Where AI can help
AI can summarize meetings, suggest risks and draft plans.
Business · A PICTURE OF THE OCCUPATION
Project Management Specialists
Coordinate scope, timelines, people and risks to deliver a result. The role depends on continuous alignment across different teams.
Observed AI exposureNot measured in this editionAnthropic · March 2026 study
Employment projection+6.7%2025–2035
Education typically neededBachelor’s degreeBLS · 2025
What the work looks like
- 01
Define scope, milestones and success criteria
- 02
Track dependencies, budget and risks
- 03
Lead meetings and record decisions
- 04
Update stakeholders when plans change
- 05
Remove blockers and adjust delivery plans
An example of an output
An updated plan, recorded decisions and delivery tracked against scope, time and risk.
Editorial example, not a reported worker interview. Tools vary by employer.Work environment
Technology, construction, healthcare, services and consulting. The day combines planning with difficult trade-offs.
O*NET® 31.0 ↗Pay & demand
Mean annual pay$110,740
Median annual pay$102,320
Mean is the arithmetic average; median is the midpoint of the wage distribution. National occupational figures are not starting-salary promises.
10th percentile$61,580
90th percentile$167,970
Percentiles describe the workforce distribution, not junior and senior salary bands. Excludes self-employed workers; see the source for coverage.
BLS · May 2025 · USD/year ↗People employed in 20251,094,300
Projected openings per year76,500
Includes replacement needs over 2025–2035. These are projections, not open job advertisements.
BLS · 2025–2035 ↗AI & your work
What still needs judgment
Negotiating priorities, spotting political risks and deciding when to change scope cannot be outsourced to a summary.
The task discussion is editorial interpretation. Only the exposure percentage is reproduced from the study; we do not assign percentages to individual tasks.
Anthropic · March 2026 study ↗You can also develop within this occupation
Use the exercise below to practice a real task, check AI outputs and identify where you need more depth. A career change is one option, not a requirement.
Plan a two-week project, record three risks and run a review where scope must be reduced.
What entry usually requires
- Education typically needed
- Bachelor’s degree
- Related experience typically needed
- None specified in BLS classification
- Typical on-the-job training
- None specified in BLS classification
Typical requirements in BLS data, not universal hiring rules. Verify the employer’s requirements and any applicable credential or license.
BLS · 2025 ↗Skills to build on
Coordinationprioritizationnegotiationrisk communication
Tools you may encounter
Work boards · spreadsheets · timelines · shared documentation
Editorial example, not a reported worker interview. Tools vary by employer.
Where you could go next
These are researched starting points, not personalized recommendations or promises of lower AI exposure. Check the destination’s requirements and your own circumstances.
EDITORIAL TRANSITION$113,790 Mean annual pay
Management Analysts ↗
Coordinating delivery can grow into studying processes and recommending organizational change.
- What you can carry over
- Communication, risks and organization
- What you would need to learn
- Process diagnosis, costs and recommendation design
What to consider
The shift requires analyzing causes, not only tracking a project plan.
Explore the work before committing
1
Try a practical task
Plan a two-week project, record three risks and run a review where scope must be reduced.
2
Read real job requirements
Use the official occupation title below to search current listings. Check duties, location, experience and compensation. External search results have not been verified as active by this directory.
Project Management SpecialistsSearch external job listings ↗3
Check your assumptions with someone doing the work
Ask which tasks take the most time, how AI changed the routine and what evidence of skill helped them enter. Compare their experience with the published data.
My Next Move ↗Sources & data notes
O*NET® 31.0 · 13-1082.00 ↗BLS · May 2025 · USD/year ↗BLS · 2025–2035 ↗Anthropic · March 2026 study ↗Source & definition ↗
Occupational descriptions adapt the O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. Is my job toast? translated, shortened and supplemented the material. USDOL/ETA has not approved or endorsed these changes. CC BY 4.0 ↗