Project Management Specialists
Project Management Specialists (SOC 13-1082) earn a median $102,320 a year ($49.19 an hour) in the United States, with 1,066,670 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What project management specialists do
Project management specialists coordinate the schedule, timeline, purchasing, staffing, and budget for a product or service, handled one project at a time. Titles used for the work include project manager and implementation project manager. They lead and guide the technical staff assigned to a project and may serve as the client's or customer's point of contact. The work is organized around the project rather than a function, so schedule, purchasing, staffing, and budget are handled together. The classification excludes management occupations, logisticians, meeting, convention, and event planners, and other specialists with their own categories, and it is distinct from construction managers, who oversee building projects specifically. The role includes leading technical staff, which sets it apart from the planning and expediting clerks classified elsewhere.
Also called: Design Project Management Specialist, Grant Assistant, Human Resources Project Manager (HR Project Manager), Implementation Project Manager, Implementations Management Specialist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $29.61 | $37.71 | $49.19 | $63.99 | $80.76 | $53.24 | 1,066,670 |
| Annual | $61,580 | $78,440 | $102,320 | $133,100 | $167,970 | $110,740 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where project management specialists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $35.94 | $44.63 | $59.69 | $78.12 | $97.17 | $61.34 | 36,240 | 10.21 | 1.49 |
| Annual | $74,750 | $92,830 | $124,160 | $162,490 | $202,120 | $127,580 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $35.77 | $44.64 | $59.12 | $74.75 | $91.64 | $61.49 | 28,300 | 6.60 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $74,410 | $92,850 | $122,980 | $155,490 | $190,600 | $127,900 | ||||
| Delaware | Hourly | $35.95 | $46.70 | $58.75 | $65.63 | $80.13 | $58.09 | 1,770 | 3.64 | 0.53 |
| Annual | $74,770 | $97,130 | $122,190 | $136,510 | $166,660 | $120,830 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $35.85 | $44.07 | $58.19 | $77.03 | $92.39 | $60.70 | 68,020 | 7.02 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $74,580 | $91,660 | $121,040 | $160,220 | $192,160 | $126,260 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $33.26 | $41.16 | $58.13 | $74.93 | $90.66 | $59.82 | 114,380 | 6.28 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $69,180 | $85,620 | $120,910 | $155,850 | $188,560 | $124,430 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $27.63 | $35.97 | $47.33 | $62.20 | $78.26 | $50.10 | 138,960 | 9.88 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $57,460 | $74,810 | $98,440 | $129,370 | $162,780 | $104,210 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $33.26 | $41.16 | $58.13 | $74.93 | $90.66 | $59.82 | 114,380 | 6.28 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $69,180 | $85,620 | $120,910 | $155,850 | $188,560 | $124,430 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $28.40 | $36.45 | $47.15 | $61.85 | $77.52 | $49.89 | 76,370 | 7.69 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $59,070 | $75,820 | $98,070 | $128,640 | $161,250 | $103,780 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $35.85 | $44.07 | $58.19 | $77.03 | $92.39 | $60.70 | 68,020 | 7.02 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $74,580 | $91,660 | $121,040 | $160,220 | $192,160 | $126,260 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $32.70 | $41.13 | $58.10 | $75.98 | $86.52 | $59.32 | 43,860 | 10.67 | 1.56 |
| Annual | $68,020 | $85,550 | $120,840 | $158,050 | $179,970 | $123,390 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Dothan, AL | Hourly | $31.73 | $43.22 | $65.03 | $75.32 | $75.32 | $58.18 | 60 | 0.96 | 0.14 |
