Project Management Specialists Salary
The median pay for a project management specialists in District of Columbia is $104,900/year ($50.43/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $194K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $96,345 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,146/month, about 33.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across District of Columbia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $105K get you in District of Columbia?
About project management specialists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in District of Columbia
Project management specialists pay in District of Columbia tracks closely to the national median, $105K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $2,146/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, District of Columbia
Entry-level project management specialists (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $105K. Top earners bring in $194K or more, a $130K spread from bottom to top.
Project Management Specialists salary by metro in District of Columbia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $127K | +21% | 38,230 |
Compare to other states
Track project management specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when District of Columbia numbers change.
Related careers in Business & Finance
Frequently asked questions
Can a project management specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in District of Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $105K, rent takes 33.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,146/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for project management specialists in District of Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new project management specialists typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,845/month. At HUD’s $2,146/month FMR, rent would take 56% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is project management specialist a high-paying job in District of Columbia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $105K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does District of Columbia compare to the national average for project management specialists?
District of Columbia pays $105K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — below the national median.
How much do project management specialists make in District of Columbia?
The median is $104,900 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,080, and experienced project management specialists can clear $194,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $105K enough to live in District of Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,342/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,146/month, which eats 33.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a project management specialists salary go in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median project management specialists salary is worth about $96,345 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do project management specialists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.