Quick answer:Project Management Specialists in California earn a median $120,910 per year, above the national median of $102,320 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 114,380 of them. Licensing runs through PMI and, for construction work, your state contractor licensing board.
Project Management Pay and Employment in California at a Glance
Metric
California
National
Source
Median annual wage
$120,910
$102,320
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$69,180
$61,580
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$85,620
$78,440
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$155,850
$133,100
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$188,560
$167,970
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
114,380
1,066,670
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
0.92
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
5.6%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How California Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The California median of $120,910 sits above the national median of $102,320 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 0.92 puts California slightly below the national average, so the occupation is a little less common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Project management demand follows the region’s active construction, infrastructure and capital project pipeline rather than population.
Project Management Specialists Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), project management specialists wages in California vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
38,540
$108,310
$120,110
$65,540
$185,220
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
20,770
$135,040
$140,820
$79,990
$206,240
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
10,740
$117,460
$120,130
$69,660
$171,400
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
10,300
$135,120
$146,170
$82,920
$212,340
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
6,860
$124,350
$124,130
$71,390
$179,070
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
6,720
$100,770
$105,510
$58,110
$161,380
Fresno
1,720
$101,030
$107,630
$59,160
$164,230
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
1,510
$104,990
$114,160
$64,470
$168,280
Bakersfield-Delano
1,410
$104,580
$109,880
$62,120
$159,970
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
1,030
$106,250
$111,020
$58,970
$169,210
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
1,000
$107,340
$115,250
$64,480
$172,680
Stockton-Lodi
910
$104,240
$110,520
$61,930
$164,520
Vallejo
720
$106,520
$114,530
$61,500
$176,580
Modesto
670
$102,490
$110,060
$64,790
$166,640
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
640
$108,730
$118,060
$67,500
$171,500
Salinas
490
$102,400
$108,220
$61,840
$159,870
Visalia
450
$95,770
$100,120
$58,600
$148,650
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
440
$106,780
$111,910
$55,040
$167,690
Chico
320
$103,320
$115,070
$61,580
$181,480
Napa
310
$109,060
$118,940
$68,630
$174,920
Redding
270
$99,030
$105,100
$60,280
$156,270
Merced
190
$103,850
$108,820
$63,990
$154,940
Yuba City
150
$108,190
$112,510
$65,110
$164,870
El Centro
140
$105,860
$109,150
$62,610
$156,540
Hanford-Corcoran
90
$118,380
$117,270
$55,980
$173,480
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Project management is not a licensed occupation. The credentials employers recruit against come from PMI, principally the CAPM at entry level and the PMP once qualifying experience is documented. In construction specifically, state contractor licensing attaches to the contracting entity rather than to the project manager personally.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with PMI and, for construction work, your state contractor licensing board that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
How much do project management specialists make in California?
The median annual wage for project management specialists in California is $120,910, above the national median of $102,320 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $85,620 at the 25th percentile to $155,850 at the 75th.
How many project management specialists work in California?
California holds about 114,380 project manager jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 1,066,670, and BLS projects about 78,200 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a project manager in California?
Project management is not a licensed occupation. The credentials employers recruit against come from PMI, principally the CAPM at entry level and the PMP once qualifying experience is documented. In construction specifically, state contractor licensing attaches to the contracting entity rather than to the project manager personally. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with PMI and, for construction work, your state contractor licensing board before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a bachelor's in project or construction management online while working in California?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies PMI and, for construction work, your state contractor licensing board.
What is the highest-paying area of California for project management specialists?
Among California metro areas with published data, San Jose reports the highest median at $135,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is California a good state for project management specialists?
On pay, the state median of $120,910 sits above the national $102,320 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.92 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Project Management Specialists (SOC 13-1082), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
