Project Manager Salary Sydney: Where Does It Sit?
If you're looking at a project manager salary in Sydney, the first thing to know is that the Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a single figure for that exact role in that city. Instead, we can use the national and state averages as a benchmark, and consider how awards, industry, and individual arrangements can shift pay.
The National Full-Time Average Line
The site's line is the national full-time adult ordinary-time average from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026: $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52). This is the figure against which all salaries on Average line are compared. For a project manager in Sydney, your salary may be above or below this line depending on several factors.
New South Wales Full-Time Average
For New South Wales, the ABS reports a full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,108.80 per week, which works out to about $109,658 per year. That's about $1,306 more per year than the national average. Sydney, as the capital, often sees higher wages due to the cost of living and concentration of high-value industries like finance, technology, and professional services. A project manager in Sydney might expect to earn around or above this state average, but it depends on the specific role.
Medians and Minimum Wage Context
The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, August 2025, gives a full-time median of about $90,532 per year and an all-employees median of about $74,100 per year. These medians are lower than the averages because averages are pulled up by high earners. For project managers, the median might be higher than the all-employees median, but we don't have a precise figure.
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date. Many project managers are covered by awards such as the Professional Employees Award or the Building and Construction General On-site Award, which set minimum rates higher than the national minimum. However, many project managers are on individual arrangements or collective agreements.
Awards and Agreements for Project Managers
Project managers in Sydney may be covered by different pay-setting methods. According to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, 38.5% of all employees have an individual arrangement, 34.6% a collective agreement, and 22.7% are award-only. In NSW, those on individual arrangements averaged $1,931.80 per week, while those on collective agreements averaged $1,706.90, and award-only $1,038.90. A project manager on an individual arrangement in Sydney could earn well above the state average, especially if they work in a high-demand industry like IT or construction.
Awards set minimum rates. For example, the Professional Employees Award 2020 covers many project managers in professional services. After the 4.75% increase from 1 July 2026, the minimum weekly rate for a Level 1 employee under that award is around $1,200, but experienced project managers would be at higher levels. The Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 also covers project managers in construction, with minimum rates varying by classification. Many project managers earn significantly above these minimums.
Industry Differences
Project managers work across many industries. The ABS data shows that managers overall had an average hourly earnings of $69.20 in May 2025, but that covers all managers, not just project managers. In Sydney, industries like construction, information technology, and financial services tend to pay higher salaries. For instance, a project manager in IT might earn more than one in government or community services. The ABS does not provide industry-specific project manager salaries, but you can use the Industry medians page to see broad industry averages.
Using the Line
To see where your project manager salary in Sydney sits against the national full-time average, you can Place a salary on the line. The tool will show you the weekly and hourly equivalents on a 38-hour week, and the distance from the $108,352 line. You can also compare with States and territories to see how NSW compares to other states. For example, the Australian Capital Territory has a higher full-time average of $119,090, while Tasmania is lower at $96,008.
Other Considerations
The ABS also provides Job medians for broad occupations, but not for project managers specifically. For more granular data, you might look at Guides on how salaries are set. The How the figures are set page explains the methodology behind the averages and medians.
Summary
While there is no official ABS figure for a project manager salary in Sydney, the NSW full-time average of $109,658 provides a useful benchmark. Your actual salary will depend on your industry, award coverage, and whether you have an individual arrangement. The national full-time average line of $108,352 is a good starting point for comparison. About this site has more information on the sources and how we use them.