| Annual | $66,000 | $89,890 | $135,260 | $156,670 | $156,670 | $121,010 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $39.86 | $49.12 | $64.96 | $83.09 | $102.09 | $70.28 | 10,300 | 9.07 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $82,920 | $102,160 | $135,120 | $172,820 | $212,340 | $146,170 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $38.46 | $49.29 | $64.93 | $80.49 | $99.15 | $67.70 | 20,770 | 8.75 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $79,990 | $102,510 | $135,040 | $167,410 | $206,240 | $140,820 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $37.88 | $46.83 | $62.68 | $80.99 | $100.59 | $64.23 | 26,910 | 12.90 | 1.88 |
| Annual | $78,780 | $97,410 | $130,380 | $168,460 | $209,220 | $133,590 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $35.63 | $45.75 | $61.07 | $78.63 | $92.52 | $62.04 | 38,230 | 12.19 | 1.78 |
| Annual | $74,110 | $95,150 | $127,030 | $163,550 | $192,450 | $129,050 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $37.19 | $46.33 | $60.90 | $79.23 | $99.13 | $63.33 | 68,910 | 7.26 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $77,350 | $96,370 | $126,660 | $164,800 | $206,180 | $131,730 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $28.64 | $36.89 | $47.55 | $63.10 | $78.08 | $50.50 | 43,120 | 10.65 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $59,570 | $76,740 | $98,900 | $131,250 | $162,410 | $105,030 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $31.51 | $39.45 | $52.07 | $69.44 | $89.05 | $57.75 | 38,540 | 6.15 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $65,540 | $82,060 | $108,310 | $144,440 | $185,220 | $120,110 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $35.63 | $45.75 | $61.07 | $78.63 | $92.52 | $62.04 | 38,230 | 12.19 | 1.78 |
| Annual | $74,110 | $95,150 | $127,030 | $163,550 | $192,450 | $129,050 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $28.15 | $36.46 | $47.84 | $63.29 | $80.80 | $51.53 | 35,550 | 10.81 | 1.58 |
| Annual | $58,560 | $75,840 | $99,510 | $131,640 | $168,070 | $107,190 | ||||
Top industries employing project management specialists
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services employ 9.4% of project management specialists nationally (99,830 jobs) at a median $107,050 a year ($51.47 an hour), followed by Computer Systems Design and Related Services (7.4%) and Nonresidential Building Construction (6.8%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 99,830 | 9.4% | $107,050 | $51.47 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services NAICS 541500 | 78,510 | 7.4% | $125,100 | $60.14 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction NAICS 236200 | 73,060 | 6.8% | $103,240 | $49.63 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 67,230 | 6.3% | $103,430 | $49.73 |
| Building Equipment Contractors NAICS 238200 | 54,210 | 5.1% | $100,350 | $48.25 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (1,066,670). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $94,500 for project management specialists in May 2021 and $102,320 in May 2025, with employment of 743,860 and 1,066,670.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $94,500 | $45.43 | 743,860 |
| May 2022 | $95,370 | $45.85 | 843,910 |
| May 2023 | $98,580 | $47.39 | 947,630 |
| May 2024 | $100,750 | $48.44 | 1,006,160 |
| May 2025 | $102,320 | $49.19 | 1,066,670 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $59.69 | $124,160 | $74,750 | $202,120 | 36,240 | 10.21 | 1.49 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $59.12 | $122,980 | $74,410 | $190,600 | 28,300 | 6.60 | 0.96 |
| 3 | Delaware profile | $58.75 | $122,190 | $74,770 | $166,660 | 1,770 | 3.64 | 0.53 |
| 4 | New York profile | $58.19 | $121,040 | $74,580 | $192,160 | 68,020 | 7.02 | 1.02 |
| 5 | California profile | $58.13 | $120,910 | $69,180 | $188,560 | 114,380 | 6.28 | 0.92 |
| 6 | Virginia profile | $58.10 | $120,840 | $68,020 | $179,970 | 43,860 | 10.67 | 1.56 |
| 7 | Massachusetts profile | $54.90 | $114,190 | $72,800 | $174,840 | 21,960 | 6.04 | 0.88 |
| 8 | Colorado profile | $52.91 | $110,050 | $68,990 | $171,630 | 32,390 | 11.27 | 1.64 |
| 9 | New Mexico profile | $51.43 | $106,970 | $63,430 | $173,000 | 4,330 | 4.97 | 0.72 |
| 10 | Oregon profile | $50.71 | $105,480 | $65,310 | $168,480 | 19,380 | 9.85 | 1.44 |
