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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Project Management Specialist Salary

Project Management Specialists earn a median $102,320 a year nationally. Business and Financial Operations Occupations

U.S. median
$102,320
$49.19 per hour
Range
$61,580 – $167,970
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
1,066,670
across the U.S.
▲1.6%
Pay trend: The median for project management specialists in the U.S. rose from $100,750 (May 2024) to $102,320 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 0.8%.

What project management specialists do

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)
Openings per year
76,500
Self-employed
1%

Employment of project management specialists is projected to grow 6.7% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 76,500 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Project Management Specialist take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Project Management Specialist
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$80,812
per year · effective tax rate 21.0%
$6,734Monthly
$3,367Twice a month
$3,108Every 2 weeks
$38.85Hourly
  • Federal income tax$13,680
  • Social Security (6.2%)$6,344
  • Medicare (1.45%)$1,484
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$80,812

Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$61,580$29.61$51,660
25th percentile$78,440$37.71$64,013
Median (50th)$102,320$49.19$80,812
75th percentile$133,100$63.99$102,240
90th percentile (top earners)$167,970$80.75$126,073

Best cities for project management specialists (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Seattle, WA$130,380$100,381$90,32526,910
2Boulder, CO$122,040$90,019$85,5682,920
3San Jose, CA$135,120$93,527$84,69910,300
4Des Moines, IA$101,150$76,797$83,7472,640
5Washington, DC$127,030$90,262$82,89738,230
6Colorado Springs, CO$111,740$83,231$82,6473,200
7Austin, TX$102,390$80,861$82,45617,470
8Kansas City, MO$101,050$76,107$82,2398,380
9Sacramento, CA$124,350$87,308$81,8486,860
10Denver, CO$116,740$86,528$81,79920,710
11Charlotte, NC$105,200$79,149$81,30611,570
12New York, NY$126,660$91,405$81,20468,910
13Albany, NY$109,850$80,669$81,0203,240
14Durham, NC$104,870$78,930$80,8953,180
15San Francisco, CA$135,040$93,481$80,85720,770
16Houston, TX$99,510$78,835$79,93135,550
17Columbus, OH$98,660$76,307$79,9287,680
18Pittsburgh, PA$99,320$75,652$79,9117,280
19St. Louis, MO$100,510$75,752$79,66510,450
20Indianapolis, IN$99,710$76,064$79,4855,380
21Tulsa, OK$93,240$70,774$79,3313,250
22Knoxville, TN$91,690$73,334$79,2213,650
23Jacksonville, FL$99,270$78,666$79,0745,730
24Virginia Beach, VA$104,920$77,422$79,0506,040
25Las Vegas, NV$99,940$79,138$78,9685,740

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Project Management Specialist salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Washington $124,160+6.1%$96,129 $74,750 – $202,12036,240
New Jersey $122,980+8.5%$89,679 $74,410 – $190,60028,300
Delaware $122,190+6.9%$88,059 $74,770 – $166,6601,770
New York $121,040+9.5%$87,881 $74,580 – $192,16068,020
California $120,910+8.6%$85,303 $69,180 – $188,560114,380
Virginia $120,840+5.1%$87,707 $68,020 – $179,97043,860
Massachusetts $114,190+5.1%$83,673 $72,800 – $174,84021,960
Colorado $110,050+2.9%$82,116 $68,990 – $171,63032,390
New Mexico $106,970+3.9%$80,173 $63,430 – $173,0004,330
Oregon $105,480+5.5%$74,635 $65,310 – $168,48019,380
Connecticut $105,240+0.2%$78,653 $66,470 – $167,0108,410
District of Columbia $104,900+1.7%$76,679 $64,080 – $194,1705,170
Rhode Island $104,680+1.8%$79,102 $63,750 – $170,0503,880
Maryland $104,040+0.5%$77,444 $62,890 – $167,04030,530
Illinois $103,470+1.0%$76,644 $65,300 – $163,91027,180
Georgia $102,140+1.3%$76,007 $58,290 – $163,32028,900
Maine $101,830+19.2%$74,682 $63,560 – $147,6402,620
Michigan $100,970+1.2%$75,822 $61,980 – $154,26025,330
Alabama $100,820+3.0%$74,981 $63,550 – $164,9103,190
North Carolina $100,820+1.2%$76,243 $61,570 – $164,05036,200
Pennsylvania $100,150+3.0%$76,211 $61,600 – $160,56036,150
Kansas $100,010+15.8%$74,406 $59,540 – $165,0006,030
Nevada $99,940+3.7%$79,138 $61,610 – $162,8308,290
Alaska $99,580−5.5%$78,885 $53,360 – $160,7101,950
Arizona $99,050+0.7%$76,244 $62,050 – $161,87022,920
Texas $98,440+4.9%$78,083 $57,460 – $162,780138,960
Florida $98,070+1.1%$77,822 $59,070 – $161,25076,370
Minnesota $97,860−0.0%$72,543 $65,040 – $141,49018,850
Wisconsin $97,580+10.9%$73,686 $60,840 – $139,14021,610
Utah $96,720+1.3%$73,486 $56,840 – $159,24016,450
Iowa $96,540+13.6%$73,729 $62,000 – $150,2906,720
North Dakota $96,160+7.2%$75,863 $62,300 – $139,3202,020
Ohio $95,770−1.2%$74,353 $59,280 – $160,57034,260
Idaho $95,630+16.1%$72,146 $61,090 – $165,1405,750
South Carolina $95,040+4.4%$71,145 $56,710 – $159,31017,040
Indiana $95,020+2.4%$72,903 $59,120 – $149,35011,970
Missouri $94,660+6.6%$71,912 $56,660 – $157,65021,460
Wyoming $94,080−1.7%$75,015 $54,750 – $151,5001,180
West Virginia $91,780+10.6%$69,908 $54,070 – $149,4602,520
New Hampshire $90,890+1.6%$72,771 $60,950 – $144,9203,840
Montana $87,890+3.2%$67,056 $58,680 – $143,1702,940
Oklahoma $86,240+1.8%$66,165 $53,990 – $142,95011,220
Tennessee $85,890+1.3%$69,254 $56,450 – $135,35020,780
Louisiana $84,850+3.0%$66,363 $56,400 – $143,7808,050
South Dakota $82,250+0.6%$66,693 $58,000 – $130,4001,310
Kentucky $81,700+0.8%$63,564 $52,090 – $131,67010,250
Vermont $80,800−10.2%$62,800 $61,950 – $128,1101,190
Nebraska $80,150+1.7%$62,448 $51,630 – $129,5603,190
Mississippi $78,870+1.8%$61,892 $50,840 – $140,1404,320
Hawaii $78,000−2.8%$59,305 $53,930 – $150,4401,560
Arkansas $77,170−5.9%$60,322 $47,620 – $133,4205,510

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Frequently asked questions

How much does a project management specialist make?

The national median salary for project management specialists is $102,320 a year ($49.19 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $61,580 and the top 10% earn over $167,970. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays project management specialists the most?

Washington has the highest median pay at $124,160. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many project management specialists are there in the U.S.?

About 1,066,670 people work as project management specialists nationwide.

All 64 cities