Project Management Specialists Salary
The median pay for a project management specialists in Ohio is $95,770/year ($46.04/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $161K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $104,724 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 19.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $96K get you in Ohio?
About project management specialists
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What this looks like in Ohio
Project management specialists pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $96K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 19.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level project management specialists (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $161K or more, a $101K spread from bottom to top.
Project Management Specialists salary by metro in Ohio
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $99K | +3% | 7,680 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $98K | +2% | 2,270 |
| Cincinnati | $95K | -0% | 7,080 |
| Cleveland | $95K | -1% | 6,340 |
| Sandusky | $94K | -1% | 140 |
| Akron | $93K | -3% | 2,180 |
| Canton-Massillon | $83K | -14% | 640 |
| Toledo | $82K | -14% | 1,340 |
| Lima | $82K | -15% | 150 |
| Mansfield | $79K | -17% | 120 |
| Springfield | $77K | -19% | 140 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $77K | -19% | 550 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a project management specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 19.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for project management specialists in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new project management specialists typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,557/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $96K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for project management specialists?
Ohio pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $105K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do project management specialists make in Ohio?
The median is $95,770 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,280, and experienced project management specialists can clear $160,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,151/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 19.3% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $104,724 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.