Where a project manager salary sits against the Australian full-time average
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). This is the line on this site. For a project manager, the picture is less direct because the ABS does not publish a separate figure for project managers. The ABS classifies project managers under the broader Managers occupation.
What the ABS says about managers
In the Employee Earnings and Hours survey for May 2025, the average weekly total cash earnings for all managers (including part-time) was $2,800.90. For full-time non-managerial managers paid at the adult rate, the average was $2,688.70 per week. These figures are well above the national full-time average. The median weekly earnings for all managers (including part-time) are not published separately, but the overall all-employees median is $1,436 per week, and the full-time median is $1,887 per week.
Project managers often work in industries such as construction, IT, engineering, and professional services. The ABS data for managers includes many roles, so a project manager's pay may differ. The average weekly total cash earnings for managers in the private sector are not broken out, but the national full-time average for men is $2,181.50 and for women $1,934.50 (ordinary time).
State and territory comparisons
The national full-time average varies by state. New South Wales is about $109,658 per year, Victoria $106,137, Queensland $106,064, South Australia $102,450, Western Australia $115,825, Tasmania $96,008, Northern Territory $103,173, and the Australian Capital Territory $119,090. A project manager in WA or the ACT may earn more than one in Tasmania, but the managers' average is above all state averages.
How the figures are set
The ABS calculates average weekly earnings from employer surveys. The full-time adult ordinary-time average is the most commonly cited benchmark. The Employee Earnings and Hours survey provides medians and distributions. For project managers, the best available proxy is the Managers category. If you have a specific salary in mind, you can place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the national average.
Tax and take-home pay
For the 2026–27 year, resident tax rates are: nil up to $18,200; 15% from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% from $45,001 to $135,000; 37% from $135,001 to $190,000; and 45% above $190,000. The Medicare levy is 2% before reductions. A project manager earning the managers' average of $145,647 per year would be in the 30% bracket plus Medicare, so marginal tax of 32%. Take-home pay depends on deductions and offsets.
Minimum wage and awards
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, about $52,255 per year on 38 hours. Award minimums rose 4.75%. Project managers are often covered by the Professional Employees Award or industry-specific awards. However, many are on individual contracts or enterprise agreements that pay above award. The Fair Work Commission sets award rates, but they are not a guide for typical project manager salaries.
Medians and averages
The full-time median weekly earnings are about $1,887, or $90,532 per year. The all-employees median is $1,436 per week, or $74,100 per year. These are from the ABS Employee earnings, August 2025. The managers' average of $2,800.90 is well above both medians. But medians are more representative of typical pay than averages, which can be pulled up by high earners.
Gender pay gap
The gender pay gap in full-time ordinary-time earnings is about $113,412 for men and $100,594 for women (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). For managers, the gap persists. The average for full-time non-managerial managers paid at adult rate is $2,861.70 for men and $2,443.60 for women. That gap is about 14.6% difference. A project manager's pay will reflect these patterns.
How to use this site
This site compares any salary to the national full-time average line. You can see job medians for other roles, or explore industry medians. The guides explain how earnings are measured. For project managers, the lack of a specific ABS figure means you should use the managers' average as a reference point. If you have a salary in mind, place it on the line to see where it sits.
Summary
A project manager salary in Australia is not separately published by the ABS, but the broader managers category earns an average of $2,800.90 per week, well above the national full-time average of $2,083.70. Individual project manager pay varies by industry, experience, and location. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, but project managers typically earn much more. Use the managers' average as a benchmark, and check state averages for regional differences.