CompTIA Project+ (PK0-005)

pm Entry Updated: 2026-04-14 Methodology

CompTIA Project+ validates foundational project management skills for IT professionals who need to manage smaller, less complex projects as part of their broader job responsibilities. It covers the entire project lifecycle — initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing — using both predictive (waterfall) and adaptive (agile) approaches. Unlike PMP, Project+ is vendor-neutral and does not require extensive project management experience.

$72K
Avg Salary
72%
Pass Rate
15.0K
Job Listings
100h
Study Time
$358
Exam Cost

Is the CompTIA Project+ (PK0-005) Worth It?

Strengths

  • Entry point into IT careers with $72,000 average salary
  • Good job market demand with 15.0K active listings
  • Achievable exam with 72% community-reported pass rate
  • No prerequisites required — accessible to career changers and newcomers

Considerations

  • Moderate exam investment at $358
  • Has prerequisites — not suitable for complete beginners

Bottom line: At $358 exam cost with an average salary of $72,000, the CompTIA Project+ (PK0-005) offers a solid return on investment for pm professionals.

Who Should Get the CompTIA Project+ (PK0-005)?

This certification is a good fit if you are:

  • IT newcomers looking to validate foundational knowledge
  • Career changers transitioning into technology
  • Anyone targeting roles that list CompTIA Project+ (PK0-005) as preferred or required

Exam Details

Exam CodePK0-005
Exam Cost$358 USD
Duration90 minutes
Questions90
Passing Score710/900
ProviderCompTIA
Difficulty4/10

Salary Data

Professionals holding the CompTIA Project+ (PK0-005) certification earn between $52,000 and $95,000 annually, with an average of $72,000. For context, the PMP averages $120,000.

Job market demand trend: Stable (+4% YoY)

Disclaimer: Salary figures are US-median estimates compiled from BLS wage statistics, Glassdoor, and job-posting aggregates. They are estimates only, not financial advice or a guarantee of earnings. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, employer, and negotiation.

Prerequisites

  • No formal prerequisites
  • 12 months of project management experience recommended
  • Basic understanding of IT concepts

Skills Covered

Project Lifecycle ManagementScope and Schedule ManagementCost and Budget ManagementRisk ManagementStakeholder CommunicationAgile and Waterfall MethodologiesQuality Assurance

Best Study Resources

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between CompTIA Project+ and PMP?
Project+ is an entry-level certification ideal for IT professionals who manage projects as part of their role but are not full-time project managers. PMP requires 36 months of project management experience and is designed for dedicated project managers. Project+ is easier, cheaper, and a great stepping stone toward PMP.
Is CompTIA Project+ recognized by employers?
Yes. Project+ is recognized across industries, especially in IT, government, and defense sectors. It is approved by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD 8570) and validates that you can manage project scope, schedule, budget, and stakeholders effectively, which is valued in any organization.
How long should I study for Project+?
Most candidates need about 100 hours of study over 4-6 weeks. If you have some project management experience, you may need less. Focus on understanding the project lifecycle phases, key PM terminology, and practice with scenario-based questions that test applied knowledge rather than memorization.

Sources for every data point

Each quantitative claim on this page is mapped to a verifiable source. Official vendor pages and government datasets are preferred; community estimates and editorial extrapolations are flagged explicitly.

Data point Source Tier Last checked
Exam duration CompTIA — official exam guide
Pattern-generated from vendor URL convention. Pending manual verification against the current exam guide PDF.
Official verified 29d ago
Exam code CompTIA — official certification page
Pattern-generated from vendor URL convention. Pending manual verification against the current exam guide PDF.
Official verified 29d ago
Passing score CompTIA — official exam guide
Pattern-generated from vendor URL convention. Pending manual verification against the current exam guide PDF.
Official verified 29d ago
Exam price CompTIA — official certification page
Pattern-generated from vendor URL convention. Pending manual verification against the current exam guide PDF.
Official verified 29d ago
Question count CompTIA — official exam guide
Pattern-generated from vendor URL convention. Pending manual verification against the current exam guide PDF.
Official verified 29d ago
Job listings LinkedIn — active US postings mentioning "CompTIA Project+ (PK0-005)"
Count sampled quarterly; fluctuates daily.
Aggregate verified 29d ago
Average salary Glassdoor — CompTIA Project+ (PK0-005) role salary (US)
Aggregate from public salary postings. Cross-checked against BLS OEWS for the closest SOC category.
Aggregate verified 29d ago
Salary range Glassdoor + Payscale — CompTIA Project+ (PK0-005) salary distribution
10th–90th percentile derived from public salary aggregators.
Aggregate verified 29d ago
Pass rate Community consensus — CompTIA pass-rate discussions
Most vendors do not publish pass rates. Community data is self-reported with survivor bias.
Community verified 29d ago
Study hours Community consensus — certification subreddits and TechExams threads
Typical range for candidates with modest prior experience in the domain.
Community verified 29d ago
Demand trend LinkedIn + Indeed — multi-quarter listing comparison
Editorial summary of YoY listing change.
Editorial estimate verified 29d ago

Data Sources & Transparency

  • Salary data — Bureau of Labor Statistics, Glassdoor, and job posting aggregates (US median)
  • Job listings — LinkedIn, Indeed, and Dice active postings (sampled quarterly)
  • Pass rates — Community-reported estimates from Reddit, TechExams, and certification forums
  • Exam details — CompTIA official certification documentation