Scrum master job description.
Hiring a scrum master or stepping into agile facilitation? This scrum master job description outlines responsibilities like leading stand-ups, managing blockers, improving velocity, and supporting development teams. It also includes typical skills, certifications, and expected pay ranges.
What does a scrum master do?
A scrum master facilitates agile processes, ensuring that delivery teams can operate effectively and continuously improve. They coach teams on Scrum principles, remove blockers, and support team health and communication.
Core responsibilities include running daily stand-ups, sprint planning, retrospectives, and sprint reviews. They work closely with product owners and engineering leads to support smooth delivery cycles and remove friction.
In small teams, scrum masters often wear multiple hats. In scaled Agile environments, they serve as team leads, mentors, and Agile advocates across multiple squads or workstreams.
Key responsibilities of a scrum master.
Scrum masters facilitate Agile teams and ensure effective delivery practices. Their responsibilities include:
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Coaching teams on Agile and Scrum methodologies
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Facilitating daily stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives
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Removing impediments and supporting continuous improvement
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Helping product owners manage backlogs and plan sprints
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Shielding the team from external interruptions or distractions
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Monitoring velocity and delivery consistency
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Supporting cross-team dependencies and alignment
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Encouraging open communication and psychological safety
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Assisting with onboarding and Agile maturity tracking
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Ensuring Agile principles are followed throughout delivery
This role blends team facilitation with Agile coaching and delivery support.
Skills and requirements for a scrum master.
Scrum masters facilitate Agile practices and ensure team productivity. Employers typically look for:
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3–5 years of experience in Agile delivery or scrum facilitation
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Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or similar Agile certification
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Proven ability to run ceremonies and support Agile teams
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Skilled in coaching teams on Agile best practices
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Strong communication and conflict resolution skills
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Experience working with product owners, developers, and QA
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Familiarity with Agile metrics like velocity and burndown
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Ability to remove blockers and support continuous improvement
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Comfortable in multi-team or scaled Agile environments
Most scrum masters maintain healthy delivery rhythms and team collaboration.
Average salary for a scrum master.
In the UK, the average salary for a scrum master typically ranges from £40,000 to £55,000, based on Agile facilitation, sprint planning, and delivery cadence.
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Mid-level scrum masters earn between £40,000 and £47,000
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Senior professionals managing multiple squads or enterprise-level Agile may earn between £48,000 and £55,000
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Certifications like PSM, CSM, or SAFe are highly valued
Top salaries are found in tech firms, consultancies, and product-first teams.
Career progression for a scrum master.
A scrum master facilitates Agile ceremonies, removes blockers, and ensures the development team is focused and aligned. It’s a delivery leadership role that often evolves into programme or transformational leadership. A typical path includes:
Agile coordinator / Project support
Assists with sprints, retrospectives, and team rituals. Tracks delivery metrics.
Scrum master
Coaches teams, manages ceremonies, and fosters continuous improvement in Agile delivery.
Senior scrum master / Agile delivery lead
Supports multiple squads or scaled Agile frameworks. Drives Agile adoption across departments.
Agile coach / Programme lead
Mentors teams, aligns delivery with business goals, and embeds Agile practices at scale.
Director of Agile delivery / Transformation lead
Leads enterprise-wide change programmes and defines Agile strategy across the business.
salary guide
Our UK operations salary guide.
Scrum masters support Agile teams by guiding delivery, removing blockers, and facilitating sprint processes. Salary should reflect Agile knowledge, certification, and team scope.
Use the UK operations salary guide to benchmark scrum master roles, review hiring trends from 2024, and plan salary expectations through 2026.
FAQS
Scrum master FAQs.
Facilitation and clarity. scrum masters ensure Agile ceremonies add value, help unblock teams, and coach stakeholders on Agile principles — especially when delivery pressure increases. They're cultural leaders as much as process owners.
No — some blend the role into delivery manager or Agile coach roles. But in teams adopting scrum formally, especially in fintech and SaaS, scrum masters play a key role in consistency and continuous improvement.
Choosing someone too focused on process and not enough on people. The best scrum masters adapt frameworks to team needs — not the other way around. They facilitate psychological safety as well as stand-ups.
Talk about how you improved team velocity, reduced sprint rollover, or helped shift the team from task-based work to outcome-focused delivery. Specific metrics help — but team health is equally important.
Agile coach, delivery lead, or sometimes product roles. Some scrum masters also evolve into team operations or hybrid project/people leadership tracks.
