What is a project administrator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Experts
Matthew Gilbert,
Brian Starr Ph.D.
introduction image

A project administrator is an individual who oversees the planning, organizing, and implementation of projects from start to finish. They work closely with project managers to ensure that deadlines are met, budgets are adhered to, and resources are allocated efficiently. Project administrators also handle administrative tasks such as scheduling meetings, preparing reports, and maintaining project documentation.Overall, a project administrator plays a crucial role in ensuring that projects are completed successfully.

What general advice would you give to a Project Administrator?

M

Matthew Gilbert

Lecturer of Marketing, Coastal Carolina University

The unique circumstances caused by COVID-19 have impacted every area of our lives. New graduates will likely find themselves in a more challenging situation than was the case previously. Given this, I encourage graduates who are just beginning their careers to be ACES: adaptive, communicative, effective, and supportive. ACES is a slang term meaning being highly regarded; in the context of the suggested acronym, consider the following explanation.

Adaptive: Remain open to top unexpected opportunities. Venturing into a new normal requires flexibility and openness; this could mean taking a job that wasn't considered, but recognizing it could yield skills, connections, and experience that could be useful in future endeavors.

Communicative: Leverage LinkedIn to network professionally and politely for opportunities, but don't connect with someone and immediately ask for a job. Call your contacts and catch up without a specific agenda; you never know what ideas might emerge. Email individuals, you respect for insights and advice.

Effective: Make use of your time to learn new skills or acquire certifications that demonstrate the value you can add to an organization. Consider volunteering for a cause close to your heart; it makes you feel better, but you could connect personally and/or professionally with new people.

Supportive: Finding a job in a normal year is challenging enough, but in a pandemic, it's an entirely different experience. Keep in contact with your friends and fellow graduates; even a short message asking how they're doing or inviting them to a social distance coffee together could brighten a day you didn't know was dark for someone else.
ScoreProject AdministratorUS Average
Salary
4.1

Avg. Salary $52,862

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.0

Growth Rate -8%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 8.86%

Black or African American 7.69%

Hispanic or Latino 12.90%

Unknown 4.71%

White 65.19%

Gender

female 75.04%

male 24.96%

Age - 47
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47
Stress Level
6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.9

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.6

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Project Administrator?

Pros

  • Varied tasks and responsibilities

  • Opportunities to learn and develop new skills

  • Ability to work with a diverse range of people

  • Chance to be part of exciting projects

  • Chance to make a significant impact on a project's success

Cons

  • Stressful and demanding due to tight deadlines

  • High-pressure environment with little room for error

  • Potential for long hours or working on weekends

  • Difficult to manage conflicting priorities

  • Unexpected challenges and setbacks during a project's life cycle

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Project Administrator career paths

Key steps to become a project administrator

  1. Explore project administrator education requirements

    Most common project administrator degrees

    Bachelor's

    60.5 %

    Associate

    19.3 %

    Master's

    9.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific project administrator skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Project Management11.62%
    Purchase Orders7.76%
    Customer Service7.49%
    PowerPoint6.22%
    Data Entry5.38%
  3. Research project administrator duties and responsibilities

    • Lead organization in achieving ISO 9000 certification, which lead to future certification under both ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001.
    • Manage and execute the SharePoint business integration implementation project and become the corporate governance portal administrator.
    • Manage quality assurance checks for FDA and internal audits which result in no documentation/information error and successful completion of the audits.
    • Create and execute SQL to query DB2 databases.
  4. Prepare your project administrator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your project administrator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a project administrator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Project Administrator Resume templates

    Build a professional Project Administrator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Project Administrator resume.
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  5. Apply for project administrator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a project administrator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Project Administrator Job

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Are you a Project Administrator?

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Average project administrator salary

The average Project Administrator salary in the United States is $52,862 per year or $25 per hour. Project administrator salaries range between $33,000 and $83,000 per year.

Average Project Administrator Salary
$52,862 Yearly
$25.41 hourly

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How do project administrators rate their job?

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Project Administrator reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2023
Pros

I like to work with a team. Satisfaction of seeing the successful completion of a project


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

I enjoy problem-solving and identifying a path to completing a complex project. I like to ensure that moving parts come together smoothly and communicating successes and celebrating with the team.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

I believe being genuine and true to yourself, is an essential combination for people in my field. Skills such as Leadership, Critical thinking, problem solving, communication and presentation skills, managing time and people at the same time, networking, planning and many more, are developed as we attain experience in this field. The usage of clear and concise communication to interact professionally with co-workers, supervisors and to the managers. Working in a team with people from diverse backgrounds with a deep understanding and awareness of differences in both individuals and organizations. I am focused and attentive to details when addressing high-volume tasks to meet the deadlines. I am inspired by making a positive impact to whatever task is assigned. These qualities and skills will help to support your company’s mission and I could become a great asset to your company, while reflecting positively on the professionalism in its employees.

Cons

So, basically I do not if my work is organized or systematic. I would redo my work in that case. I always like it in a systematic way. I also do not like if someone is planning according to the schedule. I always have my work schedule and work according to that.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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