Project management specialists
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Project management specialists in the United States earn a median salary of $102,320 per year — about $49 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 1.0M people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +6%.
AI & Automation Risk
Project management is a digital-heavy knowledge occupation involving data analysis, scheduling, and documentation, all of which are highly susceptible to AI automation and optimization. While AI can significantly increase productivity in planning and monitoring, the role's heavy reliance on human-centric skills like stakeholder negotiation, conflict resolution, and team leadership provides a protective barrier against full automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dothan, ALBEST VALUE | $135,260 | Below avg (83.8) | $161,345 |
| Peoria, IL | $123,730 | Below avg (91.2) | $135,623 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $125,940 | Average (100.1) | $125,841 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $116,980 | Below avg (93.8) | $124,727 |
| Kokomo, IN | $110,920 | Below avg (89.6) | $123,728 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $135,120 | Above avg (110.4) | $122,366 |
| Decatur, AL | $106,140 | Below avg (87.2) | $121,703 |
| Huntsville, AL | $112,130 | Below avg (93.1) | $120,477 |
| Dubuque, IA | $104,690 | Below avg (87.3) | $119,881 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $104,110 | Below avg (87.7) | $118,725 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $130,380 | Above avg (111.1) | $117,319 |
| Rochester, MN | $106,270 | Below avg (90.8) | $117,010 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $135,040 | Above avg (115.6) | $116,803 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $127,030 | Above avg (108.9) | $116,665 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $124,350 | Above avg (106.7) | $116,574 |