PMP Certification Salary Potential

Getting a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI) can increase a project manager's salary. Beyond that, having your PMP can make you more hireable and increase your client’s, employer’s, and team's confidence in you. In fact, many higher-level jobs require PMP certification.

Understanding the PMP certification

When you get your PMP certification, employers across the globe know you have taken steps to master project management. Candidates can earn PMP certification by meeting educational and work experience requirements, completing 35 training or education hours, and passing an exam. 

The PMP certification test comprises 180 questions about people management, process management, and business environment. Half the questions involve predictive project management, while the rest focus on Agile or hybrid methods.

PMP certification and salary potential

Discovering new skills and honing your existing ones through PMP certification can give your project manager salary a boost—and that can be a big deal. In the United States, project managers of all education, certification, and experience levels earn a median salary of $100,750 per year—over $51,000 more than the average for all careers [1]. Project managers with PMP certifications can earn more than that average amount.

Median salary for PMP-certified professionals

The Project Management Institute gathered data from 21 countries across six continents to find out how much project managers typically earn. In many cases, people holding a PMP certification tend to earn more than those without a PMP, regardless of experience [2].

Global median salary range with PMP certification: $11,765 to $130,000 [2] Median PMP certification salary in the US: $130,000 [2]

In US dollars, Egypt has the lowest median, while the US has the highest. Australia comes in second for PMP certification salary, with a median salary of $107,095 per year [2].

Salary increase potential with PMP certification

While average project management pay is comparatively high, earning your PMP can move your salary to a whole new level. Nineteen out of 21 countries surveyed reported an increase in pay for professionals with PMP certification, with one country not reporting this data and one reporting no change. Globally, the amount of money you can make with a PMP averages 33 percent higher than without [3].

Global median salary range without PMP certification: $10,196 to $97,840 [2]

Median salary without PMP in the US: $90,000 [2]

In dollars and cents, the non-PMP median salary in the US is $40,000 lower than the median PMP salary—a 44 percent increase. South Africa reports the highest increase, at 67 percent ($36,081 for non-PMP, and $60,135 for PMP) [2].

PMP vs. other project management certifications

Since you need to work for a few years before earning your PMP, you might discover opportunities to earn other certifications like the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). The CAPM is for entry-level project managers, so you don't need to wait as long to pursue it.

As of 2024, a CAPM-certified project manager in the US earns an average of $72,000 per year [4]. Earning your CAPM has benefits beyond the relatively high pay; if you earn your CAPM, you don't need to undergo additional training hours before applying for your PMP exam.

Factors affecting PMP salary

While you may earn more with a PMP certification salary, having your certification isn't the only factor affecting your potential pay. Years of experience, exact location, and the industry you work in can all make a difference.

Job title

A PMP certification can raise your salary, no matter your job title. However, as you move up the career ladder, your pay is likely to increase. In the US, a PMP certification salary can range from a median of $85,500 for those with the title of Project Manager I to $158,500 for Directors of Project Management. Project Management Consultants, who often work outside the normal career progression, average $120,000 [2].

Experience

How long you’ve worked as a project manager affects how much money you earn because every day is an opportunity to hone your skills or acquire new ones.

If you're early in your career, getting your PMP certification may be particularly worthwhile. US-based project managers with three or fewer years of experience enjoy an increase of about 30 percent once they earn their PMP certification. The next-highest PMP certification salary bump comes to those who have been working for five to 10 years [2].

Location

Where you live can affect potential pay and anticipated job growth.

As of 2023, New Jersey offered the highest average project management (PMP and non-PMP) salary at $136,990. Rounding out the top five states for project manager salary is [5]:

• New Jersey: $122,380

• Virginia: $122,330

• Washington: $121,690

• New York: $121,040

• California: $120,920

The BLS estimates the number of project management job openings is likely to grow by 7 percent between 2022 and 2023 [1].

Industry

Nearly all industries have project managers whose salaries could benefit from PMP certification. However, about 69 percent of all project managers work in only five areas as of 2024 [5].

*BLS estimates include project managers with PMP certification and those without.

Discover how to increase your project manager salary on Coursera

If you're ready to take your project management career to the next level—and increase your chances of earning more along the way—consider earning a project management certificate on Coursera before tackling your PMP certification.

Learn the foundational skills it takes to succeed in an entry-level project management role with the Google Project Management: Professional Certificate course on Coursera. Or, explore essential project management concepts and tools with the IBM Project Manager Professional Certificate.