Project Management Specialist salary in the U.S.
Project Management Specialists in the U.S. earn a median of $102,320 a year ($49.19 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,066,670 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $167,970 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $110,740, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for project management specialists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,580 | $29.61 |
| 25th percentile | $78,440 | $37.71 |
| Median | $102,320 | $49.19 |
| 75th percentile | $133,100 | $63.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $167,970 | $80.76 |
| Average (mean) | $110,740 | $53.24 |
Half of project management specialists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,526.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,263.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,935.38 |
| Weekly | $1,967.69 |
| Hourly | $49.19 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Project Management Specialist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $124,160 | 36,240 |
| New Jersey | $122,980 | 28,300 |
| Delaware | $122,190 | 1,770 |
| New York | $121,040 | 68,020 |
| California | $120,910 | 114,380 |
| Virginia | $120,840 | 43,860 |
| Massachusetts | $114,190 | 21,960 |
| Colorado | $110,050 | 32,390 |
| New Mexico | $106,970 | 4,330 |
| Oregon | $105,480 | 19,380 |
| Connecticut | $105,240 | 8,410 |
| District of Columbia | $104,900 | 5,170 |
| Rhode Island | $104,680 | 3,880 |
| Maryland | $104,040 | 30,530 |
| Illinois | $103,470 | 27,180 |
| Georgia | $102,140 | 28,900 |
| Maine | $101,830 | 2,620 |
| Michigan | $100,970 | 25,330 |
| Alabama | $100,820 | 3,190 |
| North Carolina | $100,820 | 36,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $100,150 | 36,150 |
| Kansas | $100,010 | 6,030 |
| Nevada | $99,940 | 8,290 |
| Alaska | $99,580 | 1,950 |
| Arizona | $99,050 | 22,920 |
| Texas | $98,440 | 138,960 |
| Florida | $98,070 | 76,370 |
| Minnesota | $97,860 | 18,850 |
| Wisconsin | $97,580 | 21,610 |
| Utah | $96,720 | 16,450 |
| Iowa | $96,540 | 6,720 |
| North Dakota | $96,160 | 2,020 |
| Ohio | $95,770 | 34,260 |
| Idaho | $95,630 | 5,750 |
| South Carolina | $95,040 | 17,040 |
| Indiana | $95,020 | 11,970 |
| Missouri | $94,660 | 21,460 |
| Wyoming | $94,080 | 1,180 |
| West Virginia | $91,780 | 2,520 |
| New Hampshire | $90,890 | 3,840 |
| Montana | $87,890 | 2,940 |
| Oklahoma | $86,240 | 11,220 |
| Tennessee | $85,890 | 20,780 |
| Louisiana | $84,850 | 8,050 |
| South Dakota | $82,250 | 1,310 |
| Kentucky | $81,700 | 10,250 |
| Vermont | $80,800 | 1,190 |
| Nebraska | $80,150 | 3,190 |
| Mississippi | $78,870 | 4,320 |
| Hawaii | $78,000 | 1,560 |
| Arkansas | $77,170 | 5,510 |
| Virgin Islands | $75,240 | 90 |
| Guam | $67,370 | 400 |
| Puerto Rico | $65,800 | 2,330 |
Best-paying metro areas for project management specialists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dothan, AL | $135,260 | 60 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $135,120 | 10,300 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $135,040 | 20,770 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $130,380 | 26,910 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $127,030 | 38,230 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $126,660 | 68,910 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $125,940 | 1,260 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $124,350 | 6,860 |
| Peoria, IL | $123,730 | 730 |
| Boulder, CO | $122,040 | 2,920 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $118,380 | 90 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $117,460 | 10,740 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $116,980 | 350 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $116,740 | 20,710 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $114,990 | 18,840 |
Metro areas with the most project management specialists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 68,910 | $126,660 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 43,120 | $98,900 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 38,540 | $108,310 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 38,230 | $127,030 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 35,550 | $99,510 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 26,910 | $130,380 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 21,060 | $103,400 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 21,040 | $105,320 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 20,770 | $135,040 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 20,710 | $116,740 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 19,340 | $98,720 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 18,840 | $114,990 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 17,790 | $100,780 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 17,470 | $102,390 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 17,210 | $104,160 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $83,050 | $39.93 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 | $36.51 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $78,760 | $37.87 |
| Management Analyst | $101,860 | $48.97 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $77,710 | $37.36 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $69,280 | $33.31 |
| Compliance Officer | $80,730 | $38.81 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Logistician | $82,320 | $39.58 |
| Cost Estimator | $78,740 | $37.86 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $61,160 | $29.41 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $78,210 | $37.60 |
| Fundraiser | $72,550 | $34.88 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $95,420 | $45.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1082. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a project management specialist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for project management specialists in the U.S. is $102,320 a year, or $49.19 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $167,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid project management specialists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of project management specialists in the U.S. earn at least $167,970 a year. The top 25% earn $133,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for project management specialists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,580 a year, and a quarter of project management specialists earn $78,440 or less.
How many project management specialists work in the U.S.?
About 1,066,670 project management specialists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.