Salary report · Chicago, IL

What is the average Project Manager salary in Chicago, IL?

Project Managers in Chicago earn a median of $104,500 per year — about 6% above the national average. Pay ranges from $75,200 (25th percentile) to $162,000 (90th percentile).

25th percentile
$75,200
Median
$104,500
75th percentile
$133,800
90th percentile
$162,000
YoY change
+3.5%

Project Manager salary by experience level

Entry · 0–2 yrs
$67,900
Mid · 3–5 yrs
$104,500
Senior · 6–8 yrs
$133,800
Lead · 8+ yrs
$151,500

How Chicago pay compares

Chicago median$104,500
National median$98,580
Cost-of-living adjusted(COL index 107)$97,700

Cost-of-living adjusted is the Chicago salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.

5-year salary trend

$91K
2022
$94K
2023
$98K
2024
$101K
2025
$105K
2026

Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 3.5%.

Project Manager job market in Chicago

Chicago's economy is anchored by finance, manufacturing, and a growing tech scene. Salaries are competitive without the coastal cost of living.

An estimated 9,400 project managers work in the Chicago metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:

  • Run standups
  • Track project budgets
  • Manage stakeholders
  • Identify risks
  • Document project status

Related job salaries in Chicago

Project Manager salary in other cities

FAQ

How much does a Project Manager make in Chicago, IL?+

Project Managers in Chicago earn a median of $104,500 per year — about 6% above the national average of $98,580.

What's the entry-level Project Manager salary in Chicago?+

Entry-level Project Managers in Chicago typically earn around $67,900 per year. Salaries scale to about $151,500 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.

Is $104,500 a good Project Manager salary in Chicago?+

$104,500 is the median, meaning half of Project Managers in Chicago earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 107, that's roughly $97,700 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.

How fast is Project Manager pay growing in Chicago?+

Project Manager salaries in Chicago grew about 3.5% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +7%.

Where do Project Managers in Chicago get paid the most?+

The 90th percentile Project Manager salary in Chicago is around $162,000. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.

Are you being paid fairly in Chicago?

Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the Chicago median.

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