- Transport & logistics among highest paid sectors for UK project professionals with £52,500 average salary
- Average salary has risen £5,000 since 2021 – a 10% increase
- 81% are satisfied in their role and 75% are optimistic about the supply of jobs in the sector
The 2023 Association for Project Management (APM) Salary and Market Trends Survey has revealed that the average base salary for project professionals in transports and logistics has risen by £5,000 in the last two years to become one of highest paid sectors for project professionals in the UK.
Project professionals in transports and logistics currently receive an average salary of £52,500, rise of 10% from £47,500 in 2021, according to the new research. The highest paid sectors for UK project professionals in the latest annual rankings are financial services and energy & utilities, both at £62,500.
In contrast, the average salary for all project professionals sector-wide has remained unchanged since 2020 at £47,500. However, this figure remains higher than the UK’s current national average salary of £38,6001.
Now in its eighth edition, the APM Salary and Market Trends research company YouGov, who conducted a quantitative online survey of 2,806 project professionals between 7 November and 6 December 2022. This survey revealed many key insights into the project profession, including salary, split by job role, region, sector and gender, as well as job satisfaction, organisational growth, economic confidence, diversity and future skills.
As the first large-scale analysis of the profession since the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, the findings convey a feeling of optimism in the profession. Job satisfaction is high, pay and benefits are on the rise, and organisations are increasing recruitment.
The survey found that 58% of project professionals in transports and logistics earn above £50,000. The majority enjoyed a pay rise in 2022, with 70% seeing their average salary increase.
Across the profession within the sector, 81% said they are satisfied in their role, 75% are optimistic about the supply of jobs, and 67% are expecting their pay and benefits to rise. Meanwhile, 48% of companies are looking to recruit additional staff.
Professor Adam Boddison OBE, Chief Executive of APM, said: “The transports and logistics sector has enjoyed a positive 10% average salary growth among project professionals and has retained its position as one of the most well-paid sectors for the profession, this year’s Salary and Market Trends Survey shows.
“This does not come as a surprise, given the incredible resilience and innovation the sector has consistently shown to navigate successfully out of the pandemic and overcome uncertainties to play a vital role in the post-Covid economic recovery.
“Overall, our latest survey shows how people and businesses have adapted to new working practices and the long-term effects of the pandemic. It also comes during a period of economic turbulence, with high energy costs and sustainability now front-of-mind for many in the profession.
“The project management profession has always been resilient. As the chartered body for the profession, we’re determined to support it, using the insights from this study to promote its long-term value to society.
“The survey also found that 45% of APM members feel their membership has a positive impact on salary, as do 48% of Chartered Project Professionals (ChPPs). Of course, other factors may impact salary as well, but APM membership brings even more value through professional recognition and useful resources, which enhance professional development.”
While the volatility of the past three years has been difficult for businesses in all industries, the project profession has coped with the challenges of inflation, global supply chain issues and energy price rises with confidence and positivity.
The profession understands that changes in technology and working practices require the prioritisation of different skills, such as project leadership and people management, which the survey highlighted as important.
However, communication is now top of the list of vital skills for the project professional, reflecting the rise of remote working.
2023 APM Salary and Market Trends Survey – Average salaries by sector
Sector 2023 2021
Energy and utilities £62,500 60,000
Financial services £62,500 57,500
Construction £57,500 52,500
Consultancy £57,500 57,500
Hospitality £57,500 47,500
Telecoms £57,500 52,500
Defence £52,500 47,500
IT £52,500 47,500
Manufacturing £52,500 52,500
Transport and logistics £52,500 47,500
Business £42,500 52,500
Local government £42,500 42,500
Retail £42,500 52,500
Health £42,500 47,500
Average salary by role
Despite the challenges facing the project profession, salaries for the more prevalent roles have either risen or remained the same. Project managers have enjoyed an increase from £42,500 to £47,500 while consultants have seen their salary boosted from £57,500 to £62,500. Project coordinators and senior project managers have also received larger pay packets, with an 18% and 9% increase respectively.
Pay and benefits
Pay and benefits are on the rise, with 65% reporting an increase in financial reward. This is a significant leap from the 46% who saw their pay packages rise in 2021, and a strong indication that the profession is returning to pre-pandemic levels, when 72% stated that their pay and benefits had increased. This financial boost is translating in healthy optimism for the next 12 months, with 66% expecting their pay and benefits to rise and just 4% expecting them to decrease. That optimism is most keenly felt in consultancy, with 79% of consultants expecting their pay and benefits to rise, along with project professionals in energy and utilities (75%), construction (71%) and defence (71%).
Future trends
After the inevitable confidence dip seen in the previous survey (carried out during the COVID pandemic), the amount of project professionals that feel that the industry will be enhanced in the next five years has remained steady at 67%, with just 5% stating it will decrease. This belief in the growth and development of project management is a strong indication of the high levels of resilience and optimism within the profession and its people.
With changes in technology and working practices, the project management profession of the future will need to prioritise different skills to those required in the past. These skills include communication, which was cited as important by 44% of respondents. Project leadership (38%), stakeholder engagement (34%), people management (29%) and planning and monitoring (24%) also increased in importance compared to 2021, with the latter rising by an impressive 18%.
Flexible working is also regarded as having a positive impact on projects by 66% of project professionals. Indeed, technology has a central role in improving the efficiency and success of the sector, with 49% stating that automation and AI has a positive impact.
To download the 2023 APM Salary and Market Trends Survey, go to apm.org.uk/salarysurvey
