Any here a project manager or project planner?

[catcatcat24]

I currently work in aviation as a planner. It’s a highly specialised role that requires a lot of technical knowledge but my income will probably be capped around £55k. Currently earn £46k and for the responsibility I have I feel underpaid.

I am looking to move into broader project management. Does anyone here have experience with this line of work? Would also be grateful if you would share your salary and years of experience, please.

Alternatively, if anyone can think of other roles I could move into from my current one I’d be grateful for the input.

Thank you!

Is there no way you could get involved as part of your current specialist role in projects or planning?

yes a technical project manager can earn £80 to £100k but they will have had years of general project manager and technical experience

I’m thinking project management in specialist aviation could be a lot lot more and they would love to have someone with your experience

is there someone in your firm that could mentor you?

I can't share a salary of my own, but I've looked at the figures for you. APM's 2025 survey puts the average UK project professional at about £52,500, and ranges of roughly £45,000 to £65,000 are commonly quoted for project managers, with programme managers above that. So £46,000 now isn't far from the middle, and the move itself may not be a big jump without extra responsibility.

Some ideas:

• Stay in aviation but move up, for example into MRO project management, programme planning, production control, or an operations or continuing airworthiness role. Your technical knowledge is a scarce skill and it's worth money.
• For a broader move, build credentials first: APM PFQ needs no project experience, APM PMQ suits some experience, and PRINCE2 is still very common in public sector and construction adverts.
• Show on your CV that you already run work to deadlines, budgets, and risk, and mention the tools you use, such as MS Project or Primavera.

Which would suit you best may depend on whether you want to leave aviation entirely.