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Program Manager Salary Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Scigon Solutions

Technical Program Manager

Oak Brook, IL · On-site

$101K - $135K/yr

Technical Program Manager Salary: $101,250-$135,000 We re looking for a Technical Program Manager who thrives at the intersection of engineering complexity and organizational clarity. You ll work ...

Wabtec

Program Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

As a Program Manager you are responsible for the end-to-end delivery of complex rail signaling and ... The salary rate for this role is currently $120000-150000 The actual salary offered to a candidate ...

Wabtec

Program Manager

Chicago, IL

As a Program Manager you are responsible for the end-to-end delivery of complex rail signaling and ... The salary rate for this role is currently $120000-150000 The actual salary offered to a candidate ...

Hendrickson USA, LLC

Program Manager

Woodridge, IL · On-site

$100K - $160K/yr

This Program Manager will: * Lead and manage Simultaneous Product and Process Development (SPPD ... In accordance with applicable pay transparency laws, the salary range for this position is $100,000 ...

Sidley

Program Manager

Chicago, IL · Hybrid

$123K - $169K/yr

The Program Manager drives the successful execution of complex, cross-functional initiatives for ... Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the ...

Sidley Austin LLP

Program Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$123K - $169K/yr

The Program Manager drives the successful execution of complex, cross-functional initiatives for ... Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the ...

Ripple

Program Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$132K - $165K/yr

We are seeking a Program Manager to guide the implementation of various client solutions throughout ... Actual salaries may vary based on numerous factors including, among other things, an individual ...

Team Behavioral Health

Program Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

Salary: $45,000 If you are looking for a positive career move where you are meeting the challenges ... The Program Manger is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of staff

STV Incorporated

Assistant Program Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$83K - $95K/yr

Support Program Managers with project planning, development, engineering, construction, technical ... The listed pay range is STV's good-faith salary estimate for this position. Please note that the ...

STV

Assistant Program Manager

Chicago, IL

$83K - $95K/yr

Support Program Managers with project planning, development, engineering, construction, technical ... The listed pay range is STV's good-faith salary estimate for this position. Please note that the ...

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All JobsProgram Salary JobsProgram Manager Salary JobsProgram Manager Salary Jobs in Chicago, IL

Program Manager Salary information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$39.7K

$110.7K

$161.7K

How much do program manager salary jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for program manager salary in Chicago, IL is $110,700.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,900.00 and $136,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges Program Managers face when managing multiple projects simultaneously?

Program Managers often juggle several projects at once, which can lead to challenges such as balancing competing priorities, aligning cross-functional teams, and ensuring consistent communication across stakeholders. Managing dependencies between projects and mitigating risks requires strong organizational skills and proactive problem-solving. Successful Program Managers use tools and frameworks to track progress, adjust timelines, and keep teams focused on overarching program goals.

Is a program manager a high paying job?

Program managers typically earn higher salaries compared to many other management roles, with median annual pay often exceeding $100,000 in many industries. Salaries vary based on experience, industry, location, and company size, but the role is generally considered well-compensated due to its strategic responsibilities and required skills in leadership and project coordination.

What does a program manager actually do?

A program manager oversees multiple related projects within an organization to ensure they align with strategic goals. They coordinate teams, manage budgets, develop schedules, and communicate progress to stakeholders, often using tools like project management software. Strong leadership, organizational skills, and certification such as PMP are common requirements.

What is the average salary for a Program Manager?

The average salary for a Program Manager varies depending on factors like location, industry, and years of experience. In the United States, Program Managers typically earn between $85,000 and $150,000 per year, with the median salary around $120,000. Those working in technology, finance, or healthcare sectors often earn at the higher end of the scale. Additional benefits and bonuses can also significantly impact total compensation. It's important to research specific industries and regions for the most accurate salary expectations.

What is the difference between Program Manager Salary vs Project Coordinator Salary?

AspectProgram Manager SalaryProject Coordinator Salary
Average Salary$85,000 - $130,000$45,000 - $65,000
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree, PMP or similar certifications often preferredAssociate's or Bachelor's degree, some certifications beneficial
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple projects, strategic planningSupports project teams, handles specific project tasks
Industry UsageCommon in IT, construction, healthcareUsed across various industries for entry to mid-level roles

Program Managers typically earn higher salaries than Project Coordinators due to their broader responsibilities, strategic role, and required credentials. While Program Managers oversee multiple projects and require advanced certifications, Project Coordinators focus on supporting individual projects with less experience needed.

