into project management faster. Instead, you can maximise what you already bring to the table and choose the most direct path based on your situation. These are the factors that determine how quickly you’ll land your first proper project manager job:

• Previous work experience: You’ll have an easier time landing your first job if you’ve already been coordinating teams, managing budgets or tracking deliverables in another capacity. Adding formal qualifications to skills you’ve already demonstrated makes you immediately hireable and speeds everything up.

• Industry requirements: Construction and engineering firms usually want specific technical backgrounds before they’ll trust you with projects. Tech companies and marketing agencies care more about your ability to coordinate people and deliverables than what degree you have. Every industry is different.

• Study mode: Full-time students finish faster but can’t build as much workplace experience during this time. Part-time study through Monarch lets you apply what you’re learning immediately whilst making money.

• Previous results: Demonstrating results matters more than time served. Someone who’s successfully delivered three small projects has better prospects than someone who spent five years as a project administrator without real accountability for outcomes.

Project manager salary in Australia

Project management salaries in Australia are quite solid thanks to the value they bring to organisations. An entry-level project manager salary starts at around $71,000 to $75,000, whilst senior project managers make $168,000 per year or more. The median salary for project managers in Australia is $111,000 per year, which is almost twice as much as the median personal income of $58,216. 

Entry-level and junior project manager salary in Australia

Even an entry-level project manager salary pays better than the median income of many professions in Australia. You’ll start off with a comfortable salary whilst building experience that can lead to considerable pay increases within just a few years. This is how much you can expect to make as you start your project management career in Australia:

*All salaries are sourced from Payscale AU and are estimations based on samples.

Assistant project manager salary

Assistant project managers support senior colleagues whilst taking on more and more responsibility. Your salary really starts to pick up as you climb the ladder:

*All salaries are sourced from Payscale AU and are estimations based on samples.

Senior project manager salary

You can earn a senior position once you’ve proven your ability to deliver complex projects on time and within budget. However, with great power comes great responsibility, which is why senior project manager salaries in Australia are so high:

*All salaries are sourced from Payscale AU and are estimations based on samples.

Project manager salaries by industry

Different industries pay differently based on project complexity and the technical knowledge required. IT and technical project managers earn the highest salaries, but they also come with some of the biggest knowledge and technical prerequisites:

*All salaries are sourced from Payscale AU and are estimations based on samples.

What affects a typical project manager salary?

Your salary as a project manager has a lot more to do with where you work and what industry you choose than just years of experience. That’s why it pays to be strategic with which credential you choose and where you decide to start working, because the variation can be massive. Two project managers with identical experience levels might have a $50,000 salary difference depending on their industry and location. 

Industry and sector

Different industries value project management skills differently based on project complexity and how important it is to deliver it on time. Your industry choice matters tremendously:

• IT and digital transformation projects pay top dollar: Technology companies need project managers who understand software development cycles and can coordinate technical teams. You’ll make around $114,000 managing digital initiatives that keep businesses competitive.

• Construction and infrastructure work is in the middle: Building projects need someone coordinating trades and managing physical resources. You’ll make approximately $93,000, which reflects solid middle-ground pay without the tech premium.

• Pharmaceuticals command premium salaries: Regulatory compliance and research timelines are nightmares to manage. Companies pay around $106,000 for project managers who can navigate strict deadlines whilst keeping scientific teams on track.

• Environmental and architecture roles pay less: These fields work with tighter budgets despite needing strong project managers, but the roles can be more fulfilling. Environmental roles pay around $77,000 and architecture around $80,000.
  

Location within Australia

Mining states and major economic centres pay way more than smaller markets. The cost of living partly explains these gaps, but high-paying industries clustering in certain regions matters just as much:

*All salaries are sourced from Seek and are estimations based on samples.

Project Manager experience, qualifications and certifications

Getting the right credentials on paper will open doors that experience alone can’t. Being smart about where you invest your time and money pays for itself later:

• Formal qualifications: Monarch’s Certificate IV in Project Management Practice or Diploma of Project Management give you nationally recognised credentials that prove you understand how project management works. Employers won’t gamble their important projects on someone who’s just winging it.

• Certifications: Research shows that certified project managers earn 17% higher median salaries than those without credentials. That premium is there for those holding industry certs like PMP or PRINCE2.

Career progression in project management

Project management gives you a clear ladder to climb with substantial salary increases at each step. You’ll start coordinating smaller initiatives and gradually take on bigger projects with more responsibility as you prove yourself capable:

*This is a static snapshot in time of different project manager salaries advertised on Seek and are susceptible to change. 

FAQs 

How do I become a project manager with no experience?

Start with Monarch’s Certificate IV in Project Management Practice whilst working in a coordinator or administrative role. You’ll learn project fundamentals and apply them immediately, building credentials and practical experience at the same time.

What qualifications do I need to be a project manager in Australia?

You don’t legally need formal qualifications, but a Certificate IV or Diploma can dramatically improve your job prospects. Certifications like PRINCE2 or PMP are good for boosting your earning potential once you’ve got some experience.

How long does it realistically take to become a project manager?

With a Certificate IV and some relevant work experience, you can land entry-level project manager jobs within 12 to 24 months. University pathways take three to four years of full-time study plus several years of practical experience.

What is the difference between a junior, assistant and senior project manager?

Junior project managers handle smaller projects with supervision. Assistant project managers support senior colleagues on complex jobs, whilst senior project managers run large projects on their own and sometimes supervise other project staff.

Is project management a good career in Australia?

Absolutely. There’s strong demand across industries, with 73% of project teams struggling to fill positions. Clear salary progression and diverse industry options make this one of the most fun jobs that pay well.

Can you become a project manager without a degree?

Yes. Vocational qualifications like Monarch’s Certificate IV in Project Management Practice or Diploma of Project Management get you ready for work much faster than a university degree ever could. Many successful managers entered the field by transitioning from coordinator roles with added certs.

What industries pay project managers the most in Australia?

IT project managers earn around $114,000, technical project managers make $112,000 and pharmaceutical project managers get $106,000. These high project manager salaries reflect the prior knowledge needed to enter these industries versus something more generic that doesn’t require prior experience or qualifications.

Your project management career isn't going to start itself

You’ve already been managing projects whether you realise it or not. Handling deadlines, working with teams and solving problems when everything goes sideways. All of that is pretty much exactly what project management is. All you need for your shiny new job is the right qualification.

Monarch’s Certificate IV in Project Management Practice and Diploma of Project Management can get you there in 12–24 months whilst you keep working your current role. You’ll learn practical skills that apply immediately, build nationally recognised credentials and position yourself for salary jumps that make the investment worthwhile. 

Speak with a Monarch course adviser about which pathway suits your situation best.