The Scrum Master is a professional who coaches the team towards the adoption of the Scrum Framework. The core responsibility of a Scrum Master is to lead the Scrum Team to the correct understanding and enactment of the Scrum theory, practices and rules.
The Scrum Master interacts with all the members of the Scrum Team (the Product Owner and the Development Team) and with the entire organization in order to maximize the value created by the Scrum Team.
The Scrum Master is a professional in the Agile Software Development field and s/he responsible for the Scrum Team by monitoring Scrum processes and meetings.
She is the professional responsible for ensuring that the Agile philosophy is understood and enabled inside the whole organization (that’s the reason why is preferable that the Scrum Master belongs to the organization instead of being freelance)
Due to their devotion to the Agile principles, the Scrum Masters are often considered as servant-leaders for the Scrum Team.
The role of a Scrum Master
The main responsibility of the Scrum Master is being a process facilitator for the Product Owner and for all the Scrum Team. Being a team member s/he has no management authority inside the team in fact, the Scrum Master has to lead the team by acting as a facilitator for the Scrum Events (as the development of working software) and helping the team to release the Product Increment. The Scrum Master is considered as a coach for the Scrum Team.
The Responsibilities of the Scrum Master inside the Scrum team
The main responsibilities of a Scrum Master are:
- to ensure that the Scrum processes are correctly enabled
- to facilitate the Scrum events of Sprint Planning, the daily scrum, the Sprint Review and the Sprint Retrospective
- to remove all the obstacles
- to maintain a friend environment that enables team efficiency
- conflict management inside the Scrum Team
- to ensure a smooth relationship within the team and the Product Owner and between the Scrum Team and the other departments.
- to protect the team from external threats
- to provide assistance on the agile practices, give priority to individuals and interactions over processes and tools.
- Guarantee the adoption of the Scrum framework
- To help the Product Owner with the following activities:
- Shaping and ordering the Product Backlog
- Communicating the vision, goals and intended use of the product to the Development Team
- Describing Product Backlog items to the Development Team clearly and unambiguously
- Organizing Scrum events when and as a request by the Product Owner
- To help the Development Teams with:
- their internal self-organization
- the removal of any possible obstacle to their work
- the development of high-value products
- At the organization level the Scrum Master has to:
- Lead and assist the overall organization in adopting and implementing Scrum
- Help colleagues to understand and use Scrum
- Implement any necessary change to increase the productivity of the team
- Collaborate with other ScrumMaster in order to increase the effectiveness of Scrum adoption inside the organization.
The Competences of a Scrum Master
Scrum.org enlighten the 5 main areas in which a professional has to succeed if she/he wants to be a Scrum Master. A potential Scrum master has:
- To understand and to enable the Scrum Framework.
- To develop the individual and the Scrum Team.
- To manage a product in an Agile way.
- To professionally develop and deliver products.
- Nurture the Agile organization by boosting its improvement.
A practical example of what a Scrum Master does
Claudia works as a Scrum Master at a fintech scale-up that develops a mobile app for managing personal expenses. The development team is made up of six people working remotely from Milan, Berlin, and Madrid. One of her initial goals is to strengthen collaboration and make the sprint process more effective.
After observing a few sprint cycles, Claudia introduces some small changes: she transforms the retrospectives into more interactive discussions using Miro, redefines the Definition of Done with the team, and works with the Product Owner to improve the quality of the User Stories.
When a colleague raises technical issues caused by outdated tools, Claudia facilitates the discussion and the decision to adopt a new CI/CD system, also bringing in the IT department and negotiating a transition period.
Over four months, the team’s average output increases from 18 to 27 story points completed per sprint, and their lead time improves by 30%. Moreover, the team atmosphere improves and conflicts are reduced. Her role proves to be central not only to delivery, but also to the cultural growth of the Agile team.
How much does a Scrum Master earn in Belgium?
The average national salary for a Scrum Master in Belgium is in the region of €78,000 gross per year. However, there is a wide range. Salaries for junior positions typically start from €55,000–€60,000, while mid-level figures can expect to earn up to €80,000. Senior professionals or those with Agile Coach responsibilities often exceed €95,000, with top-end salaries reaching over €120,000 in big tech, finance, or complex multinational environments.
Three variables have the greatest impact on salary: seniority, the industry, and certifications. Each step up in experience can be worth an additional €15,000–€20,000. The variable component, including bonuses and team performance rewards, can add a further 5–10%.
Those working as freelancers or external consultants charge daily rates between €550 and €800, based on the complexity of the project and the level of Agile transformation required.
Certifications can be significant salary boosters. Qualifications such as PSM I/II (Professional Scrum Master), CSM (Certified ScrumMaster®), and SAFe® Scrum Master can increase pay considerably. Companies also reward transversal skills like coaching, facilitation, interpersonal communication, and change management, which are increasingly central to successful Agile transformations.
QRP International is an Accredited Training Organisation (ATO) that offers the Scrum certification: the Scrum Master or Scrum Product Owner.
Do you want to deepen your understanding on these concepts and learn how to use the Scrum framework to its full potential? QRP International organises Scrum Master and Scrum Product Owner Certified courses. Visit the site or write us for all the information!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Scrum Master Role
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