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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The pay gap between states for this occupation? It can fund an entire year of rent. The national median salary for IT Project Managers in 2026 is $114,061, with entry-level positions averaging $82,124 and senior roles reaching $161,967. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $207,760, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a IT Project Manager sits at the intersection of Technology and Technology. Most professionals enter with Bachelor's + PMP, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is hybrid. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$126,420 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A IT Project Manager in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $207,760 — $126,420 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($81,340). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The salary distribution for IT Project Managers reveals a $79,843 spread from entry to senior. At $114,061, the median sits $33,694 above the national median household income of $80,367. That's a strong baseline — and it only includes individual earnings, not household. The P10 floor of $82,124 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $161,967 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $194,040, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $81,993. The $112,047 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A IT Project Manager in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $207,760 — $126,420 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($81,340). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for IT Project Manager is $82,124, while senior-level (P90) earners average $161,967. That $79,843 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for IT Project Managers at $137,666 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $121,030) is $16,636.
At the 90th percentile, IT Project Managers pull in an average of $161,967. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $82,124 | $114,061 | $161,967 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £49,243 | £68,392 | £97,117 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$63,830 | CA$88,653 | CA$125,888 |
| Australia | 13 | A$73,986 | A$102,759 | A$145,917 |
| Sweden | 24 | 466,041 kr | 647,279 kr | 919,136 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $99,119 | $137,666 | $195,486 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $95,785 | $133,035 | $188,910 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $95,256 | $132,300 | $187,866 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $88,200 | $122,500 | $173,950 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $87,142 | $121,030 | $171,863 |
| Washington | 8 | $85,466 | $118,703 | $168,558 |
| New York | 5 | $80,439 | $111,720 | $158,643 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $80,438 | $111,720 | $158,642 |
| Florida | 22 | $79,829 | $110,874 | $157,441 |
| Colorado | 11 | $78,450 | $108,958 | $154,721 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $78,322 | $108,780 | $154,468 |
| Nevada | 5 | $78,181 | $108,584 | $154,189 |
| Arizona | 12 | $77,792 | $108,045 | $153,424 |
| Oregon | 5 | $77,616 | $107,800 | $153,076 |
| Idaho | 3 | $77,381 | $107,473 | $152,612 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $76,769 | $106,624 | $151,406 |
| Utah | 4 | $76,558 | $106,330 | $150,989 |
| Virginia | 7 | $75,298 | $104,580 | $148,504 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $74,323 | $103,227 | $146,582 |
| Alaska | 1 | $74,088 | $102,900 | $146,118 |
| Illinois | 5 | $73,241 | $101,724 | $144,448 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $71,422 | $99,198 | $140,861 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $70,560 | $98,000 | $139,160 |
| Montana | 1 | $70,560 | $98,000 | $139,160 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $70,325 | $97,673 | $138,696 |
| Texas | 40 | $69,978 | $97,192 | $138,012 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $69,855 | $97,020 | $137,769 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $69,502 | $96,530 | $137,073 |
| Georgia | 6 | $69,266 | $96,203 | $136,609 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $69,149 | $96,040 | $136,377 |
| Kansas | 4 | $68,796 | $95,550 | $135,681 |
| Michigan | 6 | $68,561 | $95,223 | $135,217 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $67,738 | $94,080 | $133,594 |
| Maryland | 1 | $67,738 | $94,080 | $133,594 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $67,032 | $93,100 | $132,202 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $67,032 | $93,100 | $132,202 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $65,268 | $90,650 | $128,723 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $64,915 | $90,160 | $128,027 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $64,033 | $88,935 | $126,288 |
| Missouri | 4 | $64,033 | $88,935 | $126,288 |
| Alabama | 5 | $63,786 | $88,592 | $125,800 |
| Indiana | 3 | $62,798 | $87,220 | $123,852 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $62,798 | $87,220 | $123,852 |
| Iowa | 2 | $62,093 | $86,240 | $122,461 |
| Ohio | 6 | $61,975 | $86,077 | $122,229 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $59,270 | $82,320 | $116,894 |
The state salary map for IT Project Managers: California at $137,666, Massachusetts at $133,035, Hawaii at $132,300 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($82,320), Ohio ($86,077), Iowa ($86,240) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $55,346.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($207,760 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $98,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $207,760 | 212 | $98,000 | $120,065 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $194,040 | 198 | $98,000 | $113,609 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $180,320 | 184 | $98,000 | $106,224 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $177,380 | 181 | $98,000 | $104,605 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $174,440 | 178 | $98,000 | $102,987 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $173,460 | 177 | $98,000 | $102,447 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $173,460 | 177 | $98,000 | $102,447 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $169,540 | 173 | $98,000 | $100,289 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $169,540 | 173 | $98,000 | $100,289 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $165,620 | 169 | $98,000 | $98,131 |
From a career planning perspective, IT Project Manager offers a $79,843 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Bachelor's + PMP. Day-to-day, expect hybrid work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for IT Project Managers is $114,061 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $82,124, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $161,967.
The highest-paying city for IT Project Managers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $207,760. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($207,760), Santa Clara ($194,040), Irvine ($180,320). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median IT Project Manager salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $81,340. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level IT Project Managers (10th percentile) average $82,124 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $149,587. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), IT Project Managers average $161,967 nationally — $79,843 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior IT Project Managers can earn up to $295,019.
The top-paying states for IT Project Managers are California ($137,666 median), Massachusetts ($133,035 median), Hawaii ($132,300 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a IT Project Manager involves Bachelor's + PMP. The field is in the Technology sector (Technology), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hybrid.
With a national median of $114,061 and representation across 288 metro areas, IT Project Manager offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $79,843 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.