What is the first thing you think of when you encounter the term scrum? Do you think of rugby players packed together, heads down, trying to gain possession of the ball? Or rather, do you think of something a bit less aggressive, like a project management methodology?
Gain deep insights into the highly popular Agile Scrum project methodology with the Agile Scrum Master Certification Training! Check out the course now.
If you’re here for sports, you’re out of luck. But if you want to know all about Scrum Masters, specifically career opportunities, a typical Scrum Master salary, and the best places to start your career, then you have come to the right place!
Let’s dive into the world of Scrum Master, starting with what one is.
What is a ScrumMaster?
Before you understand what a ScrumMaster is, you need to know what Scrum is, and what better definition than the one provided by the developers themselves? According to the site, “Scrum is a framework within which people can address complex adaptive problems, while productively and creatively delivering products of the highest possible value.”
Consequently, the same source tells us that a ScrumMaster “…is responsible for promoting and supporting Scrum. ScrumMasters do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory, practices, rules, and values. The ScrumMaster is a servant-leader for the scrum team. The ScrumMaster helps those outside the scrum team understand which of their interactions with the scrum team are helpful and which aren’t.”
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What are the Roles and Responsibilities of a ScrumMaster?
Think of the ScrumMaster as the team’s coach and cheerleader rolled up into one. ScrumMasters serve three different groups. Those responsibilities are to:
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The Product Owners
Make sure that the scrum team understands the scope, goals, and product domain, while also seeing that the product owners know how to maximize product backlog. -
The Development Team
Teach the team the disciplines of agile practices, cross-functionality, and self-organization, while helping them to create excellent products. The ScrumMaster also does its best to resolve any obstacles or issues that may hinder the team (e.g. team conflict, miscommunication). -
The Organization
Take the lead in helping the organization adopt Scrum techniques while planning its implementation. This includes assisting all parties concerned to understand Scrum, especially if this is a brand-new concept for the stakeholders and other employees.
ScrumMasters are also responsible for facilitating Scrum events within the organization; this responsibility applies to all groups.
How Do You Become a ScrumMaster?
With all of the responsibilities on a ScrumMaster’s shoulders, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think that the road to becoming a ScrumMaster is a long and difficult one. Fortunately, that’s not the case; it’s actually not that difficult.
However, it indeed takes a specific personality type with a particular set of soft skills to become an effective ScrumMaster. Good ScrumMasters:
- Can communicate well
- Are outgoing
- Are good leaders, not afraid of taking charge and rallying the team
- Are self-motivated
- Can be diplomatic, especially with non-team people
- Enjoy solving problems
You can start your ScrumMaster training by familiarizing yourself with the fundamentals of Scrum. A simple search engine check reveals a multitude of online resources that can give you the basics.
Once you feel that you have a good grasp of what Scrum is all about, you will be ready to take the Certified ScrumMaster Certification training course. The training is a two-day course that prepares you for certification. Incidentally, this course is also an excellent way for professionals to upskill. It never hurts to increase your skill set, as the investment of time and resources will yield far higher returns.
After you pass the course, register for and take the CSM exam. When you pass it, congratulations, you’ve done it! Learn more about how to become a Certified ScrumMaster.
This infographic sums up the roadmap nicely as well.
Top Skills of a Scrum Master
As a servant leader, a Scrum Master is responsible for facilitating the team's agile development process and ensuring that it runs smoothly. Here are some of the top skills of a Scrum Master:
- Agile mindset: Understanding the agile values and principles and applying them to the Scrum framework
- Communication: Being an excellent communicator, active listener, and able to provide feedback effectively
- Facilitation: Facilitating Scrum events such as daily stand-ups, sprint planning, sprint review, and sprint retrospective
- Coaching: Guiding and coaching the team and the organization on agile practices, values, and principles
- Conflict resolution: Resolving conflicts within the team and between team members and stakeholders
- Servant leadership: Leading by example, serving the team, and promoting self-organization and empowerment
- Continuous improvement: Encouraging and facilitating continuous improvement within the team and the organization
- Technical knowledge: Having a basic understanding of technical practices and the product being developed
- Lean thinking: Applying lean principles to eliminate waste, improve flow, and optimize value delivery
- Emotional intelligence: Understanding and managing one's own emotions and those of others, and fostering a positive team culture.
What’s the Demand for ScrumMasters?
The ScrumMaster Trends Report released by Scrum.org and Age of Product indicates that the role of ScrumMaster is becoming more significant and widespread. The report also points out that certification is a crucial element for a successful Scrum Master. Most Scrum Masters hired are trained, have certification, and are paid more than their untrained, non-certified counterparts. Considering how some companies will even compensate you for work-related education, there is no reason why you shouldn’t take a certification training course.
While there’s still a small percentage of organizations out there that are adopting the waterfall method, there are more using the Agile method, which of course factors into Scrum.
