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Federal Project Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Federal Project Manager make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Federal Project Manager in the United States is $96,494 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $46.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $114,655
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $85,404 to $106,000
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,307
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Federal Project Manager Salaries

A Federal Project 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 Federal Project Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Federal Project 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): $61,802
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $75,221
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $97,264
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $111,545
  • Expert (over 8 years): $104,870
Levels Salary
Communica... Level Federal Project Manager$61,802
Communica... Level Federal Project Manager$75,221
Federal P... Level Federal Project Manager$97,264
Communica... Level Federal Project Manager$111,545
Communica... Level Federal Project Manager$104,870
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How Do Federal Project Manager Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Federal Project Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $106,838.
  • California: $106,433.
  • Massachusetts: $105,015.

Top Paying Cities for Federal Project 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: $121,708
  • San Francisco: $120,376
  • Oakland: $117,839

What Skills Can Increase a Federal Project Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 5.54% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.9% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Proofreading (Mentioned in 1.34% Job Postings): Proofreading is the reading of a galley proof or an electronic copy of a publication to detect and correct production errors of text or art.
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 5.54%
Microsoft Office 1.9%
Proofreading 1.34%
See More Skills

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 Federal Project Manager's salary.

  • Brand Awareness: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Interpersonal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Brand Awareness $114,828
19%
Interpersonal Communication $114,828
19%
Products and Services $110,003
14%
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Federal Project Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Federal Project Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Hospitality & Leisure sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Federal Project Manager positions in Media or Insurance typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Federal Project Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Federal Project Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$125,442$60.030%
Hospitality & Leisure$120,618$58.025%
Aerospace & Defense$115,793$56.020%
MFG Durable$113,863$55.018%
Biotechnology$110,968$53.015%

How Education impacts a Federal Project Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Federal Project Managers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Federal Project Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $92,285 and $98,963).

Federal Project Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Federal Project Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 1.7%
Associates 1.7%
Bachelors 61.2%
Masters 30.6%
Doctorate 4.1%
View as Graph

Federal Project Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Federal Project 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 September 01, 2026
$85,404
Average $96,494/year
$106,000
$7,117
Average $8,041/month
$8,833
$1,642
Average $1,856/week
$2,038
$41
Average $46/hour
$51
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $106,000 $8,833 $2,038 $51
Average $96,494 $8,041 $1,856 $46
25th Percentile $85,404 $7,117 $1,642 $41

Most common benefits for Federal Project Manager

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Federal Project Manager

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

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FAQ about Federal Project Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Federal Project Manager?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Federal Project Manager roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

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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