| 11 | Connecticut profile | $50.60 | $105,240 | $66,470 | $167,010 | 8,410 | 4.96 | 0.72 |
| 12 | District of Columbia profile | $50.43 | $104,900 | $64,080 | $194,170 | 5,170 | 7.37 | 1.07 |
| 13 | Rhode Island profile | $50.33 | $104,680 | $63,750 | $170,050 | 3,880 | 7.74 | 1.13 |
| 14 | Maryland profile | $50.02 | $104,040 | $62,890 | $167,040 | 30,530 | 11.05 | 1.61 |
| 15 | Illinois profile | $49.75 | $103,470 | $65,300 | $163,910 | 27,180 | 4.46 | 0.65 |
| 16 | Georgia profile | $49.11 | $102,140 | $58,290 | $163,320 | 28,900 | 5.91 | 0.86 |
| 17 | Maine profile | $48.96 | $101,830 | $63,560 | $147,640 | 2,620 | 4.10 | 0.60 |
| 18 | Michigan profile | $48.55 | $100,970 | $61,980 | $154,260 | 25,330 | 5.75 | 0.84 |
| 19 | Alabama profile | $48.47 | $100,820 | $63,550 | $164,910 | 3,190 | 1.51 | 0.22 |
| 20 | North Carolina profile | $48.47 | $100,820 | $61,570 | $164,050 | 36,200 | 7.33 | 1.07 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania profile | $48.15 | $100,150 | $61,600 | $160,560 | 36,150 | 5.96 | 0.87 |
| 22 | Kansas profile | $48.08 | $100,010 | $59,540 | $165,000 | 6,030 | 4.20 | 0.61 |
| 23 | Nevada profile | $48.05 | $99,940 | $61,610 | $162,830 | 8,290 | 5.34 | 0.78 |
| 24 | Alaska profile | $47.88 | $99,580 | $53,360 | $160,710 | 1,950 | 5.99 | 0.87 |
| 25 | Arizona profile | $47.62 | $99,050 | $62,050 | $161,870 | 22,920 | 7.08 | 1.03 |
| 26 | Texas profile | $47.33 | $98,440 | $57,460 | $162,780 | 138,960 | 9.88 | 1.44 |
| 27 | Florida profile | $47.15 | $98,070 | $59,070 | $161,250 | 76,370 | 7.69 | 1.12 |
| 28 | Minnesota profile | $47.05 | $97,860 | $65,040 | $141,490 | 18,850 | 6.39 | 0.93 |
| 29 | Wisconsin profile | $46.91 | $97,580 | $60,840 | $139,140 | 21,610 | 7.35 | 1.07 |
| 30 | Utah profile | $46.50 | $96,720 | $56,840 | $159,240 | 16,450 | 9.48 | 1.38 |
| 31 | Iowa profile | $46.41 | $96,540 | $62,000 | $150,290 | 6,720 | 4.31 | 0.63 |
| 32 | North Dakota profile | $46.23 | $96,160 | $62,300 | $139,320 | 2,020 | 4.71 | 0.69 |
| 33 | Ohio profile | $46.04 | $95,770 | $59,280 | $160,570 | 34,260 | 6.17 | 0.90 |
| 34 | Idaho profile | $45.98 | $95,630 | $61,090 | $165,140 | 5,750 | 6.71 | 0.98 |
| 35 | South Carolina profile | $45.69 | $95,040 | $56,710 | $159,310 | 17,040 | 7.39 | 1.08 |
| 36 | Indiana profile | $45.68 | $95,020 | $59,120 | $149,350 | 11,970 | 3.74 | 0.54 |
| 37 | Missouri profile | $45.51 | $94,660 | $56,660 | $157,650 | 21,460 | 7.31 | 1.07 |
| 38 | Wyoming profile | $45.23 | $94,080 | $54,750 | $151,500 | 1,180 | 4.19 | 0.61 |
| 39 | West Virginia profile | $44.13 | $91,780 | $54,070 | $149,460 | 2,520 | 3.60 | 0.52 |
| 40 | New Hampshire profile | $43.70 | $90,890 | $60,950 | $144,920 | 3,840 | 5.62 | 0.82 |
| 41 | Montana profile | $42.25 | $87,890 | $58,680 | $143,170 | 2,940 | 5.74 | 0.84 |
| 42 | Oklahoma profile | $41.46 | $86,240 | $53,990 | $142,950 | 11,220 | 6.57 | 0.96 |
| 43 | Tennessee profile | $41.30 | $85,890 | $56,450 | $135,350 | 20,780 | 6.34 | 0.92 |
| 44 | Louisiana profile | $40.79 | $84,850 | $56,400 | $143,780 | 8,050 | 4.16 | 0.61 |
| 45 | South Dakota profile | $39.54 | $82,250 | $58,000 | $130,400 | 1,310 | 2.87 | 0.42 |
| 46 | Kentucky profile | $39.28 | $81,700 | $52,090 | $131,670 | 10,250 | 5.12 | 0.75 |
| 47 | Vermont profile | $38.85 | $80,800 | $61,950 | $128,110 | 1,190 | 3.91 | 0.57 |
| 48 | Nebraska profile | $38.54 | $80,150 | $51,630 | $129,560 | 3,190 | 3.11 | 0.45 |
| 49 | Mississippi profile | $37.92 | $78,870 | $50,840 | $140,140 | 4,320 | 3.72 | 0.54 |
| 50 | Hawaii profile | $37.50 | $78,000 | $53,930 | $150,440 | 1,560 | 2.48 | 0.36 |
| 51 | Arkansas profile | $37.10 | $77,170 | $47,620 | $133,420 | 5,510 | 4.23 | 0.62 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (13-1080), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Business and Financial Operations Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 13-1082 Project Management Specialists.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 13-1082, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 13-1082.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.