Jobs Similar to Project Management Specialists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to project management specialists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Information Technology Project Managers, Purchasing Managers and Compensation and Benefits Managers.
Project Management Specialists: $102,320 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Project Management Specialists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Information Technology Project Managers | 86% | $116,580Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Purchasing Managers | 84% | $148,080+45% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Compensation and Benefits Managers | 83% | $149,230+46% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Administrative Services Managers | 83% | $114,130+12% | Training or associate |
| 5 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 83% | $69,500−32% | Training or associate |
| 6 | General and Operations Managers | 83% | $105,770+3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Medical and Health Services Managers | 83% | $123,860+21% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Financial Managers | 83% | $166,570+63% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis SpecialistsSame group | 82% | $78,210−24% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Business Continuity PlannersSame group | 82% | $83,050Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | 81% | $87,520−14% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Human Resources SpecialistsSame group | 81% | $75,940−26% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Treasurers and Controllers | 81% | $166,570Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Gambling Managers | 81% | $93,220−9% | High school |
| 15 | Compliance Managers | 81% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | 81% | $78,660−23% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | 80% | $69,990−32% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Marketing Managers | 80% | $166,790+63% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Chief Executives | 80% | $213,990+109% | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Human Resources Managers | 80% | $149,280+46% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Information Technology Project Managers
86% similar · $116,580 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Purchasing Managers
84% similar · $148,080 (+45%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Compensation and Benefits Managers
83% similar · $149,230 (+46%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Administrative Services Managers
83% similar · $114,130 (+12%) · Training or associate
- 5First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
83% similar · $69,500 (−32%) · Training or associate
- 6General and Operations Managers
83% similar · $105,770 (+3%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Medical and Health Services Managers
83% similar · $123,860 (+21%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Financial Managers
83% similar · $166,570 (+63%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
82% similar · $78,210 (−24%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Business Continuity Planners
82% similar · $83,050 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
81% similar · $87,520 (−14%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Human Resources Specialists
81% similar · $75,940 (−26%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Treasurers and Controllers
81% similar · $166,570 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Gambling Managers
81% similar · $93,220 (−9%) · High school
- 15Compliance Managers
81% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
81% similar · $78,660 (−23%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
80% similar · $69,990 (−32%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Marketing Managers
80% similar · $166,790 (+63%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Chief Executives
80% similar · $213,990 (+109%) · Graduate degree
- 20Human Resources Managers
80% similar · $149,280 (+46%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than project management specialists.
- Financial Managers83% similar · $166,570 (+63%)
- Marketing Managers80% similar · $166,790 (+63%)
- Compensation and Benefits Managers83% similar · $149,230 (+46%)
- Human Resources Managers80% similar · $149,280 (+46%)
- Purchasing Managers84% similar · $148,080 (+45%)
- Medical and Health Services Managers83% similar · $123,860 (+21%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for project management specialists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where project management specialists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Information Technology Project Managers (96)
- General and Operations Managers (90)
- Administrative Services Managers (88)
- Media Programming Directors (85)
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers (85)
- Treasurers and Controllers (85)
- Supply Chain Managers (84)
- Regulatory Affairs Managers (83)
- Budget Analysts (82)
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers (82)
Questions about jobs like project management specialists
What jobs are most similar to project management specialists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Information Technology Project Managers (86% similar), Purchasing Managers (84% similar), Compensation and Benefits Managers (83% similar), Administrative Services Managers (83% similar) and First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers (83% similar).
Which jobs like project management specialists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Chief Executives ($213,990, +109%; usually a graduate degree), Financial Managers ($166,570, +63%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Marketing Managers ($166,790, +63%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with project management specialists ($102,320). Without more preparation than project management specialists usually need: Financial Managers, Marketing Managers and Compensation and Benefits Managers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.