Project Manager Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) project manager in the US earns $49.19 an hour, or $102,320 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 1,066,670 jobs (May 2025, occupation: project management specialists). The middle half earn between $78,440 and $133,100 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $167,970.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $80,812 a year ($6,734 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Washington ($94,407 a year) and lowest in Hawaii ($58,912).
Project Manager pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $29.61 | $61,580 | $51,660 |
| 25th percentile | $37.71 | $78,440 | $64,012 |
| Median (half earn more) | $49.19 | $102,320 | $80,812 |
| 75th percentile | $63.99 | $133,100 | $102,240 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $80.76 | $167,970 | $126,073 |
The average (mean) is $110,740 a year ($53.24 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 13-1082. Source
Project Manager salary by state
The highest median pay for project managers is in Washington ($124,160), New Jersey ($122,970), Delaware ($122,200), New York ($121,040), California ($120,910). The lowest is in Arkansas ($77,170), Hawaii ($78,000), Mississippi ($78,870).
The most project managers work in Texas (138,960), California (114,380), Florida (76,370).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Washington ($94,407), New Jersey ($87,982), Virginia ($87,713), Delaware ($87,577), New York ($87,070). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $48.47 | $100,820 | $75,623 | 3,190 |
| Alaska | $47.88 | $99,590 | $78,394 | 1,950 |
| Arizona | $47.62 | $99,050 | $76,531 | 22,920 |
| Arkansas | $37.10 | $77,170 | $60,749 | 5,510 |
| California | $58.13 | $120,910 | $84,619 | 114,380 |
| Colorado | $52.91 | $110,050 | $81,166 | 32,390 |
| Connecticut | $50.60 | $105,250 | $77,007 | 8,410 |
| Delaware | $58.75 | $122,200 | $87,577 | 1,770 |
| District of Columbia | $50.43 | $104,890 | $82,620* | 5,170 |
| Florida | $47.15 | $98,070 | $77,822 | 76,370 |
| Georgia | $49.11 | $102,150 | $76,344 | 28,900 |
| Hawaii | $37.50 | $78,000 | $58,912 | 1,560 |
| Idaho | $45.98 | $95,640 | $71,901 | 5,750 |
| Illinois | $49.75 | $103,480 | $76,651 | 27,180 |
| Indiana | $45.68 | $95,010 | $70,997 | 11,970 |
| Iowa | $46.41 | $96,530 | $73,605 | 6,720 |
| Kansas | $48.08 | $100,010 | $74,406 | 6,030 |
| Kentucky | $39.28 | $81,700 | $63,564 | 10,250 |
| Louisiana | $40.79 | $84,840 | $66,291 | 8,050 |
| Maine | $48.96 | $101,840 | $74,505 | 2,620 |
| Maryland | $50.02 | $104,040 | $74,276 | 30,530 |
| Massachusetts | $54.90 | $114,190 | $83,584 | 21,960 |
| Michigan | $48.55 | $100,980 | $75,828 | 25,330 |
| Minnesota | $47.05 | $97,860 | $71,392 | 18,850 |
| Mississippi | $37.92 | $78,870 | $61,897 | 4,320 |
| Missouri | $45.51 | $94,660 | $71,913 | 21,460 |
| Montana | $42.25 | $87,880 | $67,040 | 2,940 |
| Nebraska | $38.54 | $80,160 | $62,193 | 3,190 |
| Nevada | $48.05 | $99,940 | $79,138 | 8,290 |
| New Hampshire | $43.70 | $90,900 | $72,778 | 3,840 |
| New Jersey | $59.12 | $122,970 | $87,982 | 28,300 |
| New Mexico | $51.43 | $106,970 | $79,778 | 4,330 |
| New York | $58.19 | $121,040 | $87,070 | 68,020 |
| North Carolina | $48.47 | $100,820 | $76,143 | 36,200 |
| North Dakota | $46.23 | $96,160 | $75,724 | 2,020 |
| Ohio | $46.04 | $95,760 | $73,716 | 34,260 |
| Oklahoma | $41.46 | $86,240 | $66,172 | 11,220 |
| Oregon | $50.71 | $105,480 | $74,407 | 19,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $48.15 | $100,150 | $76,141 | 36,150 |
| Rhode Island | $50.33 | $104,690 | $77,223 | 3,880 |
| South Carolina | $45.69 | $95,040 | $71,394 | 17,040 |
| South Dakota | $39.54 | $82,240 | $66,686 | 1,310 |
| Tennessee | $41.30 | $85,900 | $69,261 | 20,780 |
| Texas | $47.33 | $98,450 | $78,090 | 138,960 |
| Utah | $46.50 | $96,720 | $72,557 | 16,450 |
| Vermont | $38.85 | $80,810 | $62,522 | 1,190 |
| Virginia | $58.10 | $120,850 | $87,713 | 43,860 |
| Washington | $59.69 | $124,160 | $94,407 | 36,240 |
| West Virginia | $44.13 | $91,790 | $70,090 | 2,520 |
| Wisconsin | $46.91 | $97,570 | $72,628 | 21,610 |
| Wyoming | $45.23 | $94,080 | $75,015 | 1,180 |
Overtime and pay rules for project managers
Many project managers are salaried and exempt from overtime under the administrative exemption, which requires office work tied to running the business and a salary of at least $684 a week; specialists paid by the hour, or below that salary, are owed overtime. Source The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a project manager's pay
On the median $102,320, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 21.0% of pay for a single filer: $13,680 of income tax and $7,827 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $86,220, so the top federal rate is 22%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 29.65% before state tax: 22% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($5,116 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $1,126, so it costs about $3,990 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed project managers are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 | $50.05 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 | $48.48 |
| Clinical Psychologist | $100,580 | $48.36 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,330 | $48.24 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $50 an hour is how much a year.
Project Manager salary questions
How much does a project manager make?
The median pay is $49.19 an hour, or $102,320 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $61,580 and the top 10% more than $167,970.
How much does a project manager make after taxes?
About $80,812 a year, or $3,108 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Hawaii, at that state's own median pay, it is about $58,912.
How much does a project manager make a month?
About $8,527 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $6,734 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays project managers the most?
Washington, with a median of $124,160 a year ($59.69 an hour). Next are New Jersey ($122,970) and Delaware ($122,200). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Washington.
How much does a project manager make an hour?
The median is $49.19 an hour. The middle half earn $37.71 to $63.99, and the top 10% more than $80.76.
Do project managers get paid overtime?
Many project managers are salaried and exempt from overtime under the administrative exemption, which requires office work tied to running the business and a salary of at least $684 a week; specialists paid by the hour, or below that salary, are owed overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
More office, tech, teaching and retail salaries
Software Engineer (Developer) · Cybersecurity Analyst · Accountant · HR Specialist · Elementary School Teacher · Paralegal · Customer Service Representative · Retail Salesperson · Cashier · High School Teacher
All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.