Best paying cities for project managers, after cost of living
After cost of living, project manager pay goes furthest in San Jose (worth $122,391) and least far in Miami (worth $86,445).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $135,120 | 110.4 | $122,391 | +20% |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $130,380 | 111.1 | $117,354 | +15% |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $135,040 | 115.6 | $116,817 | +14% |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $127,030 | 108.9 | $116,648 | +14% |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $124,350 | 106.7 | $116,542 | +14% |
| 6 | New York, NY | $126,660 | 112.6 | $112,487 | +10% |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $116,740 | 105.8 | $110,340 | +8% |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | $105,200 | 97.3 | $108,119 | +6% |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $114,990 | 108.3 | $106,177 | +4% |
| 10 | St. Louis, MO | $100,510 | 95.1 | $105,689 | +3% |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $105,350 | 100.3 | $105,035 | +3% |
| 12 | San Diego, CA | $117,460 | 111.9 | $104,969 | +3% |
| 13 | Pittsburgh, PA | $99,320 | 94.7 | $104,879 | +3% |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $102,390 | 98.1 | $104,373 | +2% |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $103,400 | 100.1 | $103,297 | +1% |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $108,340 | 105.4 | $102,789 | 0% |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $105,320 | 103.6 | $101,660 | −1% |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $104,160 | 102.6 | $101,520 | −1% |
| 19 | Houston, TX | $99,510 | 98.6 | $100,923 | −1% |
| 20 | Las Vegas, NV | $99,940 | 100.2 | $99,741 | −3% |
| 21 | Baltimore, MD | $103,720 | 104.5 | $99,254 | −3% |
| 22 | Phoenix, AZ | $100,780 | 103.3 | $97,561 | −5% |
| 23 | San Antonio, TX | $92,130 | 94.7 | $97,286 | −5% |
| 24 | Tampa, FL | $97,780 | 100.9 | $96,908 | −5% |
| 25 | Dallas, TX | $98,900 | 103.1 | $95,926 | −6% |
| 26 | Los Angeles, CA | $108,310 | 113.6 | $95,343 | −7% |
| 27 | Orlando, FL | $96,390 | 101.4 | $95,059 | −7% |
| 28 | Minneapolis, MN | $97,860 | 104.8 | $93,378 | −9% |
| 29 | Nashville, TN | $85,990 | 96.3 | $89,294 | −13% |
| 30 | Miami, FL | $98,720 | 114.2 | $86,445 | −16% |
U.S. median for project managers: $102,320. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Project Management Specialists, SOC 13-1082); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.