Project Management Specialists

Analyze and coordinate the schedule, timeline, procurement, staffing, and budget of a product or service on a per project basis. Lead and guide the work of technical staff. May serve as a point of contact for the client or customer.

$100,750
Median Annual Pay
Jobs growth:
+6% projected 2024–2034
Bachelor's degree
Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

Project management specialists orchestrate complex initiatives from conception through completion, ensuring that deliverables meet quality standards while staying on schedule and within budget. They coordinate between different teams, track progress against milestones, and adjust plans when obstacles arise. On any given day, they might facilitate team meetings, update project timelines, communicate with stakeholders about status and risks, or resolve resource conflicts between departments. They serve as the central hub of information for their projects, maintaining detailed documentation and ensuring everyone understands their responsibilities.

These specialists typically work in office environments, though many now operate remotely or in hybrid settings. They spend considerable time in meetings and at their computers using project management software to track tasks, budgets, and team workloads. The role requires them to guide technical staff without necessarily being subject matter experts themselves, relying instead on strong organizational and interpersonal abilities. Success in this field demands excellent communication skills, the ability to think several steps ahead, and comfort with juggling multiple priorities simultaneously. Those who thrive as project management specialists tend to be natural problem-solvers who remain calm under pressure and can diplomatically navigate competing interests.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)Northwestern University, IL
$224,402
Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)University of Pennsylvania, PA
$210,400
Business Administration, Management and Operations(professional)University of California-Berkeley, CA
$208,670
Business Administration, Management and Operations(professional)Harvard University, MA
$205,703
Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)University of Chicago, IL
$194,606
Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)Stanford University, CA
$193,776
Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)Yale University, CT
$192,686
Business/Commerce(masters)Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA
$190,333
Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)University of Virginia-Main Campus, VA
$189,494
Business/Commerce(masters)Northwestern University, IL
$188,890
Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)Dartmouth College, NH
$188,502
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management(masters)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY
$185,150
Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)New York University, NY
$184,729
Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY
$182,930
Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)Cornell University, NY
$179,274
Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)University of California-Los Angeles, CA
$172,128
Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)Duke University, NC
$171,948
Business/Commerce(masters)Emory University, GA
$166,848
Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)Carnegie Mellon University, PA
$165,798
Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)University of Arkansas, AR
$164,382
Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI
$160,286
Business/Commerce(masters)University of Virginia-Main Campus, VA
$159,747
Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)The University of Texas at Austin, TX
$159,326
Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC
$156,818
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management(masters)University of Virginia-Main Campus, VA
$156,433

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