Project Management Specialist salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Project Management Specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $105,320 a year ($50.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 21,040 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,780 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $102,320. Pay here is 2% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $103,470. There are 4.7 project management specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $113,740, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for project management specialists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,350 | $32.38 |
| 25th percentile | $82,770 | $39.79 |
| Median | $105,320 | $50.64 |
| 75th percentile | $133,980 | $64.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,780 | $79.70 |
| Average (mean) | $113,740 | $54.68 |
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 | $8,776.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,388.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,050.77 |
| Weekly | $2,025.38 |
| Hourly | $50.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Project Management Specialist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | $123,730 | 730 |
| Kokomo, IN | $110,920 | 70 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $102,880 | 650 |
| Decatur, IL | $102,870 | 60 |
| Bloomington, IL | $101,110 | 460 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $100,510 | 10,450 |
| Springfield, IL | $100,030 | 490 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $99,710 | 5,380 |
| Kankakee, IL | $95,790 | 70 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $95,380 | 7,080 |
| Rockford, IL | $94,690 | 390 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $92,590 | 650 |
| Columbus, IN | $91,510 | 140 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $90,770 | 310 |
| Evansville, IN | $89,990 | 480 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $89,790 | 70 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $86,640 | 270 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $84,820 | 410 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $83,970 | 130 |
| Bloomington, IN | $83,800 | 360 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $83,330 | 290 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $82,660 | 3,630 |
| Muncie, IN | $81,080 | 100 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $78,150 | 200 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $78,090 | 280 |
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 |
See Project Management Specialist pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Management Analyst | $105,090 | $50.53 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $80,400 | $38.65 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $78,210 | $37.60 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $81,170 | $39.02 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $78,510 | $37.74 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $67,050 | $32.23 |
| Logistician | $79,900 | $38.42 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,640 | $37.81 |
| Compliance Officer | $82,020 | $39.43 |
| Cost Estimator | $83,640 | $40.21 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $62,640 | $30.12 |
| Fundraiser | $72,550 | $34.88 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $79,990 | $38.46 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $103,570 | $49.79 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for project management specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $105,320 a year, or $50.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid project management specialists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of project management specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $165,780 a year. The top 25% earn $133,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for project management specialists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,350 a year, and a quarter of project management specialists earn $82,770 or less.
How many project management specialists work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 21,040 project management specialists are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.