Project Management Specialist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Project Management Specialists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $108,310 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $77,775 take-home, or $6,481 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median project management specialist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,998
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,715
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,570
- California income tax$5,843
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,408
- Take-home pay$77,775
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Project Management Specialist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,540 | $31.51 | $51,958 | $4,330 |
| 25th percentile | $82,060 | $39.45 | $62,090 | $5,174 |
| Median (50th) | $108,310 | $52.07 | $77,775 | $6,481 |
| 75th percentile | $144,440 | $69.44 | $98,910 | $8,242 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $185,220 | $89.05 | $122,505 | $10,209 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $108,310 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median project management specialist's $77,775 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,484 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 about as common in Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for project management specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #64 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 |
| 64 | Los Angeles, CA | $108,310 | $77,775 | $68,484 |
*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.
Project Management Specialist salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $135,120
- Sacramento, CA — $124,350
- San Francisco, CA — $135,040
- San Diego, CA — $117,460
- Riverside, CA — $100,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a project management specialist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median project management specialist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $108,310 a year, or about $52.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,060 and $144,440.
What is a project management specialist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $108,310 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $77,775 a year ($6,481 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,251 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a project management specialist?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $102,320. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,484 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #64 of 64 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a project management specialist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median project management specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Personal Financial Advisor — $124,490
- Management Analyst — $104,930
- Labor Relations Specialist — $102,980
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $102,260
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes — $97,750
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists — $97,310
- Compliance Officer — $94,810
- Accountant and Auditor — $94,360
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $89,070
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $82,990
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $82,750
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $82,500