What the numbers say
Milwaukee sits about 10% above the Wisconsin median for Project Management Specialists. The 2024 metro median was $96,650, compared to $88,020 statewide. That gap suggests the Milwaukee metro concentrates a larger share of complex, higher-budget projects than smaller Wisconsin markets tend to.
Against the national figure, Milwaukee comes in just under. The US median for this role was $100,946, so local pay trails the national benchmark by roughly 4%. That difference is modest but consistent with what we see in Midwest metros that compete with coastal markets on cost rather than wage.
The spread here is worth noting. Bottom earners, around the 10th percentile, took home $62,210. At the 90th percentile that number was $159,990. Top earners in Milwaukee make about 2.5 times what those starting out do. A gap that wide usually reflects real differences in scope: someone coordinating a multi-site infrastructure rollout earns a very different wage than someone running internal process projects at a mid-size company. The mean wage of $103,290 runs above the median, which tells us a subset of senior specialists in the metro pull the average up.
About 6,150 Project Management Specialists were employed across the Milwaukee metro in 2024. That is a substantial local workforce for the role, which means job openings appear regularly rather than only when one or two large employers hire.
Salary distribution
Where Milwaukee 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 $79,270 and $129,380, with a median of $100,350.
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 Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the median annual wage for Project Management Specialists in the Milwaukee metropolitan area is $100,350.
- Does Milwaukee pay more than the Wisconsin state average for Project Management Specialists?
- The Milwaukee metro median is +2.8% versus the Wisconsin state median of $97,580.
- How does Milwaukee compare to the national median for Project Management Specialists?
- The Milwaukee metro median is -4.4% versus the BLS national figure of $104,968.
- What is the salary range for Project Management Specialists in Milwaukee?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $63,670 and the 90th-percentile at $152,930 for the Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee 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.