Project Manager Salary Melbourne: Context from the National Line
When you search for a project manager salary in Melbourne, you are likely looking for a figure that reflects the local market. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a specific salary for project managers in Melbourne, but it does provide robust data on national averages, state averages, and occupation groups that can help you understand where this role sits relative to the national full-time average.
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year when multiplied by 52. This is the line that Place a salary on the line uses as its benchmark. The full-time median is lower, at about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 per year (ABS Employee earnings, August 2025). The national minimum wage, set by Fair Work from 1 July 2026, is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week—about $52,255 per year.
Where Project Managers Sit
The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for May 2025 groups project managers under the occupation category "Managers." Nationally, managers earn an average of $2,800.90 per week in total cash earnings. That is about $145,647 per year—well above the national full-time average. This suggests that project managers, who typically fall within this broad group, earn significantly more than the average worker. However, this figure includes all managers across all industries and states, and it includes both full-time and part-time workers. The median weekly earnings for full-time employees overall is $1,887, while for managers it is likely higher, but the ABS does not publish a manager-specific median in that release.
The Melbourne and Victoria Picture
Victoria's full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,041.10 per week (about $106,137 per year), slightly below the national average. Melbourne, as the state's economic hub, may have higher average earnings than the state figure, but the ABS does not break down state averages by city. The States and territories page on this site lists all state averages. For Victoria, the average is $106,137, which is about $2,215 below the national line. This gap can be explained by industry mix—Victoria has a large share of lower-paying service industries—but project managers in sectors like construction, IT, and finance in Melbourne may earn well above the state average.
How Awards and Agreements Move the Figure
One reason a project manager salary in Melbourne can differ from the national line is the method of setting pay. According to the ABS, 38.5% of employees have their pay set by individual arrangement, 34.6% by collective agreement, and 22.7% by award only. Project managers covered by an award—such as the Professional Employees Award or the Building and Construction General On-site Award—have minimum rates set by Fair Work. From 1 July 2026, award minimums rose by 4.75%. However, many project managers are on individual contracts or enterprise agreements that pay above the award. The Guides on this site explain how to check award coverage.
Using the Data to Estimate
If you are a project manager in Melbourne, you can use the national manager average of $2,800.90 per week as a starting point, then adjust for industry and experience. For example, the ABS reports that managers in the highest-paying industry (likely Mining or Information Media and Telecommunications) earn more than those in Retail or Accommodation and Food Services. The Industry medians page provides further breakdowns. Similarly, the Job medians page shows that the highest hourly earnings are for Managers ($69.20 per hour) and Professionals ($64.50 per hour).
Tax and Take-Home Pay
Once you have an estimated salary, you can calculate take-home pay using the 2026–27 resident tax rates: 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 of 2% applies before any reductions. For a project manager earning $145,000 per year, the tax would be about $34,867 plus Medicare, leaving around $107,283 after tax. This is still above the national full-time average before tax.
Conclusion
While there is no single published figure for a project manager salary in Melbourne, the available ABS data shows that managers nationally earn well above the national full-time average. State and award factors can move individual salaries off the line, but the national benchmark of $108,352 per year provides a useful reference point. For a more precise estimate, consider your industry, experience, and whether your pay is set by award, agreement, or individual contract. The How the figures are set page explains the sources behind these numbers.