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Project Lead, Project Manager
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
Project management professionals (PMPs) oversee projects and bring them from conception to conclusion. In doing so, they must meet stakeholders’ requirements by:
In general, they:
Most project managers spend a lot of time working in offices. They also may work at construction sites or other locations. It largely depends on the industry. These sites may be subject to variable and extreme weather conditions. They require proper protective equipment.
Project managers may need to travel. They sometimes work long hours, weekends, and overtime to meet deadlines.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in co-ordinating information to direct, control and evaluate construction projects from start to finish according to schedules, specifications and budgets; and in directing purchases of building materials and land acquisitions and in supervising the activities of subcontractors and staff
Interest in preparing contracts, in planning and preparing construction schedules and milestones, in monitoring progress against established schedules and in developing and implementing quality control programs
Interest in negotiating revisions, changes and additions to contractual agreements with architects, consultants, clients, suppliers and subcontractors
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Project management professionals need:
They should enjoy supervising and managing other people. They should be able to work effectively and productively with individuals at all levels of an organization, from frontline staff to executives.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 235 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Feb 13, 2024 and Nov 20, 2024.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Plan and prepare construction schedules and milestones and monitor progress | 211 |
|---|---|
| Tasks: Prepare and submit construction project budget estimates | 184 |
| Tasks: Prepare reports | 169 |
| Tasks: Prepare contracts and negotiate revisions, changes and additions to contractual agreements | 162 |
| Tasks: Develop and implement quality control programs | 156 |
| Tasks: Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate daily operations | 155 |
| Construction Specialization: Organized | 132 |
| Tasks: Establish and implement policies and procedures for quality control | 132 |
| Attention to detail | 131 |
| Tasks: Plan and manage budgets | 131 |
Project managers generally require a technical degree or diploma in a subject related to their industry. They also need extensive work experience and proven knowledge of the industry. Some positions may require a bachelor’s degree. Education and experience in project management is required. More project management experience may lessen the amount of industry experience needed for some positions.
There are many approaches to project management. Examples include PRojects IN Controlled Environments (PRINCE2) and PRojects Integrating Sustainable Methods (PRiSM).
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
Certification may not be required for employment as a project manager but can be a beneficial asset.
The Project Management Institute offers the following credentials:
To apply for the PMP certification, you will require one of the following:
Post-secondary schools such as Mount Royal University offer PMP exam preparation courses. University of Alberta offers a series of courses that can be used as credit towards the required 35 hours of project management education. For more information on the specifics of these programs visit the school websites.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Project management professionals may work in a wide variety of fields or industries. They can work for a company or organization or be self-employed and work on a contract basis. They are needed in most fields and industries, such as:
Many other fields in the production, design, and service industries also have project management professionals.
Gaining employment as a project manager typically requires extensive experience in a particular industry. However, education in project management techniques and methods can often lessen the amount of work experience required. Advancement opportunities usually exist in the continued areas of project responsibility. For example, they might oversee operational organizations and attain executive and strategic roles.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Construction managers
2016 NOC: 0711
78.0% of people in this occupational group work in:
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
This section shows the short-term demand forecasted for this occupation in Alberta over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2023-2025 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.
This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as retirements increase over the next few years.
Some project management professionals may receive performance-based incentives in addition to their regular salaries.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $23.08 | $63.00 | $41.34 | $40.87 |
| Overall | $30.05 | $76.92 | $50.61 | $49.62 |
| Top | $34.77 | $96.60 | $59.47 | $57.00 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $108,142 |
|---|---|
| Oil & Gas Extraction | $114,790 |
| Construction | $110,449 |
| Manufacturing | $78,802 |
| Wholesale Trade | $99,726 |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | $96,071 |
| Public Administration | $104,226 |
Project Management Professional of Canada website: www.pmpcanada.com
Project Management Institute website: www.pmi.org
PRojects IN Controlled Environments (PRINCE) website: www.prince2.com
PRojects Integrating Sustainable Methods (PRiSM) through GPM Global website: www.greenprojectmanagement.org
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2022. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