What are the top 3 skills of a program manager?

Program managers need strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills to coordinate multiple projects and teams effectively. They also require strategic thinking and proficiency with project management tools like MS Project or Jira. These skills help ensure programs meet objectives on time and within budget.

What pays more, a project manager or a program manager?

Generally, program managers tend to earn higher salaries than project managers because they oversee multiple projects and have broader responsibilities. Program managers often require advanced skills in leadership, strategic planning, and stakeholder management, which can contribute to higher compensation. Salary differences can also vary based on industry, experience, and location.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Program Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Program Manager, you need strong organizational, leadership, and project management skills, often backed by a relevant degree and experience in managing multi-project environments. Familiarity with project management tools like Microsoft Project, Jira, or Asana and certifications such as PMP or PgMP are highly valued. Excellent communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management abilities help differentiate top performers in this role. These skills ensure programs are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with organizational goals.
What are popular job titles related to Program Manager Salary jobs in Chicago, IL? For Program Manager Salary jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Program Manager Salary jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Program Manager Salary jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Program Manager Salary jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Program Manager Salary job openings:
Program Manager Salary jobs near you
Infographic showing various Program Manager Salary job openings in Chicago, IL as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,700 per year, or $53.2 per hour.

Technical Program Manager

Scigon Solutions

Oak Brook, IL • On-site

$101K - $135K/yr

Other

Posted 29 days ago

Job description


Technical Program Manager


Salary: $101,250-$135,000

We re looking for a Technical Program Manager who thrives at the intersection of engineering complexity and organizational clarity. You ll work directly with engineering directors, platform leads, and cross-functional stakeholders to drive programs that span multiple teams ensuring alignment, surfacing blockers, and keeping high-priority initiatives moving.

This is not a coordination role. You ll be expected to develop deep technical fluency in a modern platform engineering environment including infrastructure, developer experience, and cloud-native systems and use that fluency to ask better questions, identify risks early, and translate complex technical work into clear executive narratives.


WHAT YOU LL DO Program Delivery
  • Own end-to-end delivery of large, multi-team technical programs across platform infrastructure, developer experience, and cloud enablement.
  • Define program structure, milestones, dependencies, and success criteria in collaboration with engineering and product leads.
  • Maintain a current view of program health; proactively surface risks, dependencies, and blockers to the right stakeholders at the right time.
  • Drive accountability without authority build trust with engineering teams while holding commitments firm.

Technical Engagement
  • Develop working fluency in platform technologies (Kubernetes, Terraform, ArgoCD, CI/CD pipelines, cloud infrastructure) to engage credibly with engineers and leads.
  • Participate in architecture reviews, sprint ceremonies, and design discussions not as a scribe, but as a contributor to program-level thinking.
  • Identify technical debt and complexity that creates delivery risk; help shape sequencing decisions accordingly.

Stakeholder Communication
  • Translate program status and engineering progress into clear, concise communication for senior leadership and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Prepare and facilitate executive-level program reviews, QBRs, and steering committee meetings.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with engineering leads, product managers, and business partners across the organization.

Process & Operational Excellence
  • Identify gaps in how programs are planned, tracked, or communicated and drive improvements without adding bureaucratic overhead.
  • Support the development and adoption of program management frameworks, templates, and tooling across a platform engineering organization.
  • Contribute to the OKR process by helping teams translate strategic intent into measurable, deliverable outcomes.


WHAT YOU BRING Required
  • 5+ years of program or project management experience in a software engineering or infrastructure environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage large, complex programs spanning multiple engineering teams with competing priorities.
  • Strong technical background you don t need to write production code, but you must be able to engage deeply with engineers on technical tradeoffs, architecture decisions, and delivery constraints.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication; proven ability to tailor message and level of detail to the audience.
  • Experience working in agile/scrum environments; comfortable with Jira, Confluence, and similar tools.
  • Proven track record of operating effectively in matrixed organizations with distributed, cross-functional teams.

Preferred
  • Experience in IoT, connected systems, or cloud-native platform engineering environments.
  • Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code (Terraform), container orchestration (Kubernetes), or GitOps (ArgoCD).
  • Experience driving developer experience (DevEx), developer productivity, or internal platform initiatives.
  • PMP, PMI-ACP, SAFe, or equivalent certification.
  • Background in building internal platform-as-a-product programs or developer self-service tooling.

Apply