Hello Miguel,

On the PMI website there is a survey they conduct every few years of PMP VS non-PMP workers and their salaries over a variety of scenarios. It should answer most of your questions.

PMP certified people typically earn more than the ones without certification, but typically not in the job they had before certification. Usually, you will need to seek new employment or apply for higher positions in your organization. PMP will put you over other applicants when applying for higher paying jobs.

Marjorie,

Even though Ryan has two examples of colleagues where the PMP helped, I would be cautious. In today's market, it is simply expected that a project manager (especially in senior roles) is PMP certified. And so you may be receiving the salary of a senior PM, but I wouldn't expect anything "just because" you have the PMP. Remember that all the other candidates applying for the same job are also PMP certified.

To Marjorie,

I totally get the skepticism. Taking on a certification like PMP is a big commitment, but I’ve seen so many pros use it as a game-changer in their careers!

A friend of mine in customer service landed a project management role in tech after getting PMP-certified and got a huge salary jump! Another used it to negotiate a raise by proving they could handle bigger projects. Hope this helps you decide on getting certified!

Thank you for the responses! I appreciate all the insights. This really gave me a better perspective on my career path and encouraged me to continue on with my PMP journey. I'll definetly come back to this thread for any other questions or updates I have.

Thanks again everyone! Appreciate this community where we're all willing to help each other out.

Markus has already captured the key points about how the PMP® certification can positively influence your career and salary potential. His insights on the salary survey data and industry preferences are spot on.

One thing I’d like to add: if you’re aiming for a junior project manager or project coordinator role, you may be able to land it without any certification. However, if you’re targeting a senior PM position—especially in larger organizations or highly regulated industries—the PMP is almost always considered a must-have. Many recruiters and hiring managers will look for it right away when reviewing candidates for higher-level roles.

Additionally, the more senior you get, the more you will feel the "pressure" (often self-imposed) to get your PMP. After all, everyone around you has it, so you probably should, too. At least, that's how I felt back then. But... just as Harry said: It was worth it and I'd do it again.

Best of luck in your project management journey!

Markus sums it up very well.

As an independent consultant, I can categorically state that becoming PMP-certified did NOT increase my salary. Likewise, I can categorically state that it has given me advantage in bidding for larger jobs because the contract holder wants someone who understands structured project management. Also, when I work alongside other project managers, I can "speak their language" so that we get things accomplished more smoothly.

Was it worth it to me? Yes.
Would I do it again? Also, yes.