Project Management Specialist Salary in Riverside, CA
Project Management Specialists in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $100,770 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,270 take-home, or $6,106 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median project management specialist salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,339
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,248
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,461
- California income tax$5,142
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,310
- Take-home pay$73,270
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 Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,110 | $27.94 | $46,580 | $3,882 |
| 25th percentile | $75,110 | $36.11 | $57,897 | $4,825 |
| Median (50th) | $100,770 | $48.45 | $73,270 | $6,106 |
| 75th percentile | $131,040 | $63.00 | $91,171 | $7,598 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,380 | $77.59 | $108,693 | $9,058 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,770 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median project management specialist's $73,270 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,835 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 Riverside, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.57), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for project management specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #62 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 |
| 62 | Riverside, CA | $100,770 | $73,270 | $68,835 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $108,310
Frequently asked questions
How much does a project management specialist make in Riverside, CA?
The median project management specialist salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $100,770 a year, or about $48.45 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,110 and $131,040.
What is a project management specialist’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $100,770 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $73,270 a year ($6,106 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,452 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a project management specialist?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $102,320. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,835 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #62 of 64 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a project management specialist afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median project management specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Management Analyst — $87,910
- Accountant and Auditor — $83,920
- Compliance Officer — $79,920
- Cost Estimator — $76,900
- Human Resources Specialist — $76,570
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $75,780
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $75,380
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $69,840
- Training and Development Specialist — $60,010