Program Manager Job Market 2022 Report

A 2018 study by the Project Management Institute (PMI) revealed that poor project management results in $2 trillion in waste globally per year. Almost half of all projects aren’t completed on time, 31 percent don’t hit their targets and 43 percent exceed their budgets. These findings underscore the urgent need for skilled program managers to ensure that all projects under their purview (and project managers under their supervision) meet their goals—and come in on schedule and on budget.

Job market analytics firm Burning Glass forecasts that the program manager field will grow by 8 percent over the next decade. US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projections concur, predicting all management occupations will increase by 9 percent between 2020 and 2030. Gifted program managers with proven track records should find many opportunities to create a rewarding career in this industry.

This program manager job market 2022 report covers current job opportunities for those looking to pursue a program management career. In addition, this article addresses:

• How a Master of Science in Information Management program will prepare you for a successful career as a program manager
• What is a Master of Science in Information Management?
• Top Master of Science in Information Management programs

Program manager job market 2022 report

We’ve followed the University of Washington’s list of potential information management careers in creating the list of potential program manager job titles below.

Manager of business systems

Business systems managers are in demand across industries, including education and healthcare. Though job descriptions vary by organization, business systems managers oversee clean data collection and must stay current with new technology and software developments to support organizational goals. A business system manager earns an average salary of about $128,000.

Manager of data science/analytics

Data science/analytics managers supervise the teams tasked with identifying business trends and challenges through big data analysis. They oversee the interpretation of collected data using techniques like data aggregation from statistical analysis or complex data mining. Data science/analytics managers earn an estimated salary of $148,000.

Manager of information security and risk management

Information security risk managers identify, evaluate, and mitigate a company’s financial, safety, or security risks. They possess a deep knowledge of their industry and oversee staffing and managing a team of risk analysts. Information security risk managers work with upper-level management; they are sometimes client-facing. The average salary for a manager of information security and risk management is about $200,000.

Project manager

Project managers shepherd individual projects from start to finish. They understand how to utilize technology (e.g., project management software) to optimize results and ensure their project, cross-functional team members, and stakeholders stay on schedule, meet goals, and remain on budget. The average salary for a project manager is approximately $105,000.

Program manager

Program managers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of a business’ large-scale program development throughout each initiative’s life cycle. They work across industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, publishing, finance, and oil and gas. Program manager salaries vary according to industry (as well as education, years of experience, and location). The average salary for a program manager is $142,000, but more senior program manager jobs are paid as high as $182,000.

IT service manager

IT service managers oversee organizations’ IT products and services, including their implementation and removal, often on behalf of technology vendors. They not only work with IT professionals but also interact with clients and review financial data. They earn an average annual income of $120,000.

How a Master of Science in Information Management program will prepare you for a successful career as a program manager

While it’s possible to work in program management without a master’s degree, a Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM) prepares graduates for senior-level roles in this field, particularly at large companies. MSIM program graduates know how to organize and analyze information, recognize and resolve information issues, translate datasets into actionable information, and leverage data to forecast future trends. They are equipped with the essential analytic and interpersonal management skills necessary to effectively lead complex programs and successfully meet desired goals.

What is a Master of Science in Information Management?

Information management involves gathering and organizing information (typically with cutting-edge technology and data science techniques) to advance business management practices.

Earning an MSIM leads to product management careers, as well as jobs in project management, program management, and product development. MSIM graduates work in related fields as chief information officers, business intelligence engineers, senior analysts, IT managers, and senior IT consultants. MSIM degrees require two years of full-time study to complete.

What will I learn in a Master of Science in Information Management program?

The core MSIM curriculum includes courses in project management, ethics, information technology, computer science, data management, business analytics, data analytics, database management, IT project management, software engineering, user experience, and organizational design and implementation.

The University of Washington offers several specialization tracks, including program/product management and consulting, information and cyber security, information architecture, user experience, data science, and business intelligence. Each program track demands a unique set of core requirements and elective options, enabling students to tailor their coursework to their career goals. Data science students, for example, complete coursework in machine learning and econometrics and programming for information and data science. Students in the management track attend classes in consulting practices and project management.

Skills a Master of Science in Information Management program will teach you

By the time MSIM students graduate from their program, they’re proficient in both the hard and soft skills necessary to succeed in this field. Technical skills include analytics, agile methodologies, and systems design. Soft skills involve leadership, strategic planning, problem-solving, communication skills and organizational skills.

Master of Science in Information Management program admissions criteria/prerequisites

Applicants to MSIM programs must submit their official bachelor’s degree transcript showing a GPA of 3.0 or higher, GRE or GMAT test scores, resume, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. Other admissions requirements are program-specific. The University of Washington offers two tracks, one for early career professionals and the other for mid-career professionals. The track for more-experienced students only accepts established information management professionals. Carnegie Mellon University requires experience with programming, statistics, and databases; those without experience must complete approved bridge coursework before applying.

Top Master of Science in Information Management programs

Top information management programs are:

• Carnegie Mellon University
• Georgia Institute of Technology (Main Campus)
• Indiana University – Bloomington
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• New York University
• University of Maryland – College Park
• University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
• University of Pennsylvania
• The University of Texas at Austin
• University of Washington

(Last Updated on February 26, 2024)

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