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Learn the Basics of Scrum and the Scrum LifecycleEXPLORE COURSEWhat are the Different Types of ScrumMaster Career Paths Available?
There’s no reason for being content as a ScrumMaster indefinitely. As, there are several career paths you can take to raise your professional life to the next level.
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Agile Coach
Agile coaches facilitate the implementation of Scrum and Agile together. Consider it a specialized, focused variety of ScrumMaster. -
Mentor
Once you’ve mastered scrum methodology and have logged a few years’ worth of experience as a ScrumMaster, consider becoming a teacher. After all, larger organizations and businesses have more than one scrum team, so that they will need more than one ScrumMaster. Mentors teach others how to become ScrumMasters. -
Manager
You can even move away from Scrum altogether and try for a manager position. After all, a good manager knows how to lead people and has a good understanding of the organization. Who better to do these things than a former ScrumMaster?
There are more possibilities, limited only by your imagination and ambition. Any profession that requires people skills, leadership, and technical understanding of some sort would be ideal for the ScrumMaster who wants to move on.
Speaking of moving, where in the world are these jobs that pay so well? Now that you mention it:
Scrum Master Salary in India
The average annual salary of a Scrum Master in India is approximately 7-15 lakhs INR. However, it can range from 5-20 lakhs INR or more, depending on various factors such as experience, location, skill set, and the size and industry of the employer.
Scrum Master Salary in India: Based on the Employer
Scrum Master salaries in India can vary based on the type of employer. Here are some average salaries for different types of employers:
- MNC (Multinational Corporation): 10-25 lakhs INR
- IT Services Company: 7-20 lakhs INR
- Start-up: 5-15 lakhs INR
- Government Organization: 7-15 lakhs INR
- Consulting Firm: 8-20 lakhs INR
Scrum Master Salary in India: Based on Location
Scrum Master salaries in India can vary based on the location of the job. Here are some average salaries for different locations:
- Bangalore: 8-25 lakhs INR
- Mumbai: 10-20 lakhs INR
- Delhi/NCR: 8-20 lakhs INR
- Hyderabad: 7-18 lakhs INR
- Pune: 7-15 lakhs INR
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Learn the Basics of Scrum and the Scrum LifecycleEXPLORE COURSEScrum Master Salary in India: Based on Experience
Scrum Master salaries in India can vary based on the level of experience of the candidate. Here are some average salaries for different levels of experience:
- Entry-level (1-3 years of experience): 5-12 lakhs INR
- Mid-level (4-7 years of experience): 7-18 lakhs INR
- Senior-level (8 years and above): 10-25 lakhs INR
Scrum Master Salary in India Compared to Similar Job Roles
In India, the average salary of a Scrum Master is competitive compared to other related job roles such as:
- Project Manager: A Scrum Master's salary is similar to that of a Project Manager, with an average salary range of 6-12 lakhs per year.
- Agile Coach: An Agile Coach's salary is higher, with an average salary range of 8-20 lakhs per year.
- Business Analyst: A Business Analyst's salary is lower, with an average salary range of 4-8 lakhs per year.
Note: These figures may vary based on the company, industry, and location.
What Does a Scrum Master Salary Look Like in Different Countries?
Unsurprisingly, not every country pays the same; we need to factor in variables such as the nation’s overall state of the economy and demand for Scrum Masters. That’s why there will be differences between a Scrum Master salary in India compared to a Scrum Master salary in the UK.
It’s interesting to note, however, that according to this report, women are surpassing men in terms of salary. Although only 29 percent of the survey respondents were women, there were more women than men in the higher salary ranges.
How Much Does a Scrum Master Make in the US
Scrum Masters in the United States earn an average salary of $104,469. The average additional cash compensation for a Scrum Master in US is $9,806. Scrum Masters in the United States earn a total compensation of $114,275 on average.
How Much Does a Scrum Master Make in CANADA
The average salary for a Scrum Master in the Montreal, QC area is $88,287 per year. An additional cash compensation of $5,865 is paid in addition to this salary, ranging from $2,303 to $14,938.
How Much Does a Scrum Master Make in United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the average salary for a Scrum Master is £57,144.
Here is a sample of annual average Scrum Master salaries, focusing on the more popular markets. The figures come courtesy of Glassdoor. Note that there can be a variance depending on geographical location, the experience level of the applicant, and company size.
Average Scrum Master Salary By Country
- United States: $114,275
- Singapore: SGD 81,000
- Australia: A$120K
- United Kingdom: £57,144
- Canada: CA$88,287
- New Zealand: NZ$114K
- South Africa: ZAR 41K (monthly)
- China: ¥ 16K (monthly)
- India: ₹13,00,000 LPA
As Scrum’s acceptance continues to grow, we will see more countries added to the list.
In addition to geography, candidates should take experience into consideration. For example, an entry level Scrum Master job pays an average of $101,087 per year, according to Glassdoor.com, while a Senior Scrum Master salary runs about $117,062 annually.
