For conversion formulas, overtime scenarios, and annual-pay planning, see the Hourly to Annual hub.
Project managers in the US earn $98,580 on average — but salary varies dramatically by industry, location, and certifications.
Average Project Manager Salary in 2026
Metric
Amount
Average PM salary
$98,580
Median PM salary
$94,500
Entry level (0-2 years)
$65,000
Mid-career (5-10 years)
$95,000
Senior/Director
$130,000+
Hourly rate (salary equiv)
$47.39
Project Manager Salary by Industry
Industry
Average Salary
Top 10% Earn
Technology/IT
$130,000
$180,000+
Financial Services
$125,000
$175,000
Pharmaceuticals
$120,000
$160,000
Aerospace/Defense
$115,000
$155,000
Construction
$105,000
$145,000
Healthcare
$95,000
$130,000
Manufacturing
$92,000
$125,000
Marketing/Advertising
$85,000
$120,000
Non-profit
$72,000
$95,000
Government
$85,000
$110,000
Tech Industry Pays Premium
IT and software project managers command the highest salaries due to:
High-value projects
Technical expertise required
Competitive tech talent market
Agile/Scrum methodology demand
Project Manager Salary by Location
Metro Area
Average Salary
Cost of Living
San Francisco
$140,000
Very High
New York City
$130,000
Very High
Seattle
$125,000
High
Boston
$120,000
High
Washington DC
$118,000
High
Los Angeles
$115,000
High
Denver
$105,000
Moderate
Chicago
$100,000
Moderate
Austin
$98,000
Moderate
Dallas
$95,000
Moderate
Atlanta
$92,000
Moderate
Phoenix
$88,000
Moderate
PMP Certification Salary Boost
Certification Status
Average Salary
Difference
No certification
$88,000
—
PMP Certified
$108,000
+$20,000
PMP + Agile certs
$118,000
+$30,000
PMP certification adds approximately 22% to project manager salary according to PMI salary surveys.
Other Valuable Certifications
Certification
Salary Impact
Best For
PMP (Project Management Professional)
+20-25%
General PM
CSM (Certified Scrum Master)
+10-15%
Agile teams
PMI-ACP (Agile Certified Practitioner)
+15-20%
Agile PM
PRINCE2
+10-15%
European/UK projects
Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt)
+15-20%
Manufacturing/Process
Project Manager Salary by Experience
Experience Level
Salary Range
Title
Entry (0-2 years)
$55,000-$75,000
Associate PM, Project Coordinator
Junior (2-5 years)
$70,000-$95,000
Project Manager
Mid-Career (5-10 years)
$90,000-$120,000
Senior Project Manager
Senior (10-15 years)
$115,000-$145,000
Program Manager
Executive (15+ years)
$140,000-$200,000+
Director, VP of PMO
Project Manager vs. Related Roles
Role
Average Salary
Key Difference
Project Coordinator
$58,000
Support role, less autonomy
Project Manager
$98,580
Owns project delivery
Program Manager
$130,000
Multiple related projects
Portfolio Manager
$145,000
Strategic project selection
PMO Director
$165,000
Manages PM organization
Remote Project Manager Salaries
Work Model
Average Salary
Notes
Fully remote (any location)
$95,000
Location-adjusted pay common
Hybrid
$100,000
Office 2-3 days/week
On-site
$98,000
Traditional arrangement
Remote + SF/NYC pay
$130,000
Best case scenario
Many companies now offer remote PM roles but adjust pay for location.
Top Companies Paying Project Managers
Company
PM Salary Range
Industry
Google
$140,000-$200,000
Tech
Amazon
$130,000-$180,000
Tech/Retail
Microsoft
$130,000-$175,000
Tech
Apple
$135,000-$185,000
Tech
JPMorgan Chase
$115,000-$160,000
Finance
Boeing
$105,000-$145,000
Aerospace
Johnson & Johnson
$110,000-$150,000
Pharma
Deloitte
$100,000-$150,000
Consulting
Project Manager Salary After Taxes
Gross Salary
Federal Tax
FICA
State Tax (avg)
Take-Home
$75,000
$8,468
$5,738
$3,000
$57,794
$98,580
$13,800
$7,541
$3,940
$73,299
$120,000
$19,600
$9,180
$4,800
$86,420
$150,000
$27,300
$11,093
$6,000
$105,607
How to Increase PM Salary
Get PMP certified — 20%+ salary boost on average
Move to tech industry — IT PMs earn $30K+ more than average
Relocate to high-paying metros — SF, NYC, Seattle pay premium
Specialize — Agile, SAFe, construction PM command top rates
Build technical skills — Technical PMs earn more in IT
Negotiate — PM salaries are highly negotiable
Pursue program management — Natural career progression with $30K+ increase
Job Outlook for Project Managers
Metric
Data
Projected growth (2022-2032)
6%
Annual job openings
70,000+
PM talent gap by 2030
25 million globally
Industries with highest demand
Tech, Healthcare, Construction
Skills That Boost PM Salary
Skill
Salary Premium
Agile/Scrum methodology
+15-20%
Stakeholder management
+10-15%
Risk management
+10-15%
Budget management
+10-15%
Data analytics
+15-20%
Technical background
+20-30%
Is Project Management a Good Career?
Pros:
Above-average salary ($98K+)
Applicable across all industries
Clear career progression
Variety of work
Leadership experience
Remote work options
Cons:
High stress/pressure
Accountability for project success
Long hours during crunch periods
Heavy meetings schedule
Managing difficult stakeholders
Bottom Line
Project managers earn $98,580/year on average, but tech and finance PMs earn $125,000-$150,000+. PMP certification adds ~22% to salary. The field offers solid career growth with a global talent shortage projected through 2030.
Sources
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024.” bls.gov/oes
WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.
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