SOC 13-1082 · May 2025
Project Manager Salary
Project Managers in the US earn a median of $102,320 a year ($53.24 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Project Manager pay climbed from $98,420 in 2021 to $110,740 in 2025, a +12.5% change in 4 years.
Median annual
$102,320
Half of all Project Managers in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+12.5% since 2021 · +2.4% YoY
Hourly
$53.24
Job growth 2025-35
+6.7%
US workers
1,066,670
BLS series
Annual median wage for Project Management Specialists in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Project Managers is $61,580 – $167,970.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$61,580
25th
$78,440
Median
$102,320
75th
$133,100
90th
$167,970
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Project Managers. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $61,580 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $78,440 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $102,320 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $133,100 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $167,970 |
Geography
Project Manager pay by state
Project Managers earn the most in Washington ($124,160, +21% against the national median) and the least in Arkansas ($77,170). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$102,320
Highest-paying states for project managers
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $124,160 | +21% | 36,240 |
| New Jersey | $122,980 | +20% | 28,300 |
| Delaware | $122,190 | +19% | 1,770 |
| New York | $121,040 | +18% | 68,020 |
| California | $120,910 | +18% | 114,380 |
| Virginia | $120,840 | +18% | 43,860 |
| Massachusetts | $114,190 | +12% | 21,960 |
| Colorado | $110,050 | +8% | 32,390 |
| New Mexico | $106,970 | +5% | 4,330 |
| Oregon | $105,480 | +3% | 19,380 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $124,160 | 36,240 |
| New Jersey | $122,980 | 28,300 |
| Delaware | $122,190 | 1,770 |
| New York | $121,040 | 68,020 |
| California | $120,910 | 114,380 |
| Virginia | $120,840 | 43,860 |
| Massachusetts | $114,190 | 21,960 |
| Colorado | $110,050 | 32,390 |
| New Mexico | $106,970 | 4,330 |
| Oregon | $105,480 | 19,380 |
| Connecticut | $105,240 | 8,410 |
| D.C. | $104,900 | 5,170 |
| Rhode Island | $104,680 | 3,880 |
| Maryland | $104,040 | 30,530 |
| Illinois | $103,470 | 27,180 |
| Georgia | $102,140 | 28,900 |
| Maine | $101,830 | 2,620 |
| Michigan | $100,970 | 25,330 |
| North Carolina | $100,820 | 36,200 |
| Alabama | $100,820 | 3,190 |
| Pennsylvania | $100,150 | 36,150 |
| Kansas | $100,010 | 6,030 |
| Nevada | $99,940 | 8,290 |
| Alaska | $99,580 | 1,950 |
| Arizona | $99,050 | 22,920 |
| Texas | $98,440 | 138,960 |
| Florida | $98,070 | 76,370 |
| Minnesota | $97,860 | 18,850 |
| Wisconsin | $97,580 | 21,610 |
| Utah | $96,720 | 16,450 |
| Iowa | $96,540 | 6,720 |
| North Dakota | $96,160 | 2,020 |
| Ohio | $95,770 | 34,260 |
| Idaho | $95,630 | 5,750 |
| South Carolina | $95,040 | 17,040 |
| Indiana | $95,020 | 11,970 |
| Missouri | $94,660 | 21,460 |
| Wyoming | $94,080 | 1,180 |
| West Virginia | $91,780 | 2,520 |
| New Hampshire | $90,890 | 3,840 |
| Montana | $87,890 | 2,940 |
| Oklahoma | $86,240 | 11,220 |
| Tennessee | $85,890 | 20,780 |
| Louisiana | $84,850 | 8,050 |
| South Dakota | $82,250 | 1,310 |
| Kentucky | $81,700 | 10,250 |
| Vermont | $80,800 | 1,190 |
| Nebraska | $80,150 | 3,190 |
| Mississippi | $78,870 | 4,320 |
| Hawaii | $78,000 | 1,560 |
| Arkansas | $77,170 | 5,510 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Project Managers
Project managers in this BLS classification (13-1082, Project Management Specialists) plan, coordinate, and oversee projects across construction, IT, business operations, and healthcare. The role spans certified PMs (PMP, PRINCE2, Scrum) through industry-specific specialists. Pay varies significantly by industry: tech and pharmaceutical PMs typically earn well above the cross-industry median, while government and education PMs fall below.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $61,580 – $167,970. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Washington, New Jersey and Delaware. Pay in Washington runs 1.6 times the level in Arkansas, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 76,500 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 6.7% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Project Manager salary in the US?
How much does a Project Manager make an hour?
How much do Project Managers make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Project Managers the most?
Is the average Project Manager salary higher than the median?
Is Project Manager a growing career?
Open positions
Open Project Manager roles hiring now
Browse current Project Manager listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 13-1082. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.