Research Summary. After thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we identified the following details regarding project leader salaries across the United States in 2026:
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California remains the highest-paying state for project leaders, with an average salary of $114,108.
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Mississippi has the lowest average salary for project leaders at $70,736.
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The national average salary for project leaders is $98,559.
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The national hourly wage for project leaders is $47.38.
For a detailed look into our specific methodology, please click here.
Background
In surveys across various demographics, salary consistently ranks as the most important aspect of a job for most individuals. Understanding what project leaders can expect to earn in their respective locations is crucial.
While several factors influence individual salaries, our comprehensive data provides average salaries for project leaders by state, categorized by seniority level. Although local variations may exist, these averages offer a reliable estimate of what you can expect to earn.
Once again, California leads the pack for project leader salaries.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for project leader salaries:
Let’s delve deeper into the data and see a full ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Project Leaders By State
| Rank | State | Average Project Leader Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $114,108 | $79,000 | $164,000 |
| 2 | New York | $107,999 | $78,000 | $148,000 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $104,540 | $76,000 | $143,000 |
| 4 | Nevada | $103,884 | $72,000 | $148,000 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $103,248 | $75,000 | $142,000 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $101,212 | $74,000 | $137,000 |
| 7 | Maryland | $101,137 | $73,000 | $138,000 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $100,087 | $72,000 | $137,000 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $99,896 | $72,000 | $137,000 |
| 10 | Washington | $99,563 | $70,000 | $140,000 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $98,555 | $71,000 | $135,000 |
| 12 | Delaware | $97,672 | $71,000 | $134,000 |
| 13 | Idaho | $96,875 | $69,000 | $135,000 |
| 14 | Virginia | $96,614 | $70,000 | $131,000 |
| 15 | Oregon | $96,543 | $68,000 | $135,000 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $94,663 | $71,000 | $124,000 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $94,205 | $68,000 | $129,000 |
| 18 | Arizona | $92,460 | $66,000 | $129,000 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $92,053 | $67,000 | $126,000 |
| 20 | Michigan | $88,537 | $65,000 | $120,000 |
| 21 | Montana | $87,775 | $64,000 | $119,000 |
| 22 | Texas | $87,238 | $62,000 | $122,000 |
| 23 | Illinois | $85,380 | $63,000 | $114,000 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $85,051 | $62,000 | $115,000 |
| 25 | Maine | $84,786 | $62,000 | $115,000 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $83,131 | $62,000 | $111,000 |
| 27 | Ohio | $82,578 | $60,000 | $111,000 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $82,293 | $61,000 | $109,000 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $82,263 | $61,000 | $109,000 |
| 30 | Iowa | $81,803 | $61,000 | $108,000 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $81,661 | $61,000 | $108,000 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $80,811 | $59,000 | $109,000 |
| 33 | Indiana | $80,793 | $60,000 | $108,000 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $80,273 | $62,000 | $103,000 |
| 35 | Utah | $79,371 | $57,000 | $110,000 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $79,246 | $59,000 | $106,000 |
| 37 | Colorado | $78,832 | $58,000 | $106,000 |
| 38 | Vermont | $78,664 | $57,000 | $107,000 |
| 39 | Georgia | $78,630 | $57,000 | $106,000 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $77,131 | $54,000 | $108,000 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $77,101 | $57,000 | $103,000 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $76,931 | $57,000 | $103,000 |
| 43 | Kansas | $76,811 | $57,000 | $102,000 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $76,705 | $57,000 | $102,000 |
| 45 | Missouri | $76,623 | $57,000 | $102,000 |
| 46 | Florida | $76,602 | $52,000 | $112,000 |
| 47 | Alabama | $75,205 | $55,000 | $102,000 |
| 48 | Alaska | $74,501 | $56,000 | $98,000 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $71,384 | $52,000 | $96,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $70,736 | $51,000 | $96,000 |
Methodology: Project Leader Salary By State
To analyze project leader salaries by state, Zippia collated data from various sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This data was supplemented with actual salaries from job postings. Our data science team calculated a weighted average based on these inputs to determine the average salary for project leaders by state.
The ranking of each state was determined based on the average annual salary data for project leaders.
Project Leader Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for project leaders?
As of 2026, the highest-paid state for project leaders is California, with an average salary of $114,108 per year.
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What city pays project leaders the most?
San Francisco, CA is the top-paying city for project leaders, with an average salary of $126,263 per year.
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What is the lowest-paying state for project leaders?
The state with the lowest average salary for project leaders is Mississippi, with an average salary of $70,736 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
