Project manager pay by city
Across the 50 largest US metros, typical project manager pay ranges from $82,660 in Louisville, KY to $135,120 in San Jose, CA. After taxes and local prices, it goes furthest in Seattle, WA, San Jose, CA, Sacramento, CA.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Project Management Specialists, SOC 13-1082).
| Rank | Metro | Typical pay | Worth after taxes and prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $130,380 | $90,400 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $135,120 | $86,300 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $124,350 | $83,300 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $127,030 | $82,900 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $135,040 | $82,400 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $102,390 | $82,400 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $116,740 | $81,700 |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | $105,200 | $81,300 |
| 9 | Kansas City, MO | $101,050 | $81,200 |
| 10 | Birmingham, AL | $100,820 | $80,800 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $99,510 | $80,000 |
| 12 | Jacksonville, FL | $99,270 | $79,100 |
| 13 | Virginia Beach, VA | $104,920 | $79,100 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $99,940 | $79,000 |
| 15 | St. Louis, MO | $100,510 | $78,600 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $102,280 | $78,600 |
| 17 | Buffalo, NY | $101,180 | $78,400 |
| 18 | Milwaukee, WI | $100,350 | $77,900 |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $92,130 | $77,800 |
| 20 | Boston, MA | $114,990 | $77,700 |
| 21 | Providence, RI | $104,510 | $77,600 |
| 22 | Indianapolis, IN | $99,710 | $77,400 |
| 23 | Columbus, OH | $98,660 | $77,300 |
| 24 | Richmond, VA | $102,170 | $77,300 |
| 25 | New York, NY | $126,660 | $77,200 |
| 26 | Tampa, FL | $97,780 | $76,900 |
| 27 | Hartford, CT | $105,720 | $76,900 |
| 28 | Atlanta, GA | $103,400 | $76,800 |
| 29 | Pittsburgh, PA | $99,320 | $76,700 |
| 30 | Cleveland, OH | $95,000 | $76,100 |
| 31 | Dallas, TX | $98,900 | $76,000 |
| 32 | Detroit, MI | $105,350 | $76,000 |
| 33 | Cincinnati, OH | $95,380 | $75,900 |
| 34 | San Diego, CA | $117,460 | $75,800 |
| 35 | Orlando, FL | $96,390 | $75,600 |
| 36 | Chicago, IL | $105,320 | $75,100 |
| 37 | Phoenix, AZ | $100,780 | $74,900 |
| 38 | Memphis, TN | $85,130 | $74,500 |
| 39 | Grand Rapids, MI | $95,020 | $73,800 |
| 40 | Philadelphia, PA | $104,160 | $73,100 |
| 41 | Salt Lake City, UT | $98,000 | $72,700 |
| 42 | Oklahoma City, OK | $85,400 | $72,600 |
| 43 | Portland, OR | $108,340 | $72,300 |
| 44 | Nashville, TN | $85,990 | $72,000 |
| 45 | Baltimore, MD | $103,720 | $70,700 |
| 46 | Riverside, CA | $100,770 | $70,100 |
| 47 | Los Angeles, CA | $108,310 | $69,700 |
| 48 | Minneapolis, MN | $97,860 | $69,200 |
| 49 | Miami, FL | $98,720 | $68,500 |
| 50 | Louisville, KY | $82,660 | $67,000 |
“Worth” is take-home pay at the typical salary (single filer, 2026 income taxes), divided by local prices, so every city is in the same typical-US-city dollars.
Common questions
Which city pays project managers the most?
Before taxes, San Jose, CA has the highest typical project manager pay among the 50 largest US metros: $135,120 a year. The lowest is Louisville, KY at $82,660. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Where does project manager pay go furthest after cost of living?
After federal, state, and local income taxes and local prices, typical project manager pay goes furthest in Seattle, WA, San Jose, CA, Sacramento, CA. It goes the least far in Louisville, KY, where it's worth about $67,000 in typical-US-city dollars.