Report: Certified Project Managers Earn 60% More in Salary

Emma Okonji

The recent Project Management Institute (PMI) Salary Survey has revealed that certified project managers in Nigeria earned 60 per cent more than their non-certified counterparts.

PMI, this week, released the 13th edition of its Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey. 

The results show that survey respondents with Project Management Professional (PMP) certification earn higher median salaries than those without PMP certification, 33% higher on average across the 21 countries surveyed. PMP certified project professionals in Nigeria demonstrated an even greater lift, reporting an increase of 60 per cent in median salary than their non-certified peers.

Analyzing the report, Managing Director, PMI, sub-Saharan Africa George Asamani, said: “Project management is a fulfilling career and, with the right certification rewarding too. The PMP certification holds the potential to boost earning power, making it a must-have for professionals. Viewed as a scarce skill on the continent, PMI is intentional about supporting project professionals with globally recognized certifications at every career stage.”

About two-thirds (66 per cent) of the survey participants reported that their total compensation (including salary, bonus, and other cash incentives) increased over the 12 months before completing the survey. The data also shows a broad consensus that the PMP certification is valuable not only for salary growth but also for career development.

The survey data shows that the median salary of project professionals varies considerably from country to country and across variables. In Nigeria, it is $23,370 among project professionals.