Project Management Specialists
SOC code 13-1082 · O*NET-SOC 13-1082.00 · Considerable preparation needed · Business and finance
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth and numerous job openings for this occupation
Project management specialists plan, schedule and chase the pieces of a project until it is delivered. The role exists in construction, IT, healthcare and nearly every other industry, and professional certification has become the field's recognised credential. Most people arrive from the industry they now manage projects in.
Project Management Specialists pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$102,320
a year
Hourly
$49.19
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$110,740
$53.24 per hour
Middle 50%
$78,440 – $133,100
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$61,580 – $167,970
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
1,066,670
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $61,580
- $29.61/hr
- 25th percentile
- $78,440
- $37.71/hr
- Median percentile
- $102,320
- $49.19/hr
- 75th percentile
- $133,100
- $63.99/hr
- 90th percentile
- $167,970
- $80.76/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+6%
Growing faster than average
1,046,300
jobs in 2024
1,105,000
projected for 2034
About 58,700 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does a project management specialist 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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Communicate with key stakeholders to determine project requirements and objectives.
- Identify project needs such as resources, staff, or finances by reviewing project objectives and schedules.
- Submit project deliverables to clients, ensuring adherence to quality standards.
- Confer with project personnel to identify and resolve problems.
- Plan, schedule, or coordinate project activities to meet deadlines.
- Request and review project updates to ensure deadlines are met.
- Monitor project milestones and deliverables.
- Assign duties or responsibilities to project personnel.
How to become a project management specialist
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a project management specialist earn?
The national median is $102,320 a year. The full range runs from $61,580 at the 10th percentile to $167,970 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a project management specialist without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is project management specialist in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 6% between 2024 and 2034 — growing faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.8/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Writing3.6/5
- Monitoring3.6/5
- Reading Comprehension3.5/5
- Speaking3.5/5
- Active Learning3.5/5
Knowledge areas
- English Language4.0/5
- Administration and Management3.8/5
- Administrative3.6/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.5/5
- Computers and Electronics3.1/5
- Personnel and Human Resources2.9/5
- Communications and Media2.9/5
- Mathematics2.6/5
Transferable strengths: Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Time Management.