### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Project Management Specialists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			project management specialistsProject management specialists organize, plan, and oversee all aspects of a project from beginning to end.							
						Quick Facts:     Project Management Specialists2023     Median Pay
            						$98,580     per year
										$47.39     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    881,300Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    6% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    54,700What Project Management Specialists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Project management specialists coordinate the budget, schedule, staffing, and other details of a project.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Project management specialists usually work in an office setting, but they occasionally travel to visit clients. Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
            
                                                How to Become a Project Management Specialist
                                                
                        
Project management specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree that may be in a variety of fields, including business or project management. Although not always required, certification may be beneficial.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for project management specialists was $98,580 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of project management specialists is projected to grow							 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 68,100 openings for project management specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for project management specialists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of project management specialists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about project management specialists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Project Management Specialists Do 
            

			project management specialistsOnce a project is underway, project management specialists direct the team in carrying out the work.			
Project management specialists coordinate the budget, schedule, and other details of a project. They lead and guide the work of technical staff. Project management specialists also may serve as a point of contact for the client or customer.
Duties
Project management specialists typically do the following:
Communicate with clients to determine project requirements and objectives
Develop project plans to include information such as objectives, funding, schedules, and staff
Identify, review, and select vendors or consultants to meet project needs
Assign duties or responsibilities to project staff
Confer with project staff to identify and resolve problems
Monitor project costs to stay within budget
Monitor project milestones and deliverables
Propose, review, and approve modifications to project plans
Produce and distribute project documentsProject management specialists may begin a project by defining its scope or goals, using input from the client. They then create a plan that itemizes the individual activities, data, and resources needed to complete the project. Project management specialists ensure that the plan estimates costs, identifies potential risks, and specifies a timeline for completion.
Once a project is underway, project management specialists direct the team in carrying out the work. They monitor progress by tracking milestones and troubleshooting problems that may arise, including adjusting the project to address changes requested by the client. Finally, they close out the project by reviewing and organizing financial statements, contracts, and other documents.
These specialists may oversee a variety of projects, such as building a new commercial center, improving business processes, or expanding sales into additional markets. In coordinating a project, they may work closely with those whose expertise is in a particular field. For example, a project management specialist may collaborate with an emergency management director in disaster relief efforts or a construction manager in building a facility.
 Work Environment
			work environmentProject management specialists may work on teams of other specialists, or they may work independently.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Project management specialists held about 881,300 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of project management specialists were as follows:
        Professional, scientific, and technical services
                28%Construction
                20Manufacturing
                7Administrative and support services
                7Finance and insurance
                5Project management specialists usually work in an office setting. Although project management specialists may collaborate on teams, some work independently. Project management specialists also may travel to their clients’ places of business.
Work Schedules
Project management specialists generally work during normal business hours. However, their schedules may require flexibility, such as when working across time zones or during off-peak hours. Most work full time, and some may work more than 40 hours per week.
 How to Become a Project Management Specialist

			project management specialistsProject management specialists typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation.			
Project management specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree that may be in a variety of fields, including business or project management. Although not always required, certification may be beneficial.
Education
To enter the occupation, project management specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in business, project management, or a related field. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a degree in a technical field related to the industry in which they will work, such as computer and information technology or engineering.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Although not always required, professional certification demonstrates competency to prospective clients and employers. For example, the Project Management Institute (PMI) offers several certifications in project management for workers at various experience levels, including the Project Management Professional (PMP).
Other Experience
Some positions require project management specialists to have relevant work experience. Candidates may gain experience as business analysts, information security analysts, training and development specialists, or in other related occupations.
Employers also may prefer to hire candidates who have experience in areas such as personnel recruitment, employee relations, or compensation and benefits. Candidates sometimes get this experience by volunteering or while in college, either through courses or internships.
Advancement
Project management specialists may advance to more senior positions as they gain experience and take on more responsibility. For example, they may begin as trainees working on small projects and progress to large, complex projects.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills.*** Project management specialists must be able to understand large amounts of information and data.
***Communication skills.*** Project management specialists need to convey information to staff and must get input from and present results to clients.
***Critical-thinking skills***. To determine which strategy would work best for a particular project, these specialists must assess its goals and impact.
***Interpersonal skills**.***Project management specialists must establish trust with clients and respond well to their questions and concerns.
***Organizational skills.***Project management specialists’ work involves balancing a variety of responsibilities, and they may oversee more than one project at one time.
***Problem-solving skills.***Project management specialists must be able to handle difficult or unexpected situations and find effective solutions.
***Time-management skills.*** Project management specialists often work under tight deadlines and must use their time efficiently to complete projects on schedule.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Project Management SpecialistsMedian annual wages, May 2023Project management specialists$98,580  Business operations specialists$78,500  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for project management specialists was $98,580 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $57,500, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $163,040.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for project management specialists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Finance and insurance
                $107,070Professional, scientific, and technical services
                103,610Manufacturing
                100,990Administrative and support services
                94,280Construction
                91,940Most project management specialists work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Project Management SpecialistsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Project management specialists6%  Business operations specialists6%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of project management specialists is projected to grow				 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 68,100 openings for project management specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
As organizations seek ways to maintain and improve productivity, employment of project management specialists is expected to increase. These specialists will be needed to help manage various business operations, ensuring that projects meet their goals and are completed on time and within budget.
Demand for project management specialists is expected to be strong in computer systems design services. More project management specialists will be needed to manage the growing volume and complexity of information technology (IT) projects required to support expanded telework.
			

                        Employment projections data for     project management specialists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Project management specialists**
			13-1082
			881,300
			936,000
			6
			54,700
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Project management specialists **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of project management specialists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Cost Estimators**
            Cost estimators collect and analyze data in order to assess the time, money, materials, and labor required to make a product or provide a service.
            Bachelor's degree
            $74,740**Logisticians**
            Logisticians analyze and coordinate an organization’s supply chain.
            Bachelor's degree
            $79,400**Management Analysts**
            Management analysts recommend ways to improve an organization’s efficiency.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,410**Market Research Analysts**
            Market research analysts study consumer preferences, business conditions, and other factors to assess potential sales of a product or service.
            Bachelor's degree
            $74,680**Mathematicians and Statisticians**
            Mathematicians and statisticians analyze data and apply computational techniques to solve problems.
            Master's degree
            $104,860**Operations Research Analysts**
            Operations research analysts use mathematics and logic to help solve complex issues.
            Bachelor's degree
            $83,640**Survey Researchers**
            Survey researchers design and conduct surveys and analyze data.
            Master's degree
            $60,960
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about project management specialists, including details about certification, visit
Project Management Institute (PMI)

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Project Management Specialists
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Project Management Specialists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/project-management-specialists.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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