Career comparison
Project Manager vs. Web Developer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Project managers earn more at the median ($102,320 vs. $92,650), while web developers usually get to work faster (6 months to 4 years of training). Project managers plan projects, lead teams and deliver results on time, on budget and in scope. Web developers build fast, accessible websites and web applications people love to use.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Project Manager | Web Developer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $102,320 ($49.19/hr) | $92,650 ($44.54/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $61,580 – $167,970 | $48,100 – $162,290 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.7% (faster than average) | +3.8% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 76,500 | 5,300 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 1–4+ years | 6 months to 4 years |
| Key credential | PMP (PMI) | Portfolio of projects |
| Work setting | Project managers work in offices, on job sites or remotely, depending on the industry. | Web developers work for agencies, tech companies, corporations, government and as freelancers. |
What each job does
Project Manager
- Define project scope, goals and deliverables
- Build schedules, budgets and resource plans
- Coordinate team members, vendors and stakeholders
- Track progress and manage risks and issues
- Manage changes to scope, time and cost
Web Developer
- Build web pages and applications from designs and requirements
- Write HTML, CSS and JavaScript
- Develop back-end services, APIs and databases
- Make sites responsive, accessible and fast
- Test, debug and fix issues
How they’re similar
Both careers involve desk work, problem-solving, remote-friendly work, and high-pay. They sit in different fields, business & office and technology, but share transferable skills such as leadership and problem-solving.
Which should you choose?
Choose project manager if…
- I like organizing people and plans
- I’m comfortable being accountable for results
- I communicate clearly and handle conflict
Choose web developer if…
- I enjoy building things on a computer
- I like solving logic puzzles
- I care about design and user experience
Still torn? Take the Project Manager fit quiz and the Web Developer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, project manager or web developer?
Project Managers earn more at the median: $102,320 versus $92,650 for web developers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Web Developers typically train faster (6 months to 4 years) than project managers (1–4+ years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects project managers to grow +6.7% from 2025–35, compared with +3.8% for web developers.