Project Management Specialist Salary in Chicago, IL
Project Management Specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $105,320 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $77,854 take-home, or $6,488 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median project management specialist salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,340
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,530
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,527
- Illinois income tax$5,069
- Take-home pay$77,854
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Project Management Specialist pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,350 | $32.38 | $53,022 | $4,418 |
| 25th percentile | $82,770 | $39.79 | $63,106 | $5,259 |
| Median (50th) | $105,320 | $50.63 | $77,854 | $6,488 |
| 75th percentile | $133,980 | $64.41 | $96,354 | $8,030 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,780 | $79.70 | $116,515 | $9,710 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $105,320 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median project management specialist's $77,854 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,152 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 Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.68), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for project management specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #117 of 209 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peoria, IL | $123,730 | $89,856 | $98,492 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $125,940 | $97,346 | $97,269 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $130,380 | $100,381 | $90,325 |
| 4 | Huntsville, AL | $112,130 | $82,372 | $88,503 |
| 5 | Beaumont, TX | $100,470 | $79,511 | $88,300 |
| 6 | Davenport, IA | $102,880 | $77,948 | $87,505 |
| 7 | Rochester, MN | $106,270 | $77,888 | $85,760 |
| 8 | Boulder, CO | $122,040 | $90,019 | $85,568 |
| 117 | Chicago, IL | $105,320 | $77,854 | $75,152 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 209 metros →
Project Management Specialist salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Peoria, IL — $123,730
- Bloomington, IL — $101,110
- Springfield, IL — $100,030
Frequently asked questions
How much does a project management specialist make in Chicago, IL?
The median project management specialist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $105,320 a year, or about $50.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,770 and $133,980.
What is a project management specialist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $105,320 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $77,854 a year ($6,488 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,069 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a project management specialist?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $102,320. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,152 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #117 of 209 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a project management specialist afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median project management specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Personal Financial Advisor — $113,210
- Financial Risk Specialist — $105,370
- Management Analyst — $105,090
- Labor Relations Specialist — $103,570
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $101,750
- Insurance Underwriter — $99,840
- Financial Examiner — $98,470
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents — $93,590
- Credit Analyst — $92,900
- Cost Estimator — $83,640
- Accountant and Auditor — $82,360
- Compliance Officer — $82,020