California Median
$120,910
per year
Hourly Rate
$58.13
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+18% vs US median
US median $102,320
State Rank
#5 of 51
114,380 employed here
How much does a Project Management Specialist make in California?
Project Management Specialists in California take home a median of $120,910 annually — roughly $58.13 an hour — which runs 18% above the national median of $102,320.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $69,180 while the top 10% make $188,560 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $85,620 and $155,850 a year.
Project Management Specialist salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,180 | $33.26 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $85,620 | $41.16 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $120,910 | $58.13 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $155,850 | $74.93 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $188,560 | $90.65 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 5th out of 51 states and territories for Project Management Specialist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Project Management Specialist salary in other states
Washington $124,160New Jersey $122,980Delaware $122,190New York $121,040Virginia $120,840Massachusetts $114,190Colorado $110,050New Mexico $106,970Oregon $105,480Connecticut $105,240District of Columbia $104,900Rhode Island $104,680Maryland $104,040Illinois $103,470Georgia $102,140Maine $101,830Michigan $100,970Alabama $100,820North Carolina $100,820Pennsylvania $100,150Kansas $100,010Nevada $99,940Alaska $99,580Arizona $99,050Texas $98,440Florida $98,070Minnesota $97,860Wisconsin $97,580Utah $96,720Iowa $96,540North Dakota $96,160Ohio $95,770Idaho $95,630South Carolina $95,040Indiana $95,020Missouri $94,660Wyoming $94,080West Virginia $91,780New Hampshire $90,890Montana $87,890Oklahoma $86,240Tennessee $85,890Louisiana $84,850South Dakota $82,250Kentucky $81,700Vermont $80,800Nebraska $80,150Mississippi $78,870Hawaii $78,000Arkansas $77,170
Working as a Project Management Specialist in California
Nationally, about 1,067,000 people work as Project Management Specialists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($120,910) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Project Management Specialist make in California?
The median Project Management Specialist salary in California is $120,910 per year, or about $58.13 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $69,180 at the entry level to $188,560 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Project Management Specialists about 18% more than the national median of $102,320. California ranks 5th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Project Management Specialists?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $120,910 a year. About 114,380 Project Management Specialists are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Project Management Specialist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.