Project Management Specialists Salary
The median pay for a project management specialists in North Carolina is $100,820/year ($48.47/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $164K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $108,806 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 19.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in North Carolina?
About project management specialists
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Project management specialists pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $101K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 20.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level project management specialists (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $164K or more, a $102K spread from bottom to top.
Project Management Specialists salary by metro in North Carolina
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $105K | +4% | 11,570 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $105K | +4% | 3,180 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $102K | +1% | 7,930 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $100K | -1% | 2,080 |
| Asheville | $97K | -3% | 950 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $95K | -5% | 210 |
| Greenville | $95K | -6% | 470 |
| Rocky Mount | $91K | -10% | 290 |
| Wilmington | $89K | -12% | 1,220 |
| Goldsboro | $89K | -12% | 160 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $85K | -15% | 490 |
| Burlington | $83K | -17% | 250 |
| Fayetteville | $83K | -18% | 490 |
| Winston-Salem | $80K | -21% | 1,530 |
| Jacksonville | $79K | -21% | 210 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a project management specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 20.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for project management specialists in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new project management specialists typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,694/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $101K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for project management specialists?
North Carolina pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $109K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do project management specialists make in North Carolina?
The median is $100,820 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,570, and experienced project management specialists can clear $164,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,231/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 20.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a project management specialists salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median project management specialists salary is worth about $108,806 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.