Permit Manager Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Permit Manager in the United States is $122,523 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $59.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $157,392
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $111,614 to $140,775
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $101,682

Key Factors That Influence Permit Manager Salaries

A Permit 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Permit Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Permit 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): $75,930
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $90,686
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $108,765
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $97,948
  • Expert (over 8 years): $121,181
Levels Salary
Document ... Level Permit Manager$75,930
Document ... Level Permit Manager$90,686
Document ... Level Permit Manager$108,765
Document ... Level Permit Manager$97,948
Permit Ma... Level Permit Manager$121,181

How Do Permit 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 Permit Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $135,657.
  • California: $135,143.
  • Massachusetts: $133,342.

Top Paying Cities for Permit 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: $154,538
  • San Francisco: $152,846
  • Oakland: $149,625

What Skills Can Increase a Permit Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 7.67% 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.
  • Legal Documents (Mentioned in 2.88% Job Postings): Legal document means any document affecting the legal rights of any person including, but not limited to, any deed, mortgage, will, trust instrument, contract or any document filed in any court, quasi-judicial or administrative tribunal.
  • Data Processing (Mentioned in 2.49% Job Postings): Data processing is the collection and manipulation of data to produce meaningful information. Data processing is a form of information processing, which is the modification of information in any manner detectable by an observer.
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 7.67%
Legal Documents 2.88%
Data Processing 2.49%

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 Permit Manager's salary.

  • ERP: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Quality Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
ERP $132,325
8%
Quality Management $131,100
7%
Innovation $131,100
7%

Permit Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Permit Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 125% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 60% above the average. In contrast, Permit Manager positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Permit Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Permit Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$196,037$94.060%
Financial Services$183,784$88.050%
Internet$171,532$82.040%
Energy & Utilities$159,280$77.030%
Healthcare$147,028$71.020%

Permit Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Permit 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
$111,614
Average $122,523/year
$140,775
$9,301
Average $10,210/month
$11,731
$2,146
Average $2,356/week
$2,707
$54
Average $59/hour
$68
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $140,775 $11,731 $2,707 $68
Average $122,523 $10,210 $2,356 $59
25th Percentile $111,614 $9,301 $2,146 $54

Most common benefits for Permit Manager

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

Common company salaries for Permit Manager

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

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FAQ about Permit Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Permit Manager?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Permit Manager roles, with salaries approximately 60% 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.)

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