Project Management Specialist salary in California
Project Management Specialists in California earn a median of $120,910 a year ($58.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 114,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $69,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $188,560 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $102,320. California ranks 5th of 51 states for project management specialists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 6.3 project management specialists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $124,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for project management specialists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,180 | $33.26 |
| 25th percentile | $85,620 | $41.16 |
| Median | $120,910 | $58.13 |
| 75th percentile | $155,850 | $74.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $188,560 | $90.66 |
| Average (mean) | $124,430 | $59.82 |
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 | $10,075.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,037.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,650.38 |
| Weekly | $2,325.19 |
| Hourly | $58.13 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Project Management Specialist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $135,120 | 10,300 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $135,040 | 20,770 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $124,350 | 6,860 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $118,380 | 90 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $117,460 | 10,740 |
| Napa, CA | $109,060 | 310 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $108,730 | 640 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $108,310 | 38,540 |
| Yuba City, CA | $108,190 | 150 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $107,340 | 1,000 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $106,780 | 440 |
| Vallejo, CA | $106,520 | 720 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $106,250 | 1,030 |
| El Centro, CA | $105,860 | 140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $104,990 | 1,510 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $104,580 | 1,410 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $104,240 | 910 |
| Merced, CA | $103,850 | 190 |
| Chico, CA | $103,320 | 320 |
| Modesto, CA | $102,490 | 670 |
| Salinas, CA | $102,400 | 490 |
| Fresno, CA | $101,030 | 1,720 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $100,770 | 6,720 |
| Redding, CA | $99,030 | 270 |
| Visalia, CA | $95,770 | 450 |
Highest-paying states for project management specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $124,160 |
| New Jersey | $122,980 |
| Delaware | $122,190 |
| New York | $121,040 |
| California | $120,910 |
| Virginia | $120,840 |
| Massachusetts | $114,190 |
| Colorado | $110,050 |
| New Mexico | $106,970 |
| Oregon | $105,480 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $87,570 | $42.10 |
| Management Analyst | $101,460 | $48.78 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $94,700 | $45.53 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $83,500 | $40.14 |
| Compliance Officer | $96,980 | $46.63 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $82,720 | $39.77 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $75,790 | $36.44 |
| Logistician | $92,890 | $44.66 |
| Cost Estimator | $85,460 | $41.09 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $91,790 | $44.13 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $71,120 | $34.19 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $91,410 | $43.95 |
| Fundraiser | $79,710 | $38.32 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $105,810 | $50.87 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for project management specialists in California is $120,910 a year, or $58.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $69,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $188,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid project management specialists make in California?
The top 10% of project management specialists in California earn at least $188,560 a year. The top 25% earn $155,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for project management specialists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $69,180 a year, and a quarter of project management specialists earn $85,620 or less.
How many project management specialists work in California?
About 114,380 project management specialists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.