BLS SOC 11-9199 · Business
Project Manager Salary
Project managers plan, execute, and close projects within scope, time, and budget constraints. They coordinate teams, manage risks, and communicate progress to stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
Data: BLS OEWS · 2026
National Median
$91,733
annual
25th Percentile
$70,634
annual
75th Percentile
$117,418
annual
90th Percentile
$146,773
annual
National Salary Distribution
P25: $70,634Median: $91,733P75: $117,418P90: $146,773
1
Top Paying Cities for Project Manager
Ranked by median annual salary
| # | City | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $126,000 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $122,000 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $121,000 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $112,000 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $109,000 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $108,000 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $104,000 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $101,000 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $101,000 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $97,000 |
2
Best After Cost of Living
Salary adjusted for cost of living (US avg = $100k)
| # | City | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus, OH | $89,011 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | $87,778 |
| 3 | Detroit, MI | $87,640 |
| 4 | Raleigh, NC | $87,379 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $86,667 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $85,981 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $85,981 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,437 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $84,821 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $83,333 |
3
Project Manager Salary — All Cities
All 30 metro areas, sorted by median salary
| City | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $97,020 | $126,000 | $161,280 | $201,600 | 41,600 |
| Seattle, WA | $93,940 | $122,000 | $156,160 | $195,200 | 46,400 |
| New York, NY | $93,170 | $121,000 | $154,880 | $193,600 | 54,400 |
| Boston, MA | $86,240 | $112,000 | $143,360 | $179,200 | 33,600 |
| Washington, DC | $83,930 | $109,000 | $139,520 | $174,400 | 36,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $83,160 | $108,000 | $138,240 | $172,800 | 38,400 |
| San Diego, CA | $80,080 | $104,000 | $133,120 | $166,400 | 19,200 |
| Austin, TX | $77,770 | $101,000 | $129,280 | $161,600 | 30,400 |
| Portland, OR | $77,770 | $101,000 | $129,280 | $161,600 | 16,000 |
| Denver, CO | $74,690 | $97,000 | $124,160 | $155,200 | 22,400 |
| Dallas, TX | $73,150 | $95,000 | $121,600 | $152,000 | 28,000 |
| Chicago, IL | $70,840 | $92,000 | $117,760 | $147,200 | 28,000 |
| Houston, TX | $70,840 | $92,000 | $117,760 | $147,200 | 22,400 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $70,070 | $91,000 | $116,480 | $145,600 | 17,600 |
| Atlanta, GA | $69,300 | $90,000 | $115,200 | $144,000 | 24,000 |
| Raleigh, NC | $69,300 | $90,000 | $115,200 | $144,000 | 17,600 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $67,760 | $88,000 | $112,640 | $140,800 | 20,000 |
| Miami, FL | $66,220 | $86,000 | $110,080 | $137,600 | 17,600 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $66,220 | $86,000 | $110,080 | $137,600 | 14,400 |
| Nashville, TN | $65,450 | $85,000 | $108,800 | $136,000 | 14,400 |
| Charlotte, NC | $63,910 | $83,000 | $106,240 | $132,800 | 16,000 |
| Richmond, VA | $63,910 | $83,000 | $106,240 | $132,800 | 11,200 |
| Columbus, OH | $62,370 | $81,000 | $103,680 | $129,600 | 12,800 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $60,830 | $79,000 | $101,120 | $126,400 | 11,200 |
| Detroit, MI | $60,060 | $78,000 | $99,840 | $124,800 | 12,000 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $60,060 | $78,000 | $99,840 | $124,800 | 12,000 |
| Louisville, KY | $55,440 | $72,000 | $92,160 | $115,200 | 8,000 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $54,670 | $71,000 | $90,880 | $113,600 | 7,200 |
| Memphis, TN | $52,360 | $68,000 | $87,040 | $108,800 | 6,400 |
| El Paso, TX | $48,510 | $63,000 | $80,640 | $100,800 | 4,800 |
Top Skills for Project Manager
Project PlanningRisk ManagementAgile/ScrumStakeholder CommunicationBudgeting