The present invention relates to a method for producing a polyacrylonitrile-based fiber, wherein the method polymerizes a monomer mixture including an acrylonitrile-based monomer, a carboxylic acid-based comonomer, and an acrylate-based comonomer, wherein the acrylate-based comonomer includes the steps of producing a polyacrylonitrile-based copolymer so as to be included in an amount of 4 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the monomer mixture, fiberizing the polyacrylonitrile-based copolymer, oxidizing and stabilizing the fiberized polyacrylonitrile-based copolymer, which may control the oxidation stabilization reaction, particularly the cyclization reaction. Accordingly, the energy consumption of the oxidation stabilization reaction may be reduced, economical efficiency of the production of polyacrylonitrile-based fiber may be obtained, and the physical and mechanical properties of the carbon fiber may be improved.