Career Spotlights:
Dynamics 365 Project Manager
Whatever the Microsoft Cloud role, use our guide to benchmark your salary or contact rate, or to uncover what you should be paying employees in your team.
How much do Dynamics 365 Project Managers make?
United States ($)
| First quartile | Median | Third quartile | Contract (Hourly rate) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations | 122,000 | 149,750 | 195,750 | 147-245 |
| Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement | 115,250 | 141,500 | 184,750 | 125-177 |
| Dynamics 365 Business Central | 106,000 | 145,000 | 170,250 | 125-173 |
United Kingdom (£)
| First quartile | Median | Third quartile | Contract (Daily rate) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations | 65,000 | 82,000 | 110,000 | 700-1,175 |
| Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement | 60,000 | 70,750 | 95,000 | 640-1,170 |
| Dynamics 365 Business Central | 65,000 | 82,000 | 110,000 | 600-900 |
United States ($)
First quartile
| Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations | |
| Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement | |
| Dynamics 365 Business Central | |
Median
| Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations | |
| Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement | |
| Dynamics 365 Business Central | |
Third quartile
| Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations | |
| Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement | |
| Dynamics 365 Business Central | |
Contract (Hourly rate)
| Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations | |
| Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement | |
| Dynamics 365 Business Central | |
United Kingdom (£)
First quartile
| Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations | |
| Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement | |
| Dynamics 365 Business Central | |
Median
| Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations | |
| Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement | |
| Dynamics 365 Business Central | |
Third quartile
| Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations | |
| Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement | |
| Dynamics 365 Business Central | |
Contract (Daily rate)
| Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations | |
| Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement | |
| Dynamics 365 Business Central | |
50%
of D365 Project Managers are satisfied with their job, down from 67% in our last survey**
64%
of D365 Functional Consultants are satisfied with their salary, down from 67% in our last study
41 hours
Permanent D365 Developers work an average of 41 hours per week
51 hours
Freelance D365 Project Managers work an average of 51 hours per week***
* Survey responses in the remainder of this chapter are indicative only due to a limited number of D365 Project Managers participating in the survey.
** Comparisons to the survey data in our last study are indicative only due to a limited number of D365 Project Managers participating.
*** A limited number of freelance Project Managers participated in our survey, so results are indicative only.
What factors impact your earning potential as a Dynamics 365 Project Manager?
We asked current Dynamics professionals to rank what factors were most important in upping your earning potential in this role.
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years of technical experience with Microsoft products | 91% | 9% | 0% |
| Exposure to large projects | 91% | 9% | 0% |
| Years of experience in IT | 82% | 9% | 9% |
| Specific vertical industry experience | 73% | 27% | 0% |
| Microsoft certifications | 41% | 41% | 18% |
| Working with AI | 41% | 41% | 18% |
| College/University degree(s) | 36% | 32% | 32% |
Years of technical experience with Microsoft products
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 91% | 9% | 0% |
Exposure to large projects
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 91% | 9% | 0% |
Years of experience in IT
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 82% | 9% | 9% |
Specific vertical industry experience
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 73% | 27% | 0% |
Microsoft certifications
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 41% | 41% | 18% |
Working with AI
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 41% | 41% | 18% |
College/University degree(s)
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 36% | 32% | 32% |
Paths to become a Dynamics 365 Project Manager?
Education
The majority (88%) of Dynamics 365 Project Managers hold at least a Bachelor’s degree. However, only 14% consider a degree to be important to work with Microsoft Cloud, while 36% believe a degree to be an important factor when it comes to increasing earning potential.
Certification
Official vendor-accredited certifications are undeniably one of the most effective ways to enhance your skills and demonstrate your expertise and commitment to staying current with industry developments.
Over two-fifths (41%, down from 50% in our previous survey) of Dynamics 365 Project Managers are certified, and only 22% (up from 14%) of those have undergone certification renewal to maintain their Microsoft Certified status. Only 44% (down from 86%) of certified Project Managers believe certifications make a candidate a more valuable professional.
This is perhaps because, currently, there are no certifications specifically tailored for Dynamics 365 Project Managers. However, individuals involved in Dynamics 365 implementations, migrations, and development projects should possess a solid understanding of the platform’s functionality. Certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM) and Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (ERP) will help here, making them still beneficial for aspiring project managers. These professionals can also advance to one or more of Microsoft’s product-specific Functional Consultant Associate certifications to deepen their product knowledge.
Additionally, employers may seek candidates with PMP certifications when hiring for Dynamics 365 Project Manager roles.
Top Microsoft certifications held by Dynamics 365 Project Managers
| Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals | 22% |
| Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM) | 11% |
| Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (ERP) | 11% |
| Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals | 11% |
| Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals | 11% |
Paths to becoming a Dynamics 365 Project Manager
Project Managers often bring a range of transferable skills to the role. In Dynamics 365, project management is frequently a progression for Dynamics 365 Consultants and Business Analysts, or for those experienced in liaising between clients and technical teams to gather stakeholder requirements and develop solutions. Project managers also often come from roles where they have gained experience in managing or coordinating projects, especially in technology or consulting environments.
Common starting roles for Project Managers include:
Business Analyst: Experience working closely with stakeholders and understanding business requirements makes you well-positioned to transition into a Project Manager role
Dynamics 365 Functional Consultant: Experience with Dynamics 365 gives Functional Consultants an understanding of solution capabilities and requirements management
Systems/IT Manager: A familiarity with coordinating IT projects and aligning them with business goals provides a great foundation for Dynamics 365 Project Managers
Scrum Master: Project coordination and agile methodology knowledge are highly relevant to project management in Dynamics 365
Support Manager: A skilled understanding of client needs and troubleshooting issues, as well as coordinating teams to resolve problems, is invaluable expertise for any Project Manager
What skills and experience should Dynamics 365 Project Managers have?
- Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management abilities
- Proven track record in managing and delivering end-to-end Dynamics 365 projects, including implementations, migrations, and development
- Significant experience in leading and guiding project teams effectively
- Skilled in resource allocation and management to optimize project outcomes
- Expertise in time and budget management to ensure projects meet deadlines and financial targets
- Solid background in testing and quality assurance processes
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to collaborate with diverse teams and clients
- Knowledge of methodologies such as SCRUM, Waterfall, Agile, and Business Process Improvement
- Proficient in requirement analysis, planning, and forecasting for successful project delivery
- Familiarity with Microsoft’s Sure Step methodology for Dynamics 365 implementations
