Construction project manager salary: state and industry differences in Australia

What a construction project manager salary looks like in Australia

When you search for a construction project manager salary, you quickly find that there is no single official figure. The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish median weekly earnings for this occupation at the six-digit ANZSCO level. Jobs and Skills Australia reports that 60,200 people work as construction project managers, with 90% in full-time roles averaging 47 hours per week, but the median earnings field is marked ‘N/A’. That does not mean the pay is unknown – it means the data is not released, likely because the sample is too small or the earnings range too wide.

So how do you make sense of a construction project manager salary? You look at the factors that drive pay: award coverage, state location, and industry sector. This guide uses the Salary Index – where 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 per year (based on ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026) – to show where this role typically sits.

Award coverage and pay structure

Construction project managers are not automatically covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award. According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, coverage depends on the specific duties and the employer’s industry. If your role is principally managerial, you are likely award-free. If you hold an engineering degree and manage professional or technical matters, the Professional Award may apply. Some project managers fall under the Clerks Award if their work is mainly administrative, or the Miscellaneous Award if they are neither professional nor managerial.

Because many project managers are award-free, their pay is negotiated directly. This means a construction project manager salary can range from around the national minimum wage (index 48.2, or $52,255 per year) for junior or entry-level roles, to well above the national line for experienced managers in high-demand states. The Building and Construction Award does include industry allowances – $67.15 per week for general building and civil construction – but these apply to on-site workers, not typically to project managers.

State differences matter

Location has a big impact on pay. The Salary Index shows state-level benchmarks for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings:

• ACT: 109.9 (annualised $119,090)
• WA: 106.9 ($115,825)
• NSW: 101.2 ($109,658)
• VIC: 98.0 ($106,137)
• QLD: 97.9 ($106,064)
• SA: 94.6 ($102,450)
• NT: 95.2 ($103,173)
• TAS: 88.6 ($96,008)

A construction project manager in the ACT or Western Australia can expect a higher base because the whole labour market there pays more. In Tasmania, the lower state index means pay is likely to be below the national line. These are benchmarks for all occupations, but they reflect the cost of labour and local economic conditions. For a construction project manager salary, the state index gives a starting point: if you are in WA, expect an index around 107; in TAS, closer to 89.

Industry context

Construction project managers work mainly in the construction industry, but also in professional, scientific and technical services, and public administration. The industry index for professional services is 114.7 – well above the national line. A project manager working for a consulting engineering firm may earn more than one working directly for a builder. The mining industry index is 154.7, so project managers in mining-related construction can command even higher pay.

Because no official median exists, the best way to estimate a construction project manager salary is to combine the state index with an industry premium. For example, a project manager in NSW (index 101.2) working in professional services (index 114.7) might earn around 115–120 on the index, or roughly $125,000–$130,000 per year. A project manager in Tasmania in general construction might be closer to the state index of 88.6, or about $96,000.

Super and tax considerations

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% on earnings up to $270,830. So a project manager earning $120,000 would receive $14,400 in super. For tax, the 2026–27 resident rates apply: 30% on income between $45,001 and $135,000, plus 2% Medicare levy. Take-home pay on $120,000 would be roughly $88,000 after tax and Medicare, excluding HELP or other deductions.

Putting it together

A construction project manager salary is not a fixed number. It varies by state, industry, award coverage, and experience. Use the Salary Index to compare any offer against the national line. Check state benchmarks to see how location shifts pay. Look at industry indices to understand sector premiums. And remember: because many project managers are award-free, your negotiation power matters. The national line of 100 is a useful anchor – most experienced project managers sit above it, often between 105 and 120.

For more detail on how awards and pay guides work, see our pay guides section. And if you want to understand the methodology behind the index, visit how the index works.