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Project Management Salary in Illinois: Is It a Good Career?

Illinois · 2026 BLS salary data

Project Management pay in Illinois

The median wage is $103,470/yr — 1% above the national median. Among U.S. states, Illinoisranks #15 of 51 states by median pay.

The numbers in Illinois

Real BLS state-level figures for Project Management.

Median salary
$103,470/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$81,000 – $132,360
National median
$102,320/yr
Employed in Illinois
27,180

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.

What that pay is really worth in Illinois

Salary alone can mislead — Illinois costs about the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
100
Nominal median
$103,470
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $103,470
State income tax
Up to 4.95%

Illinois's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #20 of 51, down from #15 on raw salary.

Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions.

FAQ

How much do project management professionals make in Illinois?

The median annual wage is $103,470 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $81,000 and $132,360. That's 1% above the national median.

Is Illinois a good state for project management?

By raw pay, Illinois ranks #15 of 51 states by median pay. Adjusted for cost of living (Illinois costs about the U.S. average), that median is worth about $103,470. Illinois's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #20 of 51, down from #15 on raw salary.

Are project management professionals in demand in Illinois?

About 27,180 people work in this field in Illinois (BLS OEWS). Nationally, BLS projects +5.6% employment growth for this field from 2024 to 2034.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Project Management nationally — Illinois pay is 1% above the national median. See the full Project Management career guide →

The verdict

Yes as a career step-up — project management pays well, spans nearly every industry, and rewards certification (PMP) with higher pay. It's rarely an entry-level role, though: it works best as a move up after gaining domain experience, and the accountability can be stressful.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Strong pay, faster-than-average growth
  • Demand across nearly every industry
  • Certification (PMP) meaningfully lifts pay
  • Transferable, cross-industry skill set
  • Remote-friendly in many sectors

Cons

  • Rarely a true entry-level role
  • High accountability with limited direct authority
  • Stress when timelines or scope slip
  • Success depends on stakeholders you don't control
  • Can involve heavy meetings and reporting

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • Organized people with domain experience
  • Those willing to certify (PMP/CAPM)
  • Anyone wanting a cross-industry step-up

✗ Probably not if…

  • People seeking a first job with no experience
  • Those uncomfortable with accountability under pressure

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Project Management is worth it — titles link to the original threads.