PHILADELPHIA, PA — Project Management Institute’s latest Earning Power salary survey shows that project management remains one of the most financially resilient careers in today’s fast-changing labor market, with PMP-certified professionals earning a clear and sustained premium over their non-certified peers.
The 14th edition of the global survey—released at PMI’s 2025 Global Summit in Phoenix—found that PMP holders earn 17% higher median salaries across 21 countries. In the U.S., the pay gap is even wider: PMP-certified professionals report a median salary of $135,000, compared with $109,157 for non-certified project managers, a difference of nearly 24%. Long-term certification also amplifies earnings. U.S. professionals with more than a decade as a PMP report a median salary of $173,000.
PMI CEO Pierre Le Manh said the findings underscore the profession’s expanding importance as organizations confront rapid shifts in AI, sustainability, deglobalization, and technology cycles. “None of those changes happen without skilled project professionals,” he said. “Investing in project talent and globally trusted certifications like the PMP will help teams turn uncertainty into opportunity.”
The survey highlights steady earnings growth despite broader economic volatility. Nearly two-thirds of PMP holders reported higher compensation during the past year, with most respondents receiving up to a 10% raise. Industries with the highest U.S. salaries include pharmaceuticals and aerospace, where median earnings reached $150,000.
The profession is also bracing for massive change. PMI cites data showing that job skills may shift by as much as 70% in the next five years as AI transforms how work is executed. Dr. Kelly Heuer, PMI’s vice president of learning, said the PMP helps professionals stay ahead by providing a framework that evolves with emerging practices, cross-functional workflows, and faster delivery cycles.
Despite advances in automation, PMI projects a widening talent gap. Its Global Project Management Talent Gap report estimates that up to 30 million additional project professionals will be needed by 2035 to maintain global transformation efforts. PMI is also expanding AI-focused credentials, including what it says is the only certification designed specifically for managing AI transformation projects.
The 2025 survey reflects feedback from 14,628 project professionals across 21 countries, collected in partnership with research firm PeriscopeIQ.
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