Project Management Degree Programs in Kansas City, MO (2026)

Quick answer: Project Management Specialists in the Kansas City area earn a median $101,050 per year, below the national median of $102,320, and the metro employs about 8,380 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Project Management Pay in Kansas City, MO

MetricKansas City metroMissouriNational
Median annual wage$101,050$94,660$102,320
10th percentile$60,230$56,660$61,580
25th percentile$78,230$71,270$78,440
75th percentile$129,790$124,980$133,100
90th percentile$168,930$157,650$167,970
Employment8,38021,4601,066,670
Location quotient1.11-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Kansas City median of $101,050 is below the national median of $102,320, and above the Missouri statewide median of $94,660 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 1.11 means project management specialists are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Project management demand follows the region’s active construction, infrastructure and capital project pipeline rather than population.

Other Missouri Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
St. Louis$100,51010,450
Springfield$78,0601,230
Columbia$80,870580
Jefferson City$79,980500
Joplin$77,760330
St. Joseph$89,670210
Cape Girardeau$78,150200

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. 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.

See the Missouri licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with PMI and, for construction work, your state contractor licensing board.

Schools Near You

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.

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.

#1

Rockhurst University

Kansas City, MO 6.5 miles away BOC Score 71.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 75.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 11
  • Annual completions: 131
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $76,125 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

University of Missouri-Kansas City

Kansas City, MO 5.9 miles away BOC Score 64.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 55.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 12
  • Annual completions: 115
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $65,925 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, MO 50.4 miles away BOC Score 54.8
Tuition $10,050 - $22,947
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 63.8%
  • Graduation rate: 51.6%
  • Programs offered: 25
  • Annual completions: 1279
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,054 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Avila University

Kansas City, MO 14.8 miles away BOC Score 53.3
Tuition $42,000 - $50,096
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 87.8%
  • Graduation rate: 47.3%
  • Programs offered: 4
  • Annual completions: 25
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $61,078 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Northwest Missouri State University

Maryville, MO 86.8 miles away BOC Score 48.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 55.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 17
  • Annual completions: 150
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $52,213 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City

Kansas City, MO 5.2 miles away BOC Score 45.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 31.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 40
  • Annual completions: 981
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $50,121 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

State Fair Community College

Sedalia, MO 75.1 miles away BOC Score 45.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 34
  • Annual completions: 416
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $40,789 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Park University

Parkville, MO 8.1 miles away BOC Score 41.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 34.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 18
  • Annual completions: 695
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $63,456 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, MO 45.6 miles away BOC Score 37.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 39.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 30
  • Annual completions: 182
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $53,293 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Fayette, MO 100.1 miles away BOC Score 31.0
Tuition $28,260 - $43,635
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 56.9%
  • Graduation rate: 51.8%
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 60
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $51,668 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do project management specialists make in Kansas City?

The median annual wage for project management specialists in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $101,050, below the national median of $102,320 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many project management specialists work in the Kansas City area?

The Kansas City, MO-KS metro area employs about 8,380 project management specialists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do project management specialists in Kansas City need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. 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. Confirm current requirements with PMI and, for construction work, your state contractor licensing board.

Can I study project management online from Kansas City?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies PMI and, for construction work, your state contractor licensing board.

Is Kansas City a better market than the rest of Missouri?

The Kansas City metro median is $101,050 against a statewide median of $94,660 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • 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/.