What the numbers say
About 17,130 Project Management Specialists worked in the Boston metro in 2024, making it one of the larger concentrations of this role on the East Coast. The metro median came in at $110,010, roughly 1% above the Massachusetts median of $108,630 and about 9% above the national median of $100,946. Boston and the state run close together here, which suggests the metro isn't dramatically skewing the statewide figure in either direction.
The bigger story is the spread. At the 10th percentile, Boston-area project managers earned $66,990. At the 90th, they earned $175,910. Top earners made about 2.6 times what those at the bottom of the range did. That kind of gap usually reflects a mix of industries hiring for the same title at very different levels: a coordinator at a mid-size firm and a senior program manager at a biotech or financial services company both carry the same SOC code, but their pay looks nothing alike.
The mean annual wage of $120,130 sits about $10,000 above the median. That tells us a portion of Boston's project managers are pulling the average up, likely those in healthcare, tech, and financial services, which are the sectors that tend to offer the higher end of these salaries in this metro.
For anyone using this number as a benchmark, the median is the cleaner reference point. The mean reflects a relatively small group at the top of the local market. Both figures are from the BLS May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.
Salary distribution
Where Boston 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 $89,810 and $147,620, with a median of $114,990.
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 Boston, Massachusetts?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the median annual wage for Project Management Specialists in the Boston metropolitan area is $114,990.
- Does Boston pay more than the Massachusetts state average for Project Management Specialists?
- The Boston metro median is +0.7% versus the Massachusetts state median of $114,190.
- How does Boston compare to the national median for Project Management Specialists?
- The Boston metro median is +9.5% versus the BLS national figure of $104,968.
- What is the salary range for Project Management Specialists in Boston?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $72,800 and the 90th-percentile at $174,740 for the Boston 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 Boston 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.