The PMP Certification

Can a PMP certification improve my salary?

Possibly the biggest question people ask themselves when determining their career track is, how can I make more money? With Project Management becoming an increasingly competitive field, you need to find a way to stand out amongst the crowd. One way of doing this is by obtaining a PMP certification.

The PMP certification has very strict requirements. So, you can’t just wake up one day and decide that your going to get your PMP today. There are many prerequisites including 3 years of professional project management experience. This requirement itself sets a pretty stiff barrier to those seeking career advancement. However, this type of requirement insures that people following the project management career path are dedicated to the field of project management.

So, back to our main question. Can I get more money if I have a PMP Certification? Well, obviously it depends on the job market and your current salary. You may already being reward financially for your performance at a salary that is above the average PMP salary range. But, assuming you’re not, companies are looking more and more for this credential. Many positions for project managers on sites like monster and hot jobs require the PMP credential or at least state that it is preferred. Unfortunately, it may seem like your current employer does not recognize this certification if you were already working for them before you received it. This is due to a common problem with employers – if they already have you, then they are less likely to bump your salary. This is a very unfortunate approach that can be detrimental to an organizations success.

All too often, we hear complaints about a company’s willingness to pay more to bring in new recruits than they would to reward the great employees they already have in house. Therefore, at the very least, the PMP certification will make you a more marketable candidate to other companies. Especially, if your current employer is unwilling to increase your salary after you have obtained your certification.

The best advice is to always keep your options open and explore new opportunities. That dream job may be just around the corner!

You can begin networking with other project managers right here at The PM Source. Be sure to check out our forums, and do not be shy about posting new messages.