A lighting project manager runs the big jobs, such as LED retrofits in stores, schools and clinics or parking lot pole upgrades. They set the schedule and budget, work with subcontractors and building staff, and check the work before the client signs off.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Median pay, electrical contractors · BLS, May 2025
The Project Manager in Lighting Installation leads the execution of large-scale and commercial lighting projects, ensuring that installations are completed on time and within budget. This role directly impacts client satisfaction and company profitability by managing resources effectively and maintaining high-quality standards throughout the project lifecycle.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Oversee all phases of lighting installation projects to ensure timely completion and adherence to client specifications.
Coordinate with clients, subcontractors, and internal teams to align project goals and expectations.
Utilize project management software such as MS Project or Asana to track progress and manage resources.
Conduct site assessments and prepare project plans and schedules.
Ensure compliance with safety regulations and industry standards.
Address and resolve any issues or conflicts that arise during the project.
Prepare and present project status reports to stakeholders.
Manage project budgets and control costs without compromising quality.
Implement quality assurance processes to maintain high standards of workmanship.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Conduct daily site visits to monitor progress and address any on-site issues.
Schedule and lead weekly project meetings with clients and subcontractors.
Review and approve project plans and change orders.
Track project milestones and adjust schedules as necessary.
Provide coaching and guidance to installation teams to optimize performance.
Ensure all project documentation is up-to-date and accessible.
Communicate regularly with the Director of Operations on project status and challenges.
Perform quality checks and ensure adherence to project specifications.
Follow up with clients post-installation to ensure satisfaction and address any concerns.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Project completion rate on schedule: ≥ 95%.
Budget adherence: ≤ 5% variance from initial budget.
Client Satisfaction Score (CSAT): ≥ 4.7/5.0.
Callback rate for project issues: ≤ 3%.
Efficiency in resource allocation: ≥ 90% utilization rate.
30/60/90-day ramp expectations: Achieve 80% of KPIs by 60 days, 100% by 90 days.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
Bachelor's degree in Project Management, Engineering, or related field.
PMP certification or equivalent preferred.
Proficiency in project management software such as MS Project or Asana.
Strong leadership and communication skills.
Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and specifications.
Knowledge of lighting systems and electrical installations.
Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
6. Preferred Experience
3+ years of experience in project management within the lighting installation or construction industry.
Experience managing large commercial projects.
Familiarity with local building codes and regulations.
Background in electrical engineering or similar field.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
Frequent travel to project sites required.
Ability to work in various environmental conditions, including outdoor settings.
Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as needed.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Typical work hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to meet project deadlines.
Seasonal fluctuations in workload are expected, with peak periods in spring and summer.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Competitive salary with performance-based bonuses tied to project KPIs.
Bonuses contingent on maintaining high CSAT scores and low callback rates.
Benefits include health insurance, retirement plan, and paid time off.
Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
10. Company Culture and Overview
At [INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE], we are committed to excellence in craftsmanship, safety, and customer satisfaction. Our team thrives on innovation and collaboration, and we are dedicated to fostering a supportive and growth-oriented environment. Join us in illuminating spaces and creating lasting impressions through quality lighting solutions.
11. How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and want to be part of a growth-oriented company focused on customer satisfaction, please send your resume to [INSERT EMAIL HERE] or apply online at [INSERT WEBSITE LINK HERE].
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A lighting job swaps out the light people work by. Often the building is full of patients, students or shoppers while it happens. Here is where the project manager's job differs.
Exit lighting has to work the whole time
OSHA says exit lighting and other safeguards must work at all times, and every exit route must be adequately lighted. During repairs or alterations, staff may not occupy a workplace unless its exit routes are available and fire protections are kept up, or alternate fire protection of equal safety is provided. The rule binds every employer with staff in the building, the client included. So plan the swap zone by zone, test emergency fixtures before the crew leaves each area, and tell the facility contact what is down. Source: OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.37, maintenance and safeguards for exit routes.
Hospital ceilings come with infection control steps
Retrofits in clinics and hospitals mean lifting ceiling tiles. CDC's guidelines call for an infection control risk assessment before any construction, renovation or repair. In patient-care areas, major repairs that remove ceiling tiles and disturb the space above need more. The guidelines list plastic sheeting or prefabricated containment, negative pressure, and HEPA filters or direct exhaust. Get the facility's sign-off and price the containment before you book a crew. Source: CDC: Environmental infection control in health-care facilities, recommendations.
