Project Manager Salaries in Los Angeles and California

What Does a Project Manager Do, Anyway?

Software project managers are responsible for planning, scheduling, budgeting, executing, and delivering software, apps, and other assorted web projects. In addition, they supervise and ensure the successful completion of software projects and oversee the teams working on them.

Project Manager Salary Satisfaction in Los Angeles and Beyond

How happy are project managers with their compensation? According to Indeed, 67 percent of project managers are satisfied with their salary and how it is sufficient for their cost of living expenses.

Project Manager Salaries By Years of Experience

Not every project manager earns the same salary. Some professionals are just starting and have yet to acquire the experience and skills that make an effective manager. Other project managers have been doing the job for years and thus command better compensation.

Indeed reports that project managers with less than a year's experience, entry-level managers, can earn an impressive $89,979 per year. However, experience means value, and project managers on the job earn an average of $96,638 annually for a decade or more.

But now, let’s turn to SalaryExplorer and see how they report the wage breakdown by years of experience. Remember, there are other mitigating factors to consider, including the company, employee age and gender, and current demand:

• Less than two years: $73,500
• Two to five years: $107,000
• Five to 10 years: $141,000
• 10 to 15 years: $173,000
• 15 to 20 years: $184,000
• Over 20 years: $202,000

All About Project Manager Salary Distribution in the Greater Los Angeles Area

According to SalaryExplorer, almost all project managers' salaries in the Los Angeles area max out annual wages at $211,00. However, three-quarters of project managers earn $182,000 or less, half make $140,000 or less, and only 25% of project managers earn $92,000 or less.

Project Manager Salaries in Los Angeles: City-wide Details

According to SalaryExplorer, project managers in the Los Angeles area enjoy salaries ranging from $64,500 to $211,000 annually, an average of around $134,000.

Project Manager Salaries: Los Angeles Compared with Other California Metro Areas

How does Los Angeles stack up against other cities in California regarding project manager salaries? SalaryExplorer reports these annual averages:

• Long Beach:   $102,000
• Los Angeles:   $134,000
• Oakland:        $102,000
• Sacramento:  $102,000
• San Diego:      $119,000
• San Francisco:   $119,000
• San Jose:        $120,000

Project Manager Salaries for Cities Near Los Angeles

Here’s a list of the cities close to Los Angeles that pay the best project manager salaries, courtesy of Indeed.

• San Francisco: $117,467 per year
• Fremont: $107,554 per year
• San Jose: $105,602 per year
• Irvine: $98,900 per year
• Santa Ana: $96,785 per year
• Sacramento: $96,650 per year
• Anaheim: $90,907 per year
• San Diego: $88,496 per year

What Are the Key Industries That Want Project Managers?

Project management lends itself better to some industries than others. However, as of mid-2022, these are the key industries with the most significant demand for project managers.

• Information Technology (IT)
• Engineering
• Construction
• Healthcare
• Finance and Insurance Services
• Manufacturing
• Marketing
• Energy and Utilities Service Industries
• Consulting
• Law

Top Companies for Project Managers

While it’s helpful to know which industries are looking for project managers, it’s even better if we can narrow down the specific companies that are motivated to hire project managers. Although an increasing number of companies want project managers, not all of them can be the best in terms of compensation. Here are the current best-paying companies for project managers, from highest to lowest, as reported by Indeed.

• ExxonMobil: $213,562 per year
• Autodesk: $177,314 per year
• Truebeck Construction: $176,243 per year
• Blusky Restoration Contractors, LLC: $165,760 per year
• City and County of San Francisco: $156,525 per year
• eBay: $149,883 per year
• Cisco Systems: $143,907 per year
• Apple: $142,939 per year
• Swinerton Builders: $141,827 per year
• SAIC: $139,500 per year

Presenting the Best Paid Skills and Qualifications for Project Managers

The more you know, the better a salary you can ask for. After all, what's a paycheck but the fee levied to rent your time, experience, and skill set? It certainly costs more to rent a luxury car than a generic, economical sedan, so it makes sense that employers must pay more to access the broader range of "features" their more skilled employees possess, right?

