Research Summary. Comprehensive analysis by the Zippia data science team reveals the following details regarding senior project manager salaries across the United States in 2026:
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California leads with the highest senior project manager salary at $126,460
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Wyoming ranks lowest, with a senior project manager salary of $82,466
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The national average salary for senior project managers stands at $110,947
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Nationally, the hourly wage for senior project managers is $53.34
For more information, check out our specific methodology.
Background
In career surveys, salary consistently ranks as the top priority for job seekers. Many individuals wonder: how much do senior project managers earn in my area?
Numerous factors influence your potential earnings, but robust data on average salaries for senior project managers across states is available, segmented by experience level. While local salaries may vary, these averages provide a solid baseline for your salary expectations.
According to these figures, California offers the most competitive salary for senior project managers.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for senior project manager salaries:
Now, let’s delve into the complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Senior Project Managers By State
| Rank | State | Average Senior Project Manager Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $126,460 | $90,000 | $176,000 |
| 2 | Washington | $120,359 | $85,000 | $168,000 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $112,099 | $83,000 | $150,000 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $111,433 | $82,000 | $150,000 |
| 5 | Maryland | $108,694 | $80,000 | $146,000 |
| 6 | New York | $108,512 | $80,000 | $146,000 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $107,655 | $79,000 | $145,000 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $106,852 | $79,000 | $143,000 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $106,563 | $79,000 | $143,000 |
| 10 | Virginia | $105,427 | $78,000 | $141,000 |
| 11 | Nevada | $105,375 | $75,000 | $147,000 |
| 12 | Oregon | $102,930 | $73,000 | $144,000 |
| 13 | Delaware | $102,889 | $76,000 | $138,000 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $102,698 | $76,000 | $137,000 |
| 15 | Arizona | $102,679 | $74,000 | $141,000 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $102,225 | $75,000 | $137,000 |
| 17 | Ohio | $101,620 | $75,000 | $137,000 |
| 18 | Michigan | $101,385 | $74,000 | $137,000 |
| 19 | Texas | $100,899 | $73,000 | $137,000 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $99,173 | $73,000 | $133,000 |
| 21 | Georgia | $99,053 | $73,000 | $132,000 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $98,397 | $73,000 | $132,000 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $98,322 | $72,000 | $132,000 |
| 24 | Illinois | $98,312 | $72,000 | $133,000 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $96,748 | $70,000 | $132,000 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $96,075 | $70,000 | $130,000 |
| 27 | Utah | $95,370 | $69,000 | $131,000 |
| 28 | Indiana | $95,138 | $70,000 | $128,000 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $94,484 | $70,000 | $126,000 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $94,088 | $70,000 | $126,000 |
| 31 | Vermont | $93,888 | $69,000 | $126,000 |
| 32 | Missouri | $93,675 | $69,000 | $126,000 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $93,248 | $74,000 | $116,000 |
| 34 | Maine | $92,972 | $69,000 | $124,000 |
| 35 | Florida | $92,472 | $67,000 | $126,000 |
| 36 | Idaho | $92,079 | $66,000 | $127,000 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $91,874 | $67,000 | $124,000 |
| 38 | Alaska | $91,550 | $68,000 | $121,000 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $90,891 | $67,000 | $121,000 |
| 40 | Alabama | $90,643 | $67,000 | $121,000 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $90,175 | $66,000 | $121,000 |
| 42 | Colorado | $89,652 | $65,000 | $122,000 |
| 43 | Iowa | $89,592 | $66,000 | $121,000 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $89,128 | $65,000 | $120,000 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $88,719 | $65,000 | $119,000 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $88,302 | $65,000 | $119,000 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $88,259 | $65,000 | $119,000 |
| 48 | Kansas | $87,050 | $64,000 | $117,000 |
| 49 | Montana | $85,376 | $62,000 | $116,000 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $82,466 | $60,000 | $112,000 |
Methodology: Senior Project Manager Salary By State
To provide accurate insights into senior project manager salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reputable sources including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This information is supplemented with actual salaries from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average based on these inputs to derive the average pay for senior project managers in each state.
The average annual salary data for senior project managers was ranked by states, identifying the highest paying state for these professionals.
Senior Project Manager Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for senior project managers?
The highest-paid state for senior project managers is California, offering an average salary of $126,460 per year.
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Which city pays senior project managers the most?
San Francisco, CA provides the highest average salary for senior project managers, at $133,397 annually.
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What is the lowest-paying state for senior project managers?
The lowest-paying state for senior project managers is Wyoming, with an average salary of $82,466 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.
