Quick answer: The Cincinnati metro employs about 7,080 project management specialists (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through PMI and, for construction work, your state contractor licensing board.
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 Ohio licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with PMI and, for construction work, your state contractor licensing board.
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.
This page lists 2 schools within 129 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 2 of them carry a score.
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Project Management Specialists in the Cincinnati area earn a median $95,380 per year, below the national median of $102,320 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Metric | Cincinnati metro | Ohio | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $95,380 | $95,770 | $102,320 |
| 10th percentile | $58,950 | $59,280 | $61,580 |
| 25th percentile | $73,060 | $74,420 | $78,440 |
| 75th percentile | $126,420 | $126,570 | $133,100 |
| 90th percentile | $159,490 | $160,570 | $167,970 |
| Employment | 7,080 | 34,260 | 1,066,670 |
| Location quotient | 0.94 | - | 1.00 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metropolitan statistical area.
The Cincinnati median of $95,380 is below the national median of $102,320, and below the Ohio statewide median of $95,770 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 0.94 means project management specialists are less 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.
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $98,660 | 7,680 |
| Cleveland | $95,000 | 6,340 |
| Dayton | $98,130 | 2,270 |
| Akron | $93,190 | 2,180 |
| Toledo | $81,940 | 1,340 |
| Canton | $82,530 | 640 |
| Youngstown | $77,160 | 550 |
| Lima | $81,670 | 150 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
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.
The median annual wage for project management specialists in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $95,380, below the national median of $102,320 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area employs about 7,080 project management specialists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
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.
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.
The Cincinnati metro median is $95,380 against a statewide median of $95,770 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
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/.
