Salary AI Book a Demo

Program Management Salary in the United States

How much does a Program Management make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Program Management in the United States is $130,254 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $63.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $151,374
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $122,011 to $141,309
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $114,506
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Program Management Salaries

A Program Management'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Program Management Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Program Management'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): $127,964
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $128,308
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $129,453
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $130,827
  • Expert (over 8 years): $133,899
Levels Salary
Entry Level Program Management$127,964
Intermediate Level Program Management$128,308
Senior Level Program Management$129,453
Specialist Level Program Management$130,827
Expert Level Program Management$133,899
View as Graph

How Do Program Management 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 Program Managements. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $144,217.
  • California: $143,670.
  • Massachusetts: $141,755.

Top Paying Cities for Program Managements

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: $164,289
  • San Francisco: $162,491
  • Oakland: $159,066

What Skills Can Increase a Program Management's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.08% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Cost Reduction (Mentioned in 1.72% Job Postings): Cost reduction is the process used by companies to reduce their costs and increase their profits. Depending on a company’s services or product, the strategies can vary. Every decision in the product development process affects cost. Companies typically launch a new product without focusing too much on cost. Cost becomes more important when competition increases and price becomes a differentiator in the market.
  • Logistics (Mentioned in 1.09% Job Postings): In a general business sense, logistics is the management of the flow of things between the point of origin and the point of consumption to meet the requirements of customers or corporations.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.08%
Cost Reduction 1.72%
Logistics 1.09%
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 Program Management's salary.

  • Relationship Management: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • New Product Development: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Benchmarking: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Relationship Management $143,279
10%
New Product Development $140,674
8%
Benchmarking $139,372
7%
Get Latest Data

Program Management Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Program Management roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 25% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 11% above the average. In contrast, Program Management positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Program Management as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Program Management

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$144,582$70.011%
Software & Networking$141,977$68.09%
Transportation$140,674$68.08%
Financial Services$138,069$66.06%
Insurance$138,069$66.06%

Program Management Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Program Management'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 October 01, 2026
$122,011
Average $130,254/year
$141,309
$10,168
Average $10,855/month
$11,776
$2,346
Average $2,505/week
$2,717
$59
Average $63/hour
$68
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $141,309 $11,776 $2,717 $68
Average $130,254 $10,855 $2,505 $63
25th Percentile $122,011 $10,168 $2,346 $59

Most common benefits for Program Management

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

Common company salaries for Program Management

Here are companies hiring for Program Management and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Program Management Job

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

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Program Management

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Program Management?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Program Management roles, with salaries approximately 11% 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst