Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Project Management Specialists vs. Business Operations Specialists, All Other: Who Earns More?

Project Management Specialists out-earn Business Operations Specialists, All Other by $19K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Project Management Specialists land at $102,320 and Business Operations Specialists, All Other at $83,050. The education gap is real: project management specialist programs typically require bachelor's degree, while business operations specialists, all other programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Project Management Specialists is Washington ($124,160); for Business Operations Specialists, All Other it's District of Columbia ($108,160).

Project Management Specialists
Business Operations Specialists, All Other
Median salary
$102,320
$83,050
Hourly rate
$49.19/hr
$39.93/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$61,580
$47,880
Senior level (90th %)
$167,970
$150,010
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
1,066,670
1,087,090
Job growth (10-year)
5.6%
3%
Category
Business & Finance
Business & Finance
Top-paying state
Washington
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Project Management Specialists median pay.

State
Project Management Specialists
Business Operations Specialists, All Other
Washington
$124,160
$100,360
New Jersey
$122,980
$91,060
Delaware
$122,190
$95,040
California
$120,910
$87,570
Massachusetts
$114,190
$93,270
Colorado
$110,050
$92,520
Connecticut
$105,240
$85,530
District of Columbia
$104,900
$108,160
Rhode Island
$104,680
$88,130
Maryland
$104,040
$101,500
Alabama
$100,820
$100,240
Alaska
$99,580
$94,740
Oklahoma
$86,240
$93,640
South Dakota
$82,250
$85,340
Hawaii
$78,000
$92,620

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Project Management Specialists or Business Operations Specialists, All Other?

Project Management Specialists earn more nationally. The median is $102,320 for Project Management Specialists versus $83,050 for Business Operations Specialists, All Other, a difference of $19K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Project Management Specialists or Business Operations Specialists, All Other?

Project Management Specialists has the better 10-year outlook at 5.6% projected growth, compared to 3% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Project Management Specialists or Business Operations Specialists, All Other?

Project Management Specialists typically requires bachelor's degree. Business Operations Specialists, All Other requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Project Management Specialists get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Project Management Specialists at $124,160/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Project Management Specialists vs. Business Operations Specialists, All Other pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Project Management Specialists earn $124,160 vs. $100,360 for Business Operations Specialists, All Other. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Project Management Specialists salary breakdownView →Full Business Operations Specialists, All Other salary breakdownView →Best cities for Project Management Specialists by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Business Operations Specialists, All Other by take-home payExplore →How to become a project management specialistsGuide →How to become a business operations specialists, all otherGuide →