Discover the role of scrum masters and learn what their daily tasks look like, what the job requirements typically are, and how to hire the best in the field.
What is a Scrum Master?
A Scrum master plays a key role in the Scrum framework - an agile project management methodology used to manage and complete complex projects. The Scrum master is responsible for facilitating and coaching the Scrum team, which consists of the product owner, development team, and stakeholders, to achieve their goals effectively. Furthermore, they act as a servant-leader, guiding the team through the Scrum process, removing any obstacles that may impede their progress, and much more.
Essentially, the Scrum master fosters a culture of continuous improvement within the team, encouraging them to reflect on their work and identify ways to improve their processes and deliverables.
If you are looking for a job as a Scrum master you can check out the open positions below.
How Much Does a Scrum Master Make?
The average salary of a Scrum master varies. However, according to salary data from Glassdoor, the average annual salary for a Scrum master in the United States is approximately $116,594. However, salaries can range from around $65,000 to over $130,000 per year, depending on the factors mentioned above. In other parts of the world, such as Europe or Asia, salaries for Scrum masters may be lower, although they can still vary widely depending on the country and the organization.
Additionally, many Scrum Masters receive bonuses or other incentives based on their performance, which can further increase their overall compensation. The highest paying industries for Scrum masters are the IT, computer software, and finance industries.
- Fidelity Investments - $126,863
- Wells Fargo - $130,484
- JP Morgan - $117,502
What are the Job Responsibilities of a Scrum Master?
While the specific responsibilities might vary by organization, the job responsibilities of a Scrum master typically include the following.
- Facilitating the Scrum process within their team, including guiding them through events such as sprint planning, daily scrums, sprint reviews, and sprint retrospectives.
- Ensure that the team adheres to the principles and values of the Scrum framework.
- Serving as a coach and mentor to the team, including helping team members to improve their skills, providing feedback, and identifying opportunities for growth and development.
- Resolving conflicts within the team and fostering a culture of collaboration and teamwork.
- Removing any obstacles that may be impeding the team's progress.
- Monitoring and reporting on the team's progress and tracking key metrics, identifying areas for improvement, and communicating progress to stakeholders and leadership.
Overall, the role of the Scrum Master is essential to the success of the Scrum process, and requires a combination of leadership, coaching, and technical skills.
Meeting a Scrum Master
It’s one thing to know the requirements of a role — it’s another to see yourself in it. At The Org, we believe that putting faces to the job title can provide more context and a better sense of how the role fits into the big picture.
Explore live positions for Scrum masters and meet the people behind the title here.
Tips for Recruiting a Good Scrum Master
While finding your ideal Scrum master might feel discouraging at first, the following tips can help you feel confident in your recruiting efforts.
- Ensure candidates understand the strengths AND weaknesses of their work. While it’s important to find a Scrum master that’s competent in XP, Kanban, and Lean, it’s equally as important that you find someone who understands the weaknesses of various methods, frameworks, and principles. That way, they can properly identify when and how to put them to work.
- Focus on SOFT skills. Technical knowledge is, of course, a priority, however, so is personality. Make sure when you create your job ad that you include the importance of soft skills, including the ability to encourage, mentor, and lift the team when necessary.
- Understand the role’s essential job duties. You won’t be well-suited to begin the recruitment process until you understand the essential job duties of a Scrum master. To learn such information, we suggest checking out job ads and descriptions on sites within your industry. That way, you’ll know what you’re looking for.
- Frequent institutions of higher learning. With the tech sector constantly evolving, it never hurts to go to the source of fresh talent. Whether you choose local institutions or large universities, places of higher learning can be excellent places to find qualified talent.
By keeping these tips in mind during the recruitment process, chances are good that you’ll find a skilled Scrum master that fits your company perfectly.
At The Org, we believe traditional recruiting is in need of a refresh. Candidates want to know who they’ll work with, not just what they’ll do. Workplace culture, interpersonal relationships, and company values are more important now than ever.
And what better way to showcase your company’s unique culture than through your Org Chart?
Highlight different teams in your organization, the people that make these teams great, and show candidates how they fit into the big picture.
Your Org Chart is a novel and effective way to show candidates where they fit in and to show off your greatest asset: your people.
Explore Org Charts here, and sign up today to create your own customized Org Chart for your company.
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