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About Project Management
You'll become
Average Salaries
Project Management workers may earn between $62,000 and $141,000 per year
Channel your natural ability to organise into a rewarding professional career by studying a project management course.
In the competitive modern business world, a clear purpose and strong guidance are critical for business success, and business are searching for the people to help. By studying a project management course, you can build the key professional skills to help business and individuals thrive.
Planning, organising and overseeing progress towards key business goals, project managers can work across a wide variety of industries and sectors, in permanent or short-term roles. Distinct from business management, project management refers specifically to the management of time-bound, unique or discrete projects – and as a result suits people with can think quickly, strategically and creatively. If you’ve got a head for planning and work well with people, a future in project management may be for you.
You can study project management in a range of different ways, including as a certificate or diploma course, or as part of a broader bachelor’s or master’s degree in business, management or leadership. After completing a project management course, you may choose to manage projects in a wide variety of different industries, including the security, construction and information technology fields.
What do project management graduates do?
After completing a project management course, you’ll have the opportunity to work in project administration and project management roles across a wide variety of industries. Because of this, your responsibilities will change depending on your project and your sector. However, you can expect to perform general tasks such as:
- Consulting with key stakeholders to determine project objectives and resources;
- Developing, reviewing and implementing a project management plan;
- Developing, reviewing and evaluating a critical path method, and using project management software to catalogue key steps;
- Allocating project resources, including financial resources, capital assets and human resources;
- Conducting an extensive risk assessment and developing tools to mitigate project risk;
- Making decisions and approving project activities;
- Negotiating and awarding contracts for supply;
- Developing and delegating programs, activities and objectives;
- Developing, implementing and monitoring a project timeline;
- Managing paperwork associated with contracts, programs, projects and services;
- Responding to problems and developing solutions, including working closely with people affected and relevant external stakeholders;
- Working with other project managers and key specialists;
- Reporting to senior management on project status and projections;
- Overseeing and supervising work, including work performed by contractors;
- Preparing and reviewing written submissions and requests;
- Reporting on project outcomes, including collating and analysing data; and
- Evaluating and analysing project success.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
Skilled management professionals are in demand in a wide range of industries, and you may choose to seek employment in project management roles in a diverse range of areas. Sectors seeking project managers include areas like:
- Building and construction
- Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Information technology
- Media and information management
- Government services
- Hospitality, tourism and events management
Project management course graduates may seek employment in a wide range of industries, working in project management, project administration, business management or other leadership roles. After completing a project management course, you may work as a:
- Business Manager
- Office Manager
- Information Services Manager
- Operations Manager
- Business Development Manager
- Sales Manager
- Department Manager
- Area Manager
- Warehouse Manager
- Production Manager
- Project Manager
- Contract Administrator
- Project Administrator
- Program Administrator
- Construction Manager
- ICT Project Manager
- Change Management Leader
- Risk Manager
- Senior Project Administrator
- Project Coordinator
- Project Officer Information Management
- Small Business Manager
- Team Leader
- Project Consultant
- Project Assistant
- Project Team Leader
- Program Manager
- Project Support Officer
- Project Leader
- Business Operations Manager
- Project Supervisor
- Contract Officer
- Quality Officer
- Scrum Master
- Product Owner
- Logistics Manager
- Consultant
- HR Manager
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Is project management right for you?
You’ll excel working in a project management role if you:
- Are highly organised and motivated
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Can make effective decisions
- Can work well with a team
- Are proactive and autonomous
- Enjoy delegating and managing
- Enjoy problem-solving
- Like taking responsibility
- Are a good listener
- Can focus on both details and the bigger picture
Job opportunities
According to the Australian Government’s Job Outlook, project management is a large and growing sector in Australia. Job Outlook reports that job opportunities in project management have been growing steadily since 2005, with approximately 126,600 people employed as project managers across Australia. This figure is likely to rise, with Job Outlook predicting growth will continue until at least 2020, where approximately 20,000 new project managers will be employed.
The size of the profession indicates that employment opportunities are available for project managers in most areas of Australia.
Average Salaries
PayScale reports average salaries for general project managers and managers across more specialised industries. On average, a project manager may expect to earn between $62,000 and $141,000, with an average annual salary of $96,000. A project manager working in the construction industry may expect to earn between $60,000 and $153,000 per year, with an average salary of $98,000, and a project manager working in information technology may expect to earn between $68,000 and $147,000 per year, with an average salary of approximately $109,000 per year.
PayScale reports a positive trend for earning capacity against work experience, with project managers with more than 20 years of experience earning up to $20,000 per year more than people with 10 to 20 years of work experience. Working in a specialised field may also increase a project manager’s earning capacity.