Here are three resources; a skill, a certification, and a license, that professional project managers can get better pay if they have them:

• Top Skill: Yardi
• Top License: Professional Engineer
• Top Certification: PgMP

And here’s a rundown of more well-paying qualifications and skills for project managers:

• Bluebeam
• JD Edwards
• Microsoft Project
• NetSuite
• Primavera
• Primavera P6
• ProCore
• Prolog
• ServiceNow
• Yardi

How Education Influences Project Management Salaries in Los Angeles and Beyond

Since we just discussed skills and qualifications and how they can positively influence a project manager's salary, we should look at how an applicant's education level can also affect wages. Here’s a comparison of average annual project management salaries in Los Angeles, as shown by SalaryExplorer.

• High School Graduate: $93,800
• Certificate or Diploma: $108,000
• Bachelor’s Degree: $158,000
• Master’s Degree: $195,000

Job Titles Related to Project Management

Conduct a search across the Internet for jobs related to project management, and here's what you get. In some instances, these titles are just alternate ways of referring to project management; in other cases, they are fundamentally different positions with overlapping responsibilities.

• Senior Project Manager
• Project Management
• Program Management
• Business Analyst
• Risk Management
• Technical Project Manager
• Project Administrator
• Project Engineering
• Construction Management
• Project Controller
• Team Leader
• Project Management Officer
• Project Planning
• Manager
• Project Support Officer
• Project Expediter
• Transition Manager

What Kinds of Benefits Do Project Managers Enjoy?

Project managers are an asset; organizations want to lure in the best people and give them the incentive to stay. These incentives include:

• 401(k); 401(k) matching
• AD&D insurance
• Commuter assistance
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discounts
• Employee stock purchase plans
• Flexible schedules
• Flexible spending accounts
• Food provided
• Gym memberships
• Dental, Health, and Vision insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance (term and whole life)
• Opportunities for advancement
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Profit sharing
• Referral programs
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plans
• Stock options
• Tuition reimbursement
• Unlimited paid time off
• Working from home (especially since the age of the pandemic)

How Much Do Similar Professions Get Paid in Los Angeles?

Professionals in the Los Angeles metro area who work in positions like project management are doing alright for themselves, according to Indeed.com. Here’s a sample:

• Program Manager: $69,167 per year
• Construction Project Manager: $100,578 per year
• Technical Project Manager: $120,724 per year
• IT Project Manager: $106,993 per year
• Head of Project Management: $116,461 per year
• Project Coordinator: $60,320 per year

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Do You Want Expert Training in Project Management?

The IT business world (and many non-IT sectors!) needs project managers. Could they be looking for you? If you're fascinated by the notion of becoming a project manager, Simplilearn has the resources you need to get started.

Or maybe you already possess a decent set of management-related skills. Still, you want to improve your chances (and intrinsic value) by upskilling before moving to project management. Well, you're covered too!

Simplilearn has a spectacular assortment of courses and bootcamps dedicated to helping you achieve project management expertise.

The global project management software market is predicted to hit $7 billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 14.93 percent during 2019-2027, creating 22 million new jobs for aspiring project management professionals. Simplilearn's project management programs give learners the knowledge and discipline to effectively plan, execute, manage, and control projects in any industry sector. In addition, students learn the most popular project management methodologies that help companies and organizations deliver successful projects.

Simplilearn’s project management courses include:

• UMass Post Graduate Program in Project Management

Project Management Master' Programs

• Digital Project Manager
• PMP Plus
• PMP Renewal Pack

Project Management Certification Courses

• PRINCE2 Foundation
• CAPM

Advanced Courses

• PMP Certification Training
• PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner
• PMI-RMP Certification
• PRINCE2 Agile Foundation and Practitioner

This comprehensive series of programs and bootcamps will give you the skill set you need to get an edge on the competition and improve your chances of getting the best starting salary offer. So don't wait a moment longer; visit Simplilearn and get on your way to a rewarding and exciting career that will always be in demand!