Project managers in California earn a median of $120,910 per year and a mean of $124,430. The mean sits above the median because a segment of higher-compensated roles pulls the average up, so use the median as your baseline when building an initial offer and adjust upward based on the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Project manager salary in California (2026)
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The average project manager salary in California is $124,430 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $120,910 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. California employs 114,380 project managers, and the $3,520 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior project managers in California typically earn around $69,180, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $188,560 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a project manager hire in California, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $120,910 |
Average Annual Salary | $124,430 |
vs. National Average | 12.4% above the national mean of $110,740 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 114,380 employed project managers across California.
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Project manager salary percentiles in California
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $69,180 |
25th Percentile | $85,620 |
75th Percentile | $155,850 |
90th Percentile | $188,560 |
Employers setting an offer for a project manager in California should expect a wide range depending on seniority, with entry-level roles clustering near $69,180 and experienced specialists reaching $188,560 at the 90th percentile. Anchoring your offer to the 25th or 75th percentile ($85,620 to $155,850) gives you a practical band that covers the majority of the market without overreaching for roles that do not require top-tier experience.
Project manager salary by city in California
City | Average Annual Salary |
San Jose | $146,170 |
San Francisco | $140,820 |
Sacramento | $124,130 |
San Diego | $120,130 |
Los Angeles | $120,110 |
Where you hire within California has a direct impact on your compensation budget, and the difference between markets is large enough to warrant location-specific offer planning. San Jose commands the highest average at $146,170, while Los Angeles and San Diego sit closer to $120,110 and $120,130 respectively. Employers hiring in the Bay Area should budget meaningfully above the statewide average of $124,430 to remain competitive.
How California compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
California | $124,430 | $120,910 |
Washington | $127,580 | $124,160 |
New York | $126,260 | $121,040 |
Colorado | $118,680 | $110,050 |
Nevada | $106,040 | $99,940 |
Texas | $104,210 | $98,440 |
Employers hiring project managers in California should expect compensation expectations that are broadly in line with other high-cost coastal states, though Washington and New York sit slightly above California at $127,580 and $126,260 respectively. Colorado, Nevada, and Texas all come in below California, which means California-based employers cannot rely on national benchmarks from lower-cost states when setting offers. Budgeting at or above the statewide median of $120,910 keeps your offers competitive within the peer group of states where project management talent is most concentrated.
Frequently asked questions about project manager salary in California
How much does a project manager earn in California?
How does California compare to other states for project manager salary?
California's mean of $124,430 places it third among the comparison states, behind Washington at $127,580 and New York at $126,260. Colorado, Nevada, and Texas all pay less on average, so employers recruiting project managers from those markets into California roles should expect candidates to require a meaningful pay increase. California sits 12.4% above the national mean of $110,740, which confirms that compensation expectations here run higher than in most of the country.
What do the top-earning project managers make in California?
Project managers at the 90th percentile in California earn $188,560 per year. Employers competing for senior talent should plan for offers well above the statewide median of $120,910, and should note that the San Jose metro average of $146,170 reflects the concentration of high-paying roles in the Bay Area. Budget accordingly if your role requires deep technical or program management expertise in a high-demand market.
What is the average project manager salary in California?
The average project manager salary in California is $124,430 per year, which is 12.4% above the national mean of $110,740. That figure is pulled upward by a smaller group of highly compensated specialists, so the median of $120,910 is the more practical anchor for most offer decisions. Use the percentile range of $69,180 to $188,560 to calibrate your offer to the specific experience level you are hiring for.
Project Manager salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 13-1082 (Project Management Specialists).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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