PMP-certified project professionals in the US report a median salary of $135,000, according to PMI's Earning Power salary survey, 14th edition. That's about 24 percent more than the $109,157 median reported by US respondents without the PMP. For a broader baseline, the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median wage for all project management specialists at $102,320 as of May 2025.
I've taught PMP prep for years, and salary is the first question people ask. Here's how to read these numbers without fooling yourself.
How much does a PMP make in the US?
These are the figures I'd use, as of September 2026.
- Source: PMI Salary Survey, 14th ed.
Who's counted: US respondents with PMP, median
Figure: $135,000 - Source: PMI Salary Survey, 14th ed.
Who's counted: US respondents without PMP, median
Figure: $109,157 - Source: PMI Salary Survey, 14th ed.
Who's counted: US respondents certified less than 5 years, median
Figure: $123,000 - Source: PMI Salary Survey, 14th ed.
Who's counted: US respondents certified more than 10 years, median
Figure: $173,000 - Source: BLS
Who's counted: All US project management specialists, median, May 2025
Figure: $102,320
PMI surveyed 14,628 project professionals across 21 countries, fielded March 9 to April 19, 2025, with the research firm PeriscopeIQ. Across all 21 countries, PMP holders reported a 17 percent higher median than non-certified respondents. The US gap was bigger, at about 24 percent.
Why is the PMI number higher than the BLS number?
They're counting different people. BLS counts everyone in the project management specialist job, certified or not, from a coordinator on a small construction job to a senior IT project lead. PMI counts people who chose to answer a salary survey from the Project Management Institute, and most of them hold the PMP.
PMP also has an experience gate. You need three to five years of project leadership experience, depending on your education, before you can sit the exam. So PMP holders skew more senior than the full BLS pool.
Neither number is wrong. BLS tells you what the job pays across the country. PMI tells you what people who went the certification route report earning.
What does the BLS pay range look like?
BLS reports that the lowest 10 percent of project management specialists earned less than $61,580 in May 2025, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $167,970. Industry matters too.
Industry (BLS, May 2025): Median wage
- Finance and insurance: $120,700
- Professional, scientific, and technical services: $108,260
- Manufacturing: $102,640
- Administrative and support services: $98,890
- Construction: $98,730
BLS projects employment of project management specialists to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 76,500 openings a year. It also notes that certification isn't always required but may be beneficial.
Does PMP increase your salary over time?
PMI's own data points that way. US respondents certified for more than ten years reported a median of $173,000, compared with $123,000 for those certified less than five years. That's a $50,000 gap.
I'd be careful not to read too much into it, though. People who've held PMP for ten years have also been managing projects for ten more years. Some of that gap is the cert and some of it is simple seniority. What I tell students is that PMP is a long game. It rarely doubles your pay the month you pass, but it keeps showing up at each job change. I cover whether PMP is worth it for your situation, including PMI's December 1 training rule, on a separate page.
How do you find the PMP salary for your own situation?
The national numbers are a starting point. Three things will move yours more than the cert does.
Your industry is the first one. The BLS table above shows a gap of about $22,000 between the median in finance and insurance and the median in construction, for the same job title.
Where you live is the second. BLS publishes state and metro wage data for project management specialists through its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, and CareerOneStop has a salary lookup by ZIP code. Use those before a negotiation, not a national average.
Your role and years in it come last, and they matter a lot. If you're a PMI member, PMI's interactive salary tool lets you filter its survey results by country, role and experience. That's the closest thing to a like-for-like comparison I know of.
What do you need to qualify for PMP?
PMI lists four paths.
Education: Project management experience needed
- High school diploma or GED: 5 years
- Associate's degree: 4 years
- Bachelor's degree or higher: 3 years
- Degree from a PMI GAC-accredited program: 2 years
Experience has to fall within the last 10 years, and overlapping projects don't count twice. You also need 35 hours of project management training. One rule changes soon. Starting December 1, 2026, PMI will accept live instructor-led classes toward the 35 hours only when they're delivered by a PMI Authorized Training Partner, a China Registered Education Provider or an eligible accredited higher education program. Self-paced, on-demand courses from any organization still count, and an active CAPM also satisfies the requirement.
The exam itself is 180 questions in 240 minutes. PMI weights it at People 33 percent, Process 41 percent and Business Environment 26 percent. To keep the cert, you earn 60 PDUs every three years. Our step-by-step guide on how to get PMP certification walks through the application.
How can Accumentum help you earn PMP?
Our PMP training course provides 35 hours of project management education and is aligned to PMI's 2026 exam content outline. Most students finish in 4 to 6 weeks part-time. The self-paced option counts toward PMI's 35-hour rule. If you're planning a live class that ends after December 1, 2026, ask us which delivery mode fits PMI's rule for your dates. We don't claim PMI Authorized Training Partner status.
PMP is on the PathPay 12-Month Program at $204.17 a month, $2,450 total, with the exam voucher included. PathPay® is a payment plan for one course. It isn't a loan.
You can also take our free PMP Exam Readiness Score to see where you stand, then practice in PathPass®, which has a PMP bank for $19 a month or $39 for all banks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average PMP salary in the US?
PMI reports a median, not an average. PMP-certified US respondents to its 14th edition salary survey reported a median of $135,000, compared with $109,157 for those without the PMP.
How much more do PMP holders make?
In PMI's survey, US PMP holders reported a median about 24 percent higher than non-certified respondents. Across all 21 countries surveyed, the gap was 17 percent.
What is the BLS median pay for project managers?
BLS reports a median of $102,320 for project management specialists in May 2025. The lowest 10 percent earned under $61,580 and the top 10 percent earned over $167,970.
Does PMP salary go up the longer you hold it?
In PMI's US data, people certified more than ten years reported a median of $173,000, versus $123,000 for those certified less than five years.
Can I get PMP without a degree?
Yes. With a high school diploma or GED, PMI asks for five years of project management experience plus 35 hours of training.