What is the salary and career path for a project manager?
Project managers are reported under Project Management Specialists (SOC 13-1082), a close BLS match for the role. Its OEWS May 2025 median is $102,320 a year ($49.19 an hour), from $61,580 at the 10th percentile up to $167,970 at the 90th. BLS projects this code up about 5.6% over 2024–2034, faster than average, with roughly 78,200 openings a year. A bachelor's degree is typical, and a PMP from the Project Management Institute is the recognized credential, with CAPM as an entry point.
- Project Managers earn a national median $102,320/yr ($49.19/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1082); the top 10% clear $167,970.
- The role maps closely to Project Management Specialists (13-1082), the BLS code for structured project delivery.
- BLS projects the code up about 5.6% through 2034, faster than average, with around 78,200 openings a year.
- Pay runs from a project coordinator near $61,580 to a program manager or PMO lead at the $167,970 top decile, with the PMP a key lever.
Career Path
How do you become a project manager?
Project coordinator / junior PM
Tracking schedules, action items and status starts near the $61,580 10th percentile.
Project Manager
Owning scope, schedule and budget on projects earns around the $102,320 specialist median.
Senior project manager
Running large, complex or multiple projects lifts pay toward the $133,100 75th percentile.
Program manager / PMO lead
Owning programs or a project-management office reaches the $167,970 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays project managers the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1082. National median: $102,320. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does project manager pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles project managers most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: project managers rank 2 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +5.6% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly project managers clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1082 (project managers) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do project managers need?
PMI's flagship credential and the recognized standard for experienced project managers. See all state licences →
PMI's entry-level credential for those building toward the PMP.
Scrum Alliance credential for agile delivery, common on software and product teams.
A degree in business, engineering or IT is the typical educational foundation.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do project managers use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 13-1082
Salary Levers
How do project managers earn above the $102,320 BLS median?
Move from coordinator to PM
Owning a project end to end instead of tracking it lifts pay off the $61,580 band toward the median.
Run large, complex projects
Managing bigger scope and budgets lifts pay toward the $133,100 upper band.
Reach program manager or PMO lead
Owning programs or a PMO reaches the $167,970 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a project manager worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1082. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Project Manager Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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