Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Project management specialists coordinate and guide projects from start to finish, drawing on planning, organization, and leadership skills. This is a large occupation with national employment of 1,046,000, indicating many roles across the economy. The national median annual salary of $100,750 places this path in a six-figure range at the midpoint of earnings. Project management specialists benefit from a projected employment growth rate of 5.6%, along with 78,000 annual openings, which reflects a steady flow of opportunities from new positions and turnover. The role suits people who enjoy leading work efforts, working with others, and solving problems under changing conditions. A bachelor’s degree is the typical education, combined with strong abilities in project management, leadership, communication, critical and analytical thinking, and computers and information technology. For students, career changers, and experienced professionals, this career offers a combination of broad employment, solid pay, and defined skill expectations.
Project management specialists earn a national median annual salary of $100,750, putting typical earnings into the six-figure range. Salaries vary by location. Among the top states, Washington shows a median of $124,160, New York $121,040, and California $120,910, while Massachusetts and Colorado offer $114,190 and $110,050 respectively. In major metro areas, pay can be higher still. San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA reports a median salary of $135,120, and San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA reports $135,040. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro has a median of $126,660, and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV is at $127,030. Even at the lower end of these highlighted metros, Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH sits at $114,990. These figures show that location can significantly influence earning potential for project management specialists.
Project management specialists have national employment of 1,046,000, indicating a substantial presence in the workforce. Employment is projected to grow by 5.6%, suggesting continued demand over the projection period. In addition, the occupation is expected to generate 78,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect a mix of newly created positions and replacement needs as people change jobs, retire, or move into other roles. The combination of a large employment base, measurable projected growth, and a steady stream of annual openings points to an occupation that offers ongoing opportunities for both new entrants and experienced professionals. For individuals considering this field, the data support the idea that project management specialists can look for roles in many organizations and industries, with a reasonable expectation of job prospects over time, provided they develop the key skills associated with the role.
Location choices can meaningfully shape opportunities for project management specialists. Among states, California stands out with employment of 114,380 and a median salary of $120,910, paired with an opportunity score of 67.38. New York also combines a high median salary of $121,040 with employment of 68,020 and an opportunity score of 65.78. Massachusetts, Colorado, and Washington round out the top states, each with growth of 5.6% but differing in salaries and employment levels, from Washington’s $124,160 median salary and 36,240 jobs to Colorado’s $110,050 and 32,390 jobs. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA and New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ lead in opportunity scores, at 77.42 and 77.27 respectively, with median salaries above $126,000. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV also combine strong salaries with sizable employment, giving job seekers several geographically diverse options to consider.
The typical education for project management specialists is a bachelor’s degree. This provides a foundation for the broad mix of skills associated with the role. The top skills include project management and leadership, which support planning work, coordinating people, and guiding efforts toward completion. Strong abilities in computers and information technology are also important, reflecting the need to work with digital tools and information. Adaptability, critical and analytical thinking, and problem solving and decision making help specialists respond to changing project conditions and evaluate options. Communication skills—writing and reading, speaking and listening, and interpersonal abilities—are central for working with team members and stakeholders. Mathematics rounds out the key skill set, supporting tasks that involve quantitative reasoning. Together, a bachelor’s degree and these skills create a profile suited to managing structured work efforts in a variety of organizational settings.
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