PMP Certification and AI Upskilling Boost Salaries for Project Management Professionals, PMI Finds

NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2025 — Generative Artificial Intelligence, or GenAI, is changing the way project management works across industries, as technology and professional expertise come together on the ground.

The pay packages for different job scales in project management have also witnessed a major shift, with upskilling emerging as a key contributor to the boost in salaries.

As per a survey of Project Management Institute, or PMI, respondents with a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification report higher median salaries than those without PMP certification, 33 per cent higher on average across the 21 countries surveyed.

The salary trends in project management have been revealed in the thirteenth edition of Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey.

With insights from over 20,000 professionals spanning 21 countries, the report focuses on the median salaries for project professionals, helping prospective professionals to make a career choice.

Project management in the times of AI involves leveraging AI to automate routine tasks, enabling managers to focus on strategic, high-value activities like innovation, people development, and ethical oversight of AI systems. This requires managers to adopt new skill sets, cultivate a culture of AI collaboration, embrace data-driven decision-making, and adapt leadership approaches to lead teams in a human-AI partnership.

What Makes Talent Remain Relevant

PMP Certification: The role of project management professionals has evolved from back-office schedulers to team motivators and strategic leaders.

Nearly two-thirds (66 per cent) of survey participants reported an increase in total compensation (including salary, bonuses, and other cash incentives) over the 12 months prior to completing the salary survey, and 61 per cent of survey respondents who received a compensation increase reported a boost of 5 per cent or higher.

Equitable Pay Structures: The PMI report emphasizes how crucial it is for project professionals to enhance the skills and certifications which help them to thrive. PMI’s report reveals that the connections among skills, experience, certifications, and salary are pivotal for the project management career journey.

“It’s important for your organization too. The salary survey can also help establish equitable pay structures for project management roles in organizations. Whether you’re looking to advance your career or improve your organization’s approach, our report contains the insights that matter most,” says the report.

Salary Comparisons: Many survey respondents also believe that obtaining PMP certification has been valuable to their careers, in addition to being a significant contributor to salary growth.

The report compares median salaries by country (in US dollars) and shows median salaries cross-tabulated by eight major project management positions, years of work experience in project management, Project Management Professional (PMP) certification status, and project size.

How Different is Project Management in Times of AI

Project management in present times involves leveraging artificial intelligence to automate routine tasks, enabling managers to focus on strategic, high-value activities like innovation, people development, and ethical oversight of AI systems.

There is a major need for managers to adopt new skill sets, cultivate a culture of AI collaboration, embrace data-driven decision-making, and adapt leadership approaches to lead teams in a human-AI partnership.

Automation of routine tasks, such as administrative and repetitive duties, has helped relieve managers from irrelevant tasks to focus on more creative and strategic work. Besides, AI provides data-driven insights and predictive analytics, allowing managers to make more informed and effective decisions across various functions like risk management and talent acquisition.

While AI handles data, managers have a higher responsibility for emotional issues, fostering human interaction, and building strong team relationships, according to the Management 3.0 approach. Managers are also expected to ensure the ethical and responsible use of AI by establishing governance frameworks for AI systems, addressing bias, and promoting transparency and accountability.

Embracing AI also requires a cultural shift within the organization.

Managers have an additional responsibility for equipping their teams with new skill sets, promoting continuous learning, and training employees to collaborate with AI tools effectively.

Companies are expecting strategic leadership, which means that rather than just managing tasks, managers become leaders who guide teams toward long-term success by strategically integrating AI into workflows and fostering innovation.

The future of project management involves a human-AI partnership, as the future of work is not AI vs. humans but AI and humans working together, with AI augmenting human capabilities to unlock higher levels of productivity and creativity.

Project management is no longer just about schedules, and today it demands leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to harness new technologies like AI.

Inputs from Saqib malik

Editing by David Ryder