Working as a Project Manager
Industry Overview
According to the Project Management Institute, employment prospects for project managers remains strong. Skilled project managers are in demand across many sectors in Canada. Most medium to large size organizations are likely to have special projects that require management and coordination and, therefore, the need for project managers.
Project managers (non-technical) are included in Administrative Officers. There are currently 33,400 people employed as Administrative Officers in BC.
Job Outlook in BC
Chart from WorkBC
WorkBC provides job openings for Administrative Officers in BC regions, 2022-2032:
| Region | Employment in 2022 | Average Annual Employment Growth |
Expected Number of Job Openings |
| Vancouver Island | 6,750 | 1.5% | 3,870 |
| Lower Mainland / Southwest | 24,290 | 1.3% | 11,680 |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 4,670 | 1.3% | 2,670 |
| Kootenay | 1,090 | 0.3% | 460 |
| Cariboo | 1,150 | 0.3% | 380 |
| Northeast | 600 | 0.5% | 220 |
| North Coast & Nechako | 510 | 1.3% | 240 |
You can learn more about working as a project manager from:
Types of Employers
Project managers are employed in a wide variety of sectors. Opportunities are available in most medium to large sized companies including:
- Healthcare
- Insurance
- Consulting
- Manufacturing
- Finance
- Retail & Wholesale
- Transportation & Distribution
- Resources (mining, agriculture, oil and gas, etc)
- Telecommunications & IT
- Construction & Engineering
Other project management opportunities can be found in the government, education, and not-for-profit sectors.
Salary & Working Hours
The Project Management Institute’s Salary Survey for 2020* shows a median salary of $100,000 for project managers in Canada.
Salaries range from $51,500 for individuals entering this profession to over $150,000 for those with a high level of experience. Your salary depends on a variety of factors including years of experience, area of specialization and size and type of organization.
Source: Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey - Eleventh Edition (2020)
*Note: Most recent salary survey available to members only
Working Hours
Project managers generally work a regular 40-hour week. However, you may be required to work overtime to complete projects and meet deadlines, often without advance notice.