New landscape builds follow other trades
On a new home or commercial landscape, lighting wire and sleeves go in before pavers, sod and beds are done. Get the landscaper's and hardscaper's schedules early. Mark where conduit crosses walks and drives, and book a short rough-in visit. Coming back after the patio is poured means cutting it or running wire where it shows.
Hand over the controls, not just the fixtures
Occupancy sensors, daylight dimming and timers decide how a retrofit feels on Monday morning. Set them to the client's real hours. Write each zone's settings on one sheet, and show the facility staff how to change them. Many complaints after a retrofit turn out to be settings, so a clear handover saves a trip back.
How much lighting project managers make
The closest BLS group for lighting project managers is construction managers. Construction managers who work for electrical contractors earned a median of $114,450 a year ($55.02 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s about the same as the $114,990 median for construction managers in all industries. About 21,840 of the 380,360 construction managers in that survey work for electrical contractors.
Project managers here are usually salaried. The template adds bonuses tied to project measures and trims them if client survey scores slip or return trips climb.
Electrical contractors
$114,450$114,450 median Middle half $91,490–$144,780 10th–90th $73,110–$186,150
All industries
$114,990$114,990 median Middle half $88,550–$151,640 10th–90th $69,690–$189,440
$50k$75k$100k$125k$150k$175k$200k$225k
10th–90th percentileMiddle halfMedianAnnual pay, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Annual pay by percentile
Group
10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
Electrical contractors
$73,110
$91,490
$114,450
$144,780
$186,150
All industries
$69,690
$88,550
$114,990
$151,640
$189,440
BLS doesn’t publish pay for lighting installers on their own. These figures cover electrical contractors, which include them. Post a real range for your market in the ad.
The pay line in the template above is an example from our Role Blueprint. Set yours from these figures and what local companies pay.
Skills to hire for, and what you can teach
Hire for these
Building a schedule around a client's open hours, shift changes and blackout dates
Tracking job cost by labor, lift rental, fixtures and disposal
Reading reflected ceiling plans, site plans and fixture schedules
Running weekly meetings with clients and subcontractors and writing clear notes
Spotting a workmanship problem on a walk-through and getting it fixed that week
Teach these on the job
Your project software, such as MS Project or Asana
Your fixture suppliers and their lead times
Facility rules at the hospitals, schools and stores you serve
Your closeout package and warranty forms
How your crews split work between day and night shifts
Schedules live in project software such as MS Project or Asana. Photos, change orders and punch lists go in a shared field app. On site, the project manager checks results with a light meter and books lifts through operations.
Lighting project manager interview questions
Two of the 6 questions we'd ask, and what a strong answer sounds like. Ask every candidate the same questions, and rate each answer on your own before you compare notes.
Situational · Handling count changes
Mid-project, the crew finds [60] more fixtures than the audit counted. What do you do?
A strong answer: Verifies the count, tells the customer, prices a change order, updates the rebate application and adjusts materials and schedule.
Behavioral · Staying on budget
Tell me about a retrofit or lighting project you brought in on budget despite problems.
A strong answer: Tracked costs weekly, caught issues early and used change orders and planning to recover.
Does a lighting project manager need PMP certification?
It helps, but it's optional. PMP or an equivalent appears in the template as a preference. For a lighting contractor, a record of finished retrofits in occupied buildings tells you more. Ask candidates for one job's schedule and budget, what changed along the way and how the client felt at the end.
How much does a lighting project manager make?
Construction managers who work for electrical contractors earned a median of $114,450 a year ($55.02 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $91,490 and $144,780 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and bonus terms.
What physical tasks does a lighting project manager do on site?
The template's 50-pound line covers unloading fixture cartons, carrying sample fixtures and moving a light meter and tools across a parking lot or warehouse. Site visits mean walking the job in a hard hat, vest and safety glasses, outdoors in any season. Ladder and lift work belongs to the crews.
Who tells the building's tenants about a retrofit?
Usually the building's manager does, using dates the project manager supplies. Send the facility contact a zone-by-zone plan a week or two ahead. Say which areas will be worked, at what hours and what will be moved. The manager forwards it to tenants. If a tenant calls the crew, the project manager answers, not the installers.
What goes in the closeout package for a lighting retrofit?
Include an as-built fixture list by room and each zone's control settings. Add the makers' warranty sheets, lamp and ballast disposal receipts, and any rebate paperwork the utility needs. Before and after photos and light readings help if the client asked for them. A full package helps the client's maintenance staff and makes the next sale to that owner easier.
