Research Summary. After comprehensive analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the latest information on project manager salaries across the United States in 2026:
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California boasts the highest project manager salary at $101,635.
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Montana offers the lowest project manager salary, averaging $68,280.
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The national average salary for project managers stands at $91,578.
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The national hourly wage for project managers is $44.03.
For detailed insights, you can explore our specific methodology.
Background
In surveys spanning various demographics, salary consistently emerges as the most critical factor for job seekers. Many are asking, “How much do project managers earn in my area?”
While individual salaries can vary based on local market conditions and specific roles, the data we provide reflects average salaries for project managers across different states and seniority levels. These averages serve as a reliable guide to what you might expect to earn.
California remains the state with the highest salary for project managers.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for project manager salaries:
Let’s explore how we arrived at these figures and provide a complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Project Managers By State
| Rank | State | Average Project Manager Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $101,635 | $69,000 | $147,000 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $99,738 | $72,000 | $137,000 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $98,945 | $71,000 | $136,000 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $98,736 | $71,000 | $136,000 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $97,987 | $71,000 | $134,000 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $96,456 | $70,000 | $132,000 |
| 7 | New York | $95,094 | $68,000 | $131,000 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $93,570 | $67,000 | $129,000 |
| 9 | Delaware | $93,202 | $67,000 | $128,000 |
| 10 | Vermont | $93,166 | $67,000 | $128,000 |
| 11 | Maryland | $92,295 | $66,000 | $127,000 |
| 12 | Washington | $91,396 | $64,000 | $129,000 |
| 13 | Virginia | $91,100 | $66,000 | $125,000 |
| 14 | Arizona | $88,366 | $61,000 | $126,000 |
| 15 | Maine | $88,274 | $64,000 | $121,000 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $87,699 | $69,000 | $110,000 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $87,011 | $63,000 | $119,000 |
| 18 | Nevada | $86,874 | $59,000 | $126,000 |
| 19 | Texas | $86,018 | $60,000 | $122,000 |
| 20 | Oregon | $84,210 | $59,000 | $119,000 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $83,728 | $60,000 | $115,000 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $83,718 | $58,000 | $119,000 |
| 23 | Michigan | $83,110 | $60,000 | $114,000 |
| 24 | Georgia | $82,855 | $59,000 | $114,000 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $81,802 | $59,000 | $111,000 |
| 26 | Ohio | $81,394 | $59,000 | $112,000 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $79,292 | $55,000 | $113,000 |
| 28 | Iowa | $79,068 | $57,000 | $108,000 |
| 29 | Alaska | $78,827 | $60,000 | $102,000 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $78,446 | $57,000 | $107,000 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $78,423 | $57,000 | $107,000 |
| 32 | Indiana | $78,333 | $57,000 | $107,000 |
| 33 | Kansas | $78,236 | $56,000 | $108,000 |
| 34 | Illinois | $78,128 | $56,000 | $107,000 |
| 35 | Utah | $77,999 | $54,000 | $111,000 |
| 36 | Colorado | $77,891 | $55,000 | $109,000 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $77,751 | $56,000 | $107,000 |
| 38 | Florida | $77,627 | $54,000 | $110,000 |
| 39 | Missouri | $77,452 | $56,000 | $106,000 |
| 40 | Alabama | $76,769 | $55,000 | $107,000 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $76,102 | $55,000 | $105,000 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $75,486 | $54,000 | $104,000 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $75,061 | $53,000 | $104,000 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $75,017 | $54,000 | $102,000 |
| 45 | Idaho | $73,707 | $51,000 | $104,000 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $72,571 | $51,000 | $101,000 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $72,090 | $51,000 | $100,000 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $71,946 | $52,000 | $99,000 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $70,864 | $51,000 | $98,000 |
| 50 | Montana | $68,280 | $48,000 | $95,000 |
Methodology: Project Manager Salary By State
To accurately assess project manager salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reliable sources including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is further enhanced by actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average to derive the average pay for project managers in each state.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary data for project managers, with the highest average salary determining the top rank.
Project Manager Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for project managers?
The highest-paid state for project managers is California, with an average salary of $101,635 per year.
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What city pays project managers the most?
San Francisco, CA offers the highest salaries for project managers, averaging $108,794 per year.
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What is the worst state for project managers?
The state with the lowest average salary for project managers is Montana, at $68,280 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.