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Learn the Basics of Scrum and the Scrum LifecycleEXPLORE COURSEWhat Industries Use ScrumMasters, and Which Pay Better?
Some industries need Scrum Masters more than others. Naturally, the IT industry is the prime Scrum user, but other sectors are coming around as well. Like the salaries above, these details aren’t absolute and may vary depending on the economy, overall demand, and other factors. However, it’s a reasonably good sampling. Also, be aware that an entry level Scrum Master salary could vary greatly from a senior level Scrum Master salary.
More industries may jump on the Scrum bandwagon as the methodology continues to yield good results.
- Financial services (insurance, retirement planning, investment firms)
- Product development (light manufacturing, heavy industry)
- Construction (contractors)
- Advertising and marketing
- Consulting firms
- Government offices
- Disrupters (Airbnb, Uber)
In terms of payment, the financial sector dominates the field, with product owners able to earn approximately $149K a year. The insurance industry offers product owners up to $136K annually, while telecommunications offers $125K a year. The computer industry, where Scrum first came into being, has similarly high salaries, as evidenced by Apple’s project manager opportunities coming in at around $145K a year.
Want to Learn More About Becoming a ScrumMaster?
If all of this scrum talk has gotten you interested in pursuing it as a career (or upskilling, if you’re already involved in Agile or other collaboration methodologies), Simplilearn has the tools you need.
The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) Certification Training is a two-day course that gives you a thorough overview of Scrum’s framework for agile project management and prepares you to earn your ScrumMaster Certification. You will gain a solid understanding of Scrum’s basics, its lifecycle, how to put together a scrum team, and how to initiate a project. You will also learn how to implement a scrum, ranging from initial releases and sprints all the way to enterprise transformation. It also includes the exam fee.
Additionally, the Agile ScrumMaster Training Course introduces you to Agile’s best practices and the nuances of the Scrum methodology. Master the agile Scrum project management approach and enhance your ability to develop and deliver quality products to customers.
Take one course, or take both. These courses will help expedite your journey in achieving a ScrumMaster Certification, and all of the benefits it offers. Check out Simplilearn today!
Certified ScrumMaster Certification Training
Learn the Basics of Scrum and the Scrum LifecycleEXPLORE COURSEFAQs
1. Is Scrum Master a high-paying job?
The Scrum Master role can be a high-paying job, but the salary varies widely based on several factors, such as:
- Experience: More experience typically translates to a higher salary.
- Country: The average salary of a Scrum Master can vary greatly depending on the country, with some countries offering higher salaries than others.
- Industry: Scrum Masters in IT and software development tend to earn more compared to those in other industries.
- Location: Cities with a high cost of living and high demand for Scrum Masters often offer higher salaries.
- Company size: Larger companies often offer higher salaries than smaller companies.
Overall, the Scrum Master role can be a high paying job, but the exact salary will depend on the factors mentioned above.
2. Is Scrum Master a good career?
Becoming a Scrum Master can be a good career choice if you have the following qualities:
- Passion for Agile methodologies and continuous improvement
- Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to facilitate cross-functional teams and resolve conflicts
- Strong understanding of Scrum framework and Agile principles
- Willingness to continuously learn and adapt to new situations
The demand for Scrum Masters is growing, particularly in the technology and software development industries, where Agile methodologies are widely adopted. Scrum Masters play a critical role in ensuring successful project delivery, and as a result, can have a significant impact on the success of an organization.
Overall, becoming a Scrum Master can be a rewarding and fulfilling career for those who are passionate about Agile and project management.
3. Is a Scrum Master a stressful job?
Being a Scrum Master can be stressful at times, as it involves the following responsibilities:
- Facilitating cross-functional teams and ensuring they are following Agile principles and practices
- Resolving conflicts and ensuring effective communication within the team
- Managing competing priorities and ensuring timely delivery of projects
- Staying up-to-date with industry trends and continuously improving processes
However, the level of stress can vary depending on several factors, such as the complexity of the project, the size of the team, and the company culture. Good time management, effective communication, and strong leadership skills can help Scrum Masters handle stress and be successful in their role.
Overall, being a Scrum Master can be challenging at times, but it can also be a rewarding and fulfilling role for those who are passionate about Agile and project management.
4. What do Scrum Masters do all day?
A Scrum Master's daily tasks vary, but typically include the following responsibilities:
- Facilitating Agile ceremonies, such as daily stand-up meetings, sprint planning, review, and retrospective meetings
- Supporting the development team in following Scrum practices and removing any obstacles that might impact the team's ability to deliver work
- Encouraging open communication and collaboration among the team members
- Helping the team prioritize work and ensuring the backlog is kept up-to-date
- Monitoring the progress of the sprint and ensuring the team is meeting their commitments
- Mentoring team members and coaching them on Agile principles and Scrum practices
- Continuously seeking ways to improve processes and ensure efficient delivery of work.
Note: The specific tasks of a Scrum Master may vary based on the company and project requirements
