Project Management Specialists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $165,780 or more. The middle half of project management specialists in Chicago earn between $82,770 and $133,980.
- $67K10th
- $83K25th
- $105KMedian
- $134K75th
- $166K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $113,740 | $9,478 | $54.68 |
| Median | $105,320 | $8,777 | $50.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $82,770 | $6,898 | $39.79 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $133,980 | $11,165 | $64.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Project Management Specialists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Project management specialists in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($111,230) and about the same as the U.S. average ($110,740). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $102,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $113,740 | $105,320 | $67,350 | $165,780 | 21,040 |
| Illinois | $111,230 | $103,470 | $65,300 | $163,910 | 27,180 |
| United States | $110,740 | $102,320 | $61,580 | $167,970 | 1,066,670 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Project Management Specialists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $113,740, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $83,357 a year, or $6,946 a month and $3,206 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $85,464 | $7,122 |
| Working in IL | $83,357 | $6,946 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for project management specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $113,740 buys what about $109,793 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Project Management Specialists salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 3rd of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job; Peoria pays the most ($121,160).
- Peoria$121,160
- Bloomington$118,470
- Chicago$113,740
- Decatur$103,600
- Springfield$101,100
- Kankakee$100,770
- Rockford$99,180
- Champaign$95,530
Highest-paying cities for project management specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($146,170).
- San Jose, CA$146,170
- San Francisco, CA$140,820
- Seattle, WA$133,590
- New York, NY$131,730
- Washington, DC$129,050
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Project Management Specialists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do project management specialists make an hour in Chicago?
$54.68 an hour on average, and $50.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level project management specialists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $82,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the project management specialists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $83,357 a year ($6,946 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $113,740.
Do project management specialists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($110,740).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-1082; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.68, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.68).
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