What the numbers say
About 5,330 Project Management Specialists worked in the Indianapolis metro in 2024. That's a meaningful local pool, and the wages reflect a market with genuine demand for the role.
The median annual wage came in at $93,360, nearly identical to the Indiana state median of $92,790. The two figures are close enough that Indianapolis neither pulls the state average up nor drags it down. What separates the metro picture from a typical midwestern baseline is how far the range stretches: the bottom 10% of earners made around $58,140, while the top 10% reached $138,700. Top earners make about 2.4 times what those starting out make, which is a wide gap for a single occupation in one metro. It points to real differences in seniority, industry, and project complexity across the local market.
The national median for this occupation was $100,946 in 2024, about $7,600 above Indianapolis. That gap is smaller than it looks in some high-cost cities. Indianapolis is not a coastal tech hub, and the comparison with the national figure reflects that. Specialists in sectors like pharmaceuticals, logistics, and defense contracting, all present in the metro, tend to sit closer to the upper end of the local range.
The mean wage of $97,480 runs about $4,100 above the median. A smaller group of higher-paid specialists pulls the average up, but not by an unusual margin. The distribution here is wide but not lopsided in the way some tech-heavy metros can be.
Salary distribution
Where Indianapolis project management specialists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $77,800 and $128,170, with a median of $99,710.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
Common tasks (O*NET)
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Explore coursesFrequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Project Management Specialists in Indianapolis, Indiana?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the median annual wage for Project Management Specialists in the Indianapolis metropolitan area is $99,710.
- Does Indianapolis pay more than the Indiana state average for Project Management Specialists?
- The Indianapolis metro median is +4.9% versus the Indiana state median of $95,020.
- How does Indianapolis compare to the national median for Project Management Specialists?
- The Indianapolis metro median is -5.0% versus the BLS national figure of $104,968.
- What is the salary range for Project Management Specialists in Indianapolis?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $61,630 and the 90th-percentile at $155,080 for the Indianapolis metro area.
- What education is required for Project Management Specialists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. BLS metro estimates reflect the Indianapolis CBSA boundary for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.