Senior Project Manager Salary in Australia
If you are a senior project manager in Australia, you are likely earning above the national full-time average. But how much above? The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a specific salary for the role of 'senior project manager', so we need to look at the closest available data to get a sense of where this occupation sits.
The National Full-Time Average as a Reference
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 puts the national full-time adult ordinary-time average at $2,083.70 per week. That works out to about $108,352 a year when multiplied by 52 weeks. This is the line that Average line uses as its central reference point. It is the average for all full-time adults across every industry and occupation.
For context, the full-time median – the midpoint where half earn more and half earn less – is lower. The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025) reports a full-time median of $1,887 per week, or about $98,124 a year. The all-employees median (including part-time workers) is $1,436 per week, around $74,672 a year. These medians are based on total cash earnings, not just ordinary time.
What the Data Says About Managers
The ABS groups senior project managers under the broad occupation category 'Managers'. In the May 2025 Employee Earnings and Hours release, managers had average weekly total cash earnings of $2,800.90 for all employees (including part-time). For full-time non-managerial adult employees – a more homogeneous group that excludes owner-managers and executives – the average for managers was $2,688.70 per week. That is about $139,812 a year, well above the national full-time average.
It is important to note that 'Managers' includes many roles beyond project management, such as chief executives, general managers and specialist managers. The average for senior project managers specifically could be different. The ABS does not break down to that level in its published tables.
Construction Project Managers: A Closer Look
Jobs and Skills Australia provides occupation profiles that sometimes include median earnings. For Construction Project Managers (ANZSCO 133111), the profile notes that median weekly earnings are not available from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours. However, the profile does show that 90% of construction project managers work full-time, with average full-time hours of 47 hours per week – above the all-occupations average of 44 hours. The median age is 42, and only 14% are women. While no dollar figure is given, the long hours suggest that weekly earnings for construction project managers are likely higher than the national average.
Take-Home Pay: A Resident Sketch
Using the national full-time average of $108,352 as a baseline, a resident senior project manager earning that amount would face the 2026–27 tax rates: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on the next $26,800, 30% on the next $90,000, and so on. After the 2% Medicare levy, the estimated take-home pay is about $82,500. If you earn more – say the managers average of $139,812 – the take-home would be around $102,000. These are rough calculations; your actual tax depends on offsets, deductions and the Medicare levy surcharge.
State and Territory Variations
Where you work also matters. The full-time average varies by state and territory, according to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026:
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
- Western Australia: $115,825
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- South Australia: $102,450
- Tasmania: $96,008
A senior project manager in the ACT or WA is likely to earn more than one in Tasmania or South Australia, reflecting the broader market. You can explore state-level averages on the States and territories page.
How to Use This Information
If you are a senior project manager, the national full-time average is a useful benchmark. If your salary is above $108,352, you are above the line. If it is below, you may be underpaid relative to the average full-time worker. But remember that the average is just that – an average. Many senior project managers earn significantly more, especially in construction, mining and IT.
For a more precise comparison, you can look at industry medians on the Industry medians page, or place your own salary on the line using the Place a salary on the line tool. The tool shows your weekly and hourly rate on a 38-hour week, and how far you are from the national full-time average.
The Bottom Line
While there is no single 'senior project manager salary' published by the ABS, the available data for Managers and for Construction Project Managers suggests that this role typically pays above the national full-time average. Use the national average of $108,352 as your starting point, adjust for your state and industry, and you will have a solid sense of where you stand.
Sources: ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025; Jobs and Skills Australia, Construction Project Managers.