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Proposal Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Proposal Manager make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Proposal Manager in the United States is $123,903 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $60.

However, a Proposal Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $142,205
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $112,293 to $133,483
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $101,723
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View as table View as graph 25% $112,293 10% $101,723 90% $142,205 75% $133,483 $123,903 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Proposal Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $133,483 $11,124 $2,567 $64
Average $123,903 $10,325 $2,383 $60
25th Percentile $112,293 $9,358 $2,159 $54
Check out Proposal Manager Job Openings in the United States
Lead Proposal Analyst

Middle River Aerostructure Systems - BALTIMORE, MD

Lead Proposal Analyst

Middle River Aerostructure Systems - BALTIMORE, MD

Senior Proposal Manager

Barbaricum - TAMPA, FL

Senior Proposal Manager

Innova Solutions, Inc. - ARLINGTON, TX

Search More Proposal Manager Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Proposal Manager Salaries

A Proposal Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Proposal Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Proposal Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $120,977
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $121,844
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $122,710
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $123,057
  • Expert (over 8 years): $125,353
Levels Salary
Entry Level Proposal Manager$120,977
Intermediate Level Proposal Manager$121,844
Senior Level Proposal Manager$122,710
Specialist Level Proposal Manager$123,057
Expert Level Proposal Manager$125,353
$120,977 0 yr
$121,844 < 2 yrs
$122,710 2-4 yrs
$123,057 5-8 yrs
$125,353 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Proposal Managers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $156,283
  • San Francisco: $154,743
  • Oakland: $151,313

What Skills Can Increase a Proposal Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 6.32% Job Postings): Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
  • Bidding (Mentioned in 2.77% Job Postings): Bidding is an offer (often competitive) to set a price tag by an individual or business for a product or service or a demand that something be done. Bidding is used to determine the cost or value of something.
  • Lead Generation (Mentioned in 1.19% Job Postings): In marketing, lead generation (/ˈliːd/) is the initiation of consumer interest or enquiry into products or services of a business. Leads can be created for purposes such as list building, e-newsletter list acquisition or for sales leads. The methods for generating leads typically fall under the umbrella of advertising, but may also include non-paid sources such as organic search engine results or referrals from existing customers. Leads may come from various sources or activities, for example, digitally via the Internet, through personal referrals, through telephone calls either by the company or telemarketers, through advertisements, and events. A 2015 study found that 89% of respondents cited email as the most-used channel for generating leads, followed by content marketing, search engine, and finally events. A study from 2014 found that direct traffic, search engines, and web referrals were the three most popular online channels for lead generation, accounting for 93% of leads.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 6.32%
Bidding 2.77%
Lead Generation 1.19%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Proposal Manager's salary.
  • Due Diligence: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Logistics: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Sales Support: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Due Diligence
$135,054
9%
Logistics
$132,576
7%
Sales Support
$132,576
7%
Flexibility
$130,098
5%
Networking
$130,098
5%
Team Management
$128,859
4%
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How Education impacts a Proposal Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Proposal Managers enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Proposal Manager with a No Diploma is between $113,940 and $121,344).

Proposal Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Proposal Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 16.7%
High School 83.3%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 16.7%
Masters 83.3%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Proposal Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Proposal Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Proposal Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Proposal Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Bid/Quote Senior Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $177,400 - a projected growth of 43% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Proposal Manager

Salaries for a Proposal Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $114,796 in 2023 to around $115,636 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Proposal Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Proposal Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$114,796
2024
$116,597
2025
$115,636
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $114,796
2024 $116,597
2025 $115,636
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Proposal Manager

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Proposal Manager

Here are companies hiring for Proposal Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Proposal Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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