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Project management consultant: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$102,320median pay per year, or $49.19 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $61,580lowest 10% earn less
  2. $78,44025th percentile
  3. $102,320median
  4. $133,10075th percentile
  5. $167,970top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Project management specialists, the BLS category whose reported job titles include project management consultant, had a median pay of $102,320 a year[1][2]. A bachelor's degree is the typical entry requirement[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+6.7%[6]
Openings per year
76,500[7]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[3]

How much do project management consultants make?

In May 2025 the median wage for project management specialists was $102,320 a year, or $49.19 an hour[1]. The average was $110,740 a year, or $53.24 an hour[8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $61,580 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $167,970[4]. Hourly, the 10th percentile was $29.61 and the 90th percentile was $80.76[9]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

Measure Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][9] $61,580 $29.61
25th percentile[4][9] $78,440 $37.71
Median[1] $102,320 $49.19
75th percentile[4][9] $133,100 $63.99
90th percentile[4][9] $167,970 $80.76

The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[5]. The data covers about 1,066,670 wage and salary jobs[11]. It leaves out the self-employed and does not count bonuses or the cost of benefits[12].

Pay by state and city

Washington was listed first at $124,160, followed by New Jersey at $122,980 and Delaware at $122,190[13]. Arkansas was listed last at $77,170[13].

The most jobs were in Texas (138,960), California (114,380), Florida (76,370), New York (68,020) and Virginia (43,860)[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $135,120, then San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $135,040 and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $130,380[15]. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the most jobs at 68,910, with a median of $126,660[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[13]$124,16036,240
New Jersey$122,98028,300
Delaware$122,1901,770
New York$121,04068,020
California$120,910114,380
Virginia$120,84043,860
Massachusetts$114,19021,960
Colorado$110,05032,390
New Mexico$106,9704,330
Oregon$105,48019,380
Connecticut$105,2408,410
District of Columbia$104,9005,170
Rhode Island$104,6803,880
Maryland$104,04030,530
Illinois$103,47027,180
Georgia$102,14028,900
Maine$101,8302,620
Michigan$100,97025,330
Alabama$100,8203,190
North Carolina$100,82036,200
Pennsylvania$100,15036,150
Kansas$100,0106,030
Nevada$99,9408,290
Alaska$99,5801,950
Arizona$99,05022,920
Texas$98,440138,960
Florida$98,07076,370
Minnesota$97,86018,850
Wisconsin$97,58021,610
Utah$96,72016,450
Iowa$96,5406,720
North Dakota$96,1602,020
Ohio$95,77034,260
Idaho$95,6305,750
South Carolina$95,04017,040
Indiana$95,02011,970
Missouri$94,66021,460
Wyoming$94,0801,180
West Virginia$91,7802,520
New Hampshire$90,8903,840
Montana$87,8902,940
Oklahoma$86,24011,220
Tennessee$85,89020,780
Louisiana$84,8508,050
South Dakota$82,2501,310
Kentucky$81,70010,250
Vermont$80,8001,190
Nebraska$80,1503,190
Mississippi$78,8704,320
Hawaii$78,0001,560
Arkansas$77,1705,510

How to become a project management specialist

BLS lists no work experience in a related occupation as the typical requirement, and no typical on-the-job training[3].

Workers may advance to senior positions as they gain experience, for example moving from small projects to large, complex ones[21]. Useful skills include analytical, communication, critical-thinking, interpersonal, organizational and problem-solving skills[22][23][24][25][26][27].

What project management specialists do

O*NET says they coordinate the schedule, timeline, staffing and budget of a project, and may be the client's point of contact[28]. Common tasks include:

Workers report titles such as project management consultant and implementation project manager[2].

Where they work

Project management specialists usually work in an office. Some work on teams and some work alone, and they may travel to client sites[30]. Schedules generally follow normal business hours, though they can call for flexibility, such as across time zones[31]. Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week[31]. The largest employer group in 2025 was professional, scientific, and technical services, at 28%[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 6.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,094,300 to 1,167,400 jobs[6]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[33].

About 76,500 openings are projected each year, on average[7]. Openings count jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[7]. Each year 2% of workers leave the labor force and 4.1% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits people who are ready to earn a bachelor's degree[3]. Pay is well above the all-occupation median[1][5]. Growth is projected to be faster than for all occupations[6][33]. The work suits people comfortable with planning, communication and balancing several responsibilities[23][26].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a project management consultant make an hour?
The median wage for project management specialists was $49.19 an hour in May 2025[1].
What degree do you need to be a project management specialist?
A bachelor's degree is typically needed, in business, project management or a related field[3][17].
Do you need a certification?
Certification is not always required, but it can show competency to employers[20].
Is project management in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 6.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[6][33].
What is the highest paying state for project management specialists?
Washington was listed first, with a median of $124,160 a year[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Project Management Specialists in the US was $102,320 per year and $49.19 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. O*NET 13-1082.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Fiber Project Manager, Implementation Project Manager, Project Management Consultant. O*NET OnLine
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Project Management Specialists: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Project Management Specialists: 10th percentile $61,580, 25th percentile $78,440, 75th percentile $133,100, 90th percentile $167,970. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Project Management Specialists is projected to grow 6.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,094,300 to 1,167,400 jobs (a change of +73,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections: about 76,500 openings for Project Management Specialists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Project Management Specialists was $110,740 per year and $53.24 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Project Management Specialists: 10th percentile $29.61, 25th percentile $37.71, 75th percentile $63.99, 90th percentile $80.76. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,066,670 people were employed as Project Management Specialists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Project Management Specialists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Project Management Specialists jobs: Texas 138,960; California 114,380; Florida 76,370; New York 68,020; Virginia 43,860. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Project Management Specialists (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $135,120; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $135,040; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $130,380; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $127,030; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $126,660; Kennewick-Richland, WA $125,940; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $124,350; Peoria, IL $123,730. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Project Management Specialists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 68,910 (median $126,660); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 43,120 (median $98,900); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 38,540 (median $108,310); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 38,230 (median $127,030); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 35,550 (median $99,510); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 26,910 (median $130,380). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. O*NET description of Project Management Specialists. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET task list for Project Management Specialists. O*NET OnLine
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of project management specialists in 2025: Professional, scientific, and technical services 28%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Project Management Specialists: 2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.