Explore the world of freelancing as a Project Manager and understand the unique advantages and challenges it offers. Learn about the potential income, the need for a strong network and the vital role of certification in this career path.

Key Insights

  • Freelance Project Managers work independently, marketing their services to various clients and managing their own businesses.
  • They have the potential to earn more than salaried counterparts, with an average salary of around $130,000, and the hourly rate ranging from $66 to $155.
  • Some challenges of freelancing include potential lack of health insurance benefits and periods without income between projects.
  • Freelance Project Management requires skills beyond managing projects, such as excellent written communication and financial planning.
  • Earning a certification, such as the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, can enhance credibility and enable Freelance Project Managers to charge higher rates.
  • Building a strong network is critical for a Freelance Project Manager, and professional groups like PMI's local chapters and Specific Interest Groups can be beneficial.

A Freelance Project Manager manages projects for clients on a freelance basis. They work for themselves instead of for a company. Another common title for this type of Project Manager is a Project Management Consultant. A Freelance Project Manager

This kind of Project Manager works for themselves and is responsible for marketing their services to different clients. Freelance Project Managers will need to perform additional work finding clients but may enjoy some advantages over salaried Project Managers.

What is Project Management Freelancing Like?

Freelancing as a Project Manager offers advantages over working for a single company. Freelance Project Managers work as their own bosses and can enjoy greater freedom and flexibility. 

There is no maximum on the amount that Freelance Project Managers can charge or earn. Freelance Project Managers make an average salary of around $130,000, which is more than the average income for Project Managers who work as salaried employees. 

The average hourly rate for a Freelance Project Manager is from $66 to $155 an hour, and Digital Project Manager reports that some Freelance Project Managers earn around $1100 a day. However, despite making more on average, a Freelance Project Manager might also have periods without income between projects. 

Some potential drawbacks to being a Freelance Project Manager include a potential lack of health insurance benefits, periods without income, and simultaneously managing projects and finding clients. 

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Is Project Management Freelancing Right for Me?

Freelance Project Management requires skills beyond managing projects. Although many of the skills needed to launch and maintain a successful Freelance Project Manager career are the same skills needed to become a Project Manager. 

For example, a Project Manager's excellent written communication skills can help get clients. Or, the financial planning skills of a Project Manager can be applied to budgeting when you’re between clients. 

You’ll want to decide whether some potential advantages of freelancing as a Project Manager outweigh some potential disadvantages. 

Steps to Become a Freelance Project Manager

Step #1 Gain Experience Managing Projects

If you’re going to market your skills, you will need experience demonstrating them on real-world projects. You’ll need to have an excellent history of project management and project references. Your references should probably include both clients/stakeholders and team members. 

You’ll need a well-developed Project Management Portfolio to market yourself to potential clients. 

Step #2 Gain Project Management Education

Certifications are essential for Freelance Project Managers. They provide you with industry-recognized credibility to help you market yourself to clients. A certification will also allow you to ask more for your services: you can charge a higher rate if you are PMP certified.

However, you’ll need a lot of real-world experience before sitting for the PMP exam. If you’re just starting, you’ll want to consider a CAPM certification with more minor real-world project management requirements. To get certified, you’ll need to take some courses in project management, such as Noble Desktop’s Project Management Bootcamp. This course comes with a Certificate of Completion that will look great on your Project Management Portfolio. 

Step #3 Build a Network & Market Yourself 

As a Freelance Project Manager, it will be critical that you build a strong network. A strong network will provide you with connections, clients, and references. One way to start growing your network is to take Project Managerment courses which can lead to meeting other people in project management. 

Another way to build a network is by joining professional groups for Project Managers, such as PMI’s local chapters, which will connect you to other Project Managers in your area. PMI also offers Specific Interest Groups that will allow you to meet Project Managers in your industry or with similar backgrounds, such as Women in Project Management.