Senior project manager salary | A concise guide

Senior project manager salary | A concise guide

Project management is an important part of many organisations to ensure everything runs smoothly and stays within budget. It can be a particularly lucrative option, especially in security cleared sectors and when an individual reaches the advanced stages of their career.

Senior project managers are responsible for defining the scope of key business initiatives, predicting and mitigating risk, managing teams, mentoring junior staff, overseeing budgets and more.

People in these roles can generally expect to earn salaries within the range of £60,000 to £72,000 in the UK, with exact pay depending on a range of factors. We take a detailed look at some of those key elements in this blog, including:

• Industry sector
• Location 
• Levels of experience 
• Company size

Senior project management salary overview

According to Incomes Data Research, senior project managers benefited from an increase in pay in 2024, with average salaries rising by 4.9% from the previous year to £65,056.

Project managers, by comparison, earned £50,000 on average in 2024. This also marked a rise from 2023, when people in these roles received typical salaries of £46,780.

In addition to salary, it’s important to be aware of additional cash compensation that might be available in senior project management positions. While the average sum for this is £5,045, it can be significantly higher, so bonuses and other perks should be factored into any pay negotiations.

Remuneration can also vary significantly depending on geographical location. Areas where there aren’t enough candidates with the relevant experience to take on a senior role could offer good opportunities if you’re prepared to relocate for a job.

Senior project manager salaries based on experience

Senior project manager with three to five years’ experience

A senior project manager with less than five years’ experience in the job can expect to earn a salary within the range of £57,000 to £60,000. 

Key skills and attributes you will need to secure a job like this include:

• Demonstrable project management experience, including knowledge of methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban and Waterfall
• Positive outcomes from past projects
• Excellent communication
• People management skills

Mid-career senior project manager with five to ten years’ experience

Once you have more than five years’ experience in a senior project manager role, you’ll be in a good position to command salaries within the range of £60,000 to £66,000.

At this point in your career, you could put yourself in a stronger position to secure higher pay by showing how you have gained experience and refined your skills in areas such as:

• Managing project budgets and finances
• Predicting and mitigating risks
• Overseeing relationships with various partners and stakeholders, including vendors, clients and senior executives
• Taking on multiple projects simultaneously

Experienced senior project manager (10+ years)

For the most experienced senior project managers, with at least ten years in the job, there is potential to earn salaries in the range of £66,000 to £72,000, and often more.

This level of seniority involves taking on responsibilities such as:

• Ensuring project goals are aligned with broader business objectives
• Leading negotiations with vendors and clients
• Making difficult decisions that could prove critical in the direction and outcomes of a project
• Demonstrating strong leadership and taking a forward-thinking approach to how project management can be improved across the business as a whole

Senior project manager salaries by industry

An industry salary comparison can help give you an idea of how much you’re likely to earn as a senior project manager in different sectors.

Let’s take a look at some typical salaries available in the following fields:

• Construction – £71,063

Senior project management roles in the construction industry can offer strong earning potential, owing to the depth of experience and expertise required, the high level of responsibility involved and the importance of monitoring and mitigating risks.

• IT and technology – £64,995

Issues like cyber security, effective data management and the development of AI and machine learning are high on the agenda for many businesses at the moment.

As a result, there is strong demand for senior IT project managers with knowledge and experience in these areas, which is reflected in the salaries on offer.

• Engineering – £61,158

Senior project managers in the engineering industry are expected to show a combination of skills, including complex problem-solving, technical expertise and industry specialisation to warrant the best salaries.

• Financial services – £58,213

Financial services may offer slightly lower average salaries for senior project managers than the sectors above, owing to the relative levels of risk involved and the specialist technical capabilities required in industries such as engineering, IT and construction.

Factors affecting senior project manager salaries

There will always be a range of factors influencing how much any employer is willing to pay its senior project managers.

These include:

• Location: More generous pay packages will be easier to find in big cities like London and Manchester than regional locations, with the capital generally offering the highest average salaries.
• Company size and revenue: Larger companies with higher revenue could have more scope to offer bigger pay packets than small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Certifications and education: Commonly recognised senior project management certifications include PRINCE2 Practitioner and APM Chartered Project Professional. Having these on your CV will help you negotiate better salaries.
• Specialisation and skills: Sectors such as IT and engineering are highly specialised. Being able to demonstrate the project management experience and knowledge you’ve already gained in your chosen field can enhance your earning potential.

Career path to becoming a senior project manager

Everyone’s career path is different, but a typical trajectory into a senior project management role could look something like this:

1. Bachelor’s degree: An undergraduate degree is often a prerequisite for project management roles. You can put yourself in a stronger position to specialise in a single industry by earning a degree in a subject such as engineering, construction management or computer science.
2. Certifications: Gaining an additional certification specific to project management can further boost your appeal to employers and also increase your earning potential.
3. Junior or assistant project manager: In the first few years of your career, you’ll learn skills and gain hands-on experience, possibly supporting senior project managers with tasks such as handling logistics and tracking budgets.
4. Project manager: This is where you can expect to start planning, executing and closing your own projects, with key responsibilities including managing budgets, adhering to schedules and meeting deadlines.
5. Senior project manager: With years of experience as a project manager under your belt, you can look for opportunities to move into a senior role. This could involve overseeing larger or more complex projects, managing a team, devising strategies and various other commitments.

Ready to take the next step in your project management career? Browse our selection of senior project manager roles.