Project Management Specialist Salary in Chicago Metro, IL-IN (2026)
Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology
Wage Benchmarking & After-Tax Paycheck Engine
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Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Project Management Specialist Wage Distribution
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders
HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index
Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.
Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix
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Project Management Specialist in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)
Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and Illinois tax codes.
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Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.
- Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
- FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
- Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
- HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400
Project Management Specialist in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: Market Snapshot
Project Management Specialist roles in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN report a median annual wage of $105,320, 2.9% above the national median of $102,320. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $67,350 to $165,780, and HUD’s $1,780 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 20.3% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $27.82 per hour.
Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Project Management Specialist
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Vs this market |
|---|---|---|
| Dothan, AL | $135,260 | +28.4% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $135,120 | +28.3% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $135,040 | +28.2% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $130,380 | +23.8% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $127,030 | +20.6% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $126,660 | +20.3% |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $125,940 | +19.6% |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $124,350 | +18.1% |
| Peoria, IL | $123,730 | +17.5% |
| Boulder, CO | $122,040 | +15.9% |
Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | $344,960 | $165.85/hr |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $173,760 | $83.54/hr |
| Financial Manager | $168,810 | $81.16/hr |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $167,040 | $80.31/hr |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $166,390 | $80.00/hr |
| Marketing Managers | $165,340 | $79.49/hr |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $163,430 | $78.57/hr |
| Sales Managers | $158,690 | $76.29/hr |
| Human Resources Managers | $156,770 | $75.37/hr |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $155,340 | $74.68/hr |
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 389 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .
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Related Business Operations Roles in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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Other Metros for Project Management Specialist
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Project Management Specialist median pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $105,320 a year ($50.63/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage. Official 2026 economic data for Project Management Specialist in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
The median annual wage is $105,320 ($50.63 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $67,350 and $165,780. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).
On the median wage of $105,320, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $77,854 a year ($6,488 a month) after $27,466 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 26.08%, using 2026 tax rules.