Project Management Specialist Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Project Management Specialists in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $99,710 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,064 take-home, or $6,339 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median project management specialist salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,106
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,182
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,446
- Indiana income tax$2,912
- Take-home pay$76,064
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.95% state
Living in Indianapolis (Marion County)? City residents also pay Indianapolis (Marion County)’s County income tax — about $1,994 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $74,070 ($6,173 a month). Choose “Indianapolis (Marion County)” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Project Management Specialist pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,630 | $29.63 | $49,911 | $4,159 |
| 25th percentile | $77,800 | $37.40 | $61,297 | $5,108 |
| Median (50th) | $99,710 | $47.94 | $76,064 | $6,339 |
| 75th percentile | $128,170 | $61.62 | $95,119 | $7,927 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $155,080 | $74.56 | $112,718 | $9,393 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $99,710 buys in Indianapolis, IN
Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median project management specialist's $76,064 take-home pay has the buying power of $79,485 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Project Management Specialist jobs are less concentrated in Indianapolis, IN than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for project management specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #20 of 64 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $130,380 | $100,381 | $90,325 |
| 2 | Boulder, CO | $122,040 | $90,019 | $85,568 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $135,120 | $93,527 | $84,699 |
| 4 | Des Moines, IA | $101,150 | $76,797 | $83,747 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $127,030 | $90,262 | $82,897 |
| 6 | Colorado Springs, CO | $111,740 | $83,231 | $82,647 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $102,390 | $80,861 | $82,456 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $101,050 | $76,107 | $82,239 |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $99,710 | $76,064 | $79,485 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 64 metros →
About the job: project management specialists
Analyze and coordinate the schedule, timeline, procurement, staffing, and budget of a product or service on a per project basis. Lead and guide the work of technical staff. May serve as a point of contact for the client or customer.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.7% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a project management specialist make in Indianapolis, IN?
The median project management specialist salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $99,710 a year, or about $47.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,800 and $128,170.
What is a project management specialist’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $99,710 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $76,064 a year ($6,339 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,912 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a project management specialist?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $102,320. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $79,485 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #20 of 64 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a project management specialist afford rent in Indianapolis, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Indianapolis, IN is $1,242 a month ($1,454 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median project management specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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