What is a project manager salary in Australia? Awards versus the national minimum wage

Understanding the project manager salary question

When you search for a project manager salary in Australia, you are asking about a role that spans many industries — construction, IT, health, community services, and professional services. Unlike a trade or a retail job, there is no single award that sets a minimum rate for all project managers. Instead, the answer depends on whether the role is covered by a modern award, an enterprise agreement, or is award-free. This article uses the salary index — where 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 per year — to help you see where a project manager salary sits against the national line.

Awards versus the national minimum wage

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week, annualised to $52,255. That gives an index of 48.2 — less than half the national line. Most project managers earn well above this. But award-covered project managers (for example, a project officer in a community health organisation) might have their minimum rate set by an award such as the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 or the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2020. These awards have classification structures that include levels for project or program coordinators. From 1 October 2026, the Health Professionals award saw minimum rate increases for eligible health professionals, and from 1 December 2026, the SCHADS Award will increase home care disability employee rates by up to 15%.

For construction project managers — the largest group, with 60,200 employed according to Jobs and Skills Australia — the median weekly earnings are not published. The ABS does not release figures for this ANZSCO 6-digit occupation because of statistical reliability. However, the industry context helps. Construction project managers work an average of 47 hours per week, 90% full-time. The Construction industry itself has a salary index of around 100–110 depending on the state, but project managers are often classified as managers and may not be covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award. Instead, their pay is set by market rates or enterprise agreements.

Where the salary index helps

The salary index is a simple tool: divide your yearly gross salary by the national line ($108,352) and multiply by 100. For example, a project manager earning $120,000 has an index of 111 — 11% above the national average. A project manager on $150,000 has an index of 138. You can compare this to industry benchmarks: the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry index is 114.7, Mining is 154.7, and Education and Training is 105.5. If you work in a state with a higher index, such as the ACT (109.9) or Western Australia (106.9), the same salary goes further relative to local averages. In Tasmania (88.6) or South Australia (94.6), a given salary will have a higher relative index.

State and industry variations

Project manager salaries vary by location. The states page on Salary Index shows that the ACT has the highest ordinary-time earnings at $119,090 annualised (index 109.9), followed by WA at $115,825 (106.9). NSW sits at $109,658 (101.2), Victoria at $106,137 (98.0), and Queensland at $106,064 (97.9). A project manager in the ACT might expect a higher base salary than one in Tasmania, but cost of living also differs.

Industry matters even more. The industries page shows that Mining (index 154.7) and Professional Services (114.7) pay well above the national line. Retail Trade (75.9) and Accommodation and Food Services (72.5) pay below. Project managers in mining or IT consulting are likely to have higher salaries than those in community services or government, even if the job title is the same.

What about awards and super?

If you are covered by a modern award, your minimum rate is set by that award. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database contains the calculated minimum rates, allowances, and penalty rates. From 1 July 2026, award minima rose by 4.75%. The superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, with a maximum contribution base of $270,830. That means if your salary is $130,000, your employer must contribute $15,600 to super on top. The salary index uses gross ordinary-time earnings before super, so your total remuneration index would be higher.

Tax also affects take-home pay. For 2026–27, resident tax rates (excluding Medicare) are: nil up to $18,200; 15% from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; and 45% above that. Add a 2% Medicare levy. A project manager on $120,000 would pay about $27,088 in tax plus $2,400 Medicare levy, leaving a take-home of around $90,512. That is an after-tax index of about 83.5 relative to the national line.

How to find your project manager salary benchmark

Because project manager is not a single award classification, the best approach is to look at industry-specific data. The pay guides on Salary Index explain how to read award rates and compare them to market salaries. You can also use the how the index works page to calculate your own index and see where you stand. For a rough guide, if you are a project manager in professional services, expect an index around 115–130. In construction, it may be 100–120 depending on project size and location. In community services, award rates may keep you closer to 90–105.

Remember: the salary index is a benchmark for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. It does not include overtime, bonuses, or super. But it gives you a clear line to measure against. If your project manager salary is below 100, you are earning less than the average full-time worker. If it is above 130, you are in the top quartile.

Final thoughts

The question "What is a project manager salary?" has no single answer because the role crosses award boundaries and industry lines. The national minimum wage sets a floor, but project managers almost always sit well above it. Use the salary index to compare your pay to the national line, and check industry and state benchmarks for a more accurate picture. Whether you are negotiating a new role or reviewing your current package, understanding where your salary sits on the index gives you a powerful reference point.