The BLS numbers
| Measure | Figure | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $102,320 | May 2025 |
| Median hourly wage | $49.19 | May 2025 |
| Lowest 10 percent earned less than | $61,580 | May 2025 |
| Highest 10 percent earned more than | $167,970 | May 2025 |
| Jobs | 1,094,300 | 2025 |
| Projected employment growth | 7% | 2025 to 2035 |
| Openings per year, on average | about 76,500 | 2025 to 2035 |
Why there is no CAPM-only figure
BLS reports pay by occupation and does not split it by certification. Averages for certificate holders that circulate online come from surveys we could not trace to a primary dataset, so they stay off this page. A median over a million jobs says a lot about the occupation and little about one résumé.
BLS also has no separate line for project coordinators, construction or otherwise. Coordinator ranges on job boards come from their own samples, and we do not reproduce them. The spread above, from under $61,580 to over $167,970, is the documented range for the occupation as a whole.
What BLS says about credentials
Although not always required, certification may be beneficial.
Is the CAPM worth it for you? Check the conditions
- You have no project experience yet, so the PMP® from PMI® is not open to you.
- Postings you are reading name the CAPM, or say “PMP or CAPM”.
- Your employer pays for training or exam fees.
- You plan on the PMP later: an active CAPM fulfills its 35-hour training requirement (PMI’s PMP page, checked October 30, 2026). The trade-offs are in the CAPM vs PMP comparison.
- You can budget the exam fee, $225 for PMI members or $300 otherwise (PMI store, U.S. pricing, checked October 30, 2026), plus the 23 hours of education.
- You have weighed it against the alternatives in first project management certifications.
On pay and the credential
Does a CAPM raise your pay?
No dataset we can verify answers that. BLS reports pay for the occupation, a median of $102,320 in May 2025 (BLS, checked October 30, 2026), not for holders of a credential.
What is the average project coordinator salary?
BLS does not publish a project coordinator occupation. Its nearest line is project management specialists, with a median of $102,320 and a bottom tenth under $61,580 in May 2025 (BLS, checked October 30, 2026).
What education does BLS list for the work?
A bachelor’s degree is typical for entry (BLS, checked October 30, 2026). Other routes in are covered in how to become a project manager.
How fast is the occupation growing?
BLS projects 7% growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 76,500 openings a year (BLS, checked October 30, 2026).
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Project Management Specialists www.bls.gov — SOC 13-1082 pay, jobs, outlook, education
- PMI: PMP certification page www.pmi.org — active CAPM and PMP training hours
- PMI store: CAPM exam www.pmi.org — exam fee, U.S. pricing