The full range runs from $37,000 at the 10th percentile to $80,000 at the 90th percentile. Most project managers fall between $49,000 and $63,000, which represents the 25th to 75th percentile band. Use that middle range as your starting point when building a compensation structure for this role.
Project manager salary in the US (2026)
In this article
Project manager salary in the US (2026)
The average project manager salary in the US is $110,740. The median salary of $61,580 is the more reliable anchor for most hiring decisions, because it reflects what the typical project manager earns without being pulled upward by high earners at the senior end of the market. The wide gap between the median and average tells you that senior and specialized project managers command significantly higher pay, so your offer will need to reflect the seniority level and industry you are hiring for.
Project manager salary in the US (2026)
Metric | Value |
Average annual salary | $110,740 |
Median annual salary | $61,580 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 1,066,670 employed project managers across the US.
See how Rippling handles payroll, benefits, and onboarding for your next project manager hire.
Project manager salary percentiles
Percentile | Annual salary |
10th percentile | $37,000 |
25th percentile | $49,000 |
75th percentile | $63,000 |
90th percentile | $80,000 |
For most project manager hires, an offer between $49,000 and $63,000 will land in the competitive middle of the market. The national average of $110,740 runs well above the 90th percentile of $80,000, which means a small number of very high earners are pulling the average up sharply — anchor your offer to the median and percentile range rather than the average to avoid overpaying for mid-level roles.
How project manager salaries compare across states
State | Average annual salary | Median annual salary |
Washington | $127,580 | $74,750 |
New York | $126,260 | $74,580 |
California | $124,430 | $69,180 |
Virginia | $123,390 | $68,020 |
Massachusetts | $120,970 | $72,800 |
Colorado | $118,680 | $68,990 |
Illinois | $111,230 | $65,300 |
Georgia | $108,080 | $58,290 |
Texas | $104,210 | $57,460 |
Florida | $103,780 | $59,070 |
If you are hiring project managers in Washington, New York, or California, budget meaningfully above the national median of $61,580 — those states post median salaries between $69,180 and $74,750. Hiring in Texas or Florida gives you more room, with median salaries of $57,460 and $59,070 respectively, which sit below the national figure.
Frequently asked questions about project manager salary in the US
What is the salary range for a project manager in the US?
What is the average project manager salary in the US?
The average project manager salary nationally is $110,740, but this figure sits well above the 90th percentile of $80,000, which signals that a small group of very high earners is pulling the average up. For most hiring decisions, the median of $61,580 is the more practical benchmark. Set your initial offer range around the median unless you are competing for senior or specialized talent.
What do the top-earning project managers make nationally?
Project managers at the 90th percentile earn $80,000 annually. The national average of $110,740 exceeds that figure, which means when you compete for senior project manager talent, you should expect candidates at that level to push well beyond $80,000. Budget accordingly if the role requires deep experience or specialized domain knowledge.
Which states pay the most for project managers?
Washington, New York, and California pay the most, with average annual salaries of $127,580, $126,260, and $124,430 respectively. If your team is remote or distributed across these states, your compensation benchmarks will need to reflect those higher local figures. Hiring in Texas or Florida, where averages sit at $104,210 and $103,780, gives you more budget flexibility.
More salary data
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, for Project Management Specialists (SOC 13-1082).
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.
Author
The Rippling Team
Global HR, IT, and Finance know-how directly from the Rippling team.
Hubs
See Rippling in action
Increase savings, automate busy work, and make better decisions by managing HR, IT, and Finance in one place.