Project manager take-home pay in Australia after tax, 2026
For twenty years the mining and resources projects of Western Australia and Queensland have paid better than almost anything else in the country, and FIFO rosters explain most of it. The net figures across sectors and levels follow.
Net pay by seniority, Australian project managers 2026
Deductions are income tax and the Medicare Levy (2%). Superannuation guarantee (12%) is paid separately by the employer in most roles.
| Level | Gross Salary | Monthly Net | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior / Assistant PM | A$85,000 | A$5,584/mo | 21.2% |
| Project Manager (mid) | A$125,000 | A$7,851/mo | 24.6% |
| Senior PM | A$150,000 | A$9,180/mo | 26.6% |
| Program Director / Head of PMO | A$220,000 | A$12,539/mo | 31.6% |
Project managers in mining, resources and the major infrastructure programmes of Western Australia and Queensland normally earn 20% to 35% above these figures at the same seniority. Source: Australian project management salary benchmarking surveys, 2026.
The FIFO premium, and why resources pays so far above the rest
Fly-in-fly-out work on mining and resources projects across Western Australia and Queensland has carried a substantial premium for decades. A senior project manager on an iron ore or LNG development earns A$220,000 to beyond A$280,000, where the same role inside a capital city corporate might pay A$150,000 to A$180,000.
- FIFO rosters (commonly 8 days on/6 off, or 2 weeks on/1 off) compensate for time away from home and remote-site living conditions
- Site allowances, accommodation, and meals are typically provided separately from salary, meaning the headline number understates total value
- The trade-off is real and personal: extended time away from family, and the work itself is often more physically demanding project delivery than office-based corporate PM roles
Anyone prepared to work a FIFO roster will find the resources projects of Western Australia and Queensland among the best-paid corners of the profession in the country. The premium buys your time and your life away from home; nothing about it is free.
Where Australian project managers land on the pay curve
| Percentile | Gross | Monthly Net |
|---|---|---|
| P25 | ~A$85,000 | ~A$5,580/mo |
| P50 (Median) | ~A$125,000 | ~A$7,850/mo |
| P75 | ~A$150,000 | ~A$9,180/mo |
| P90 (incl. FIFO/resources) | ~A$220,000+ | ~A$12,540+/mo |
Frequently asked questions
The median Australian project manager is on around A$125,000 gross, which leaves roughly A$7,851 a month. A junior on A$85,000 keeps about A$5,584, a senior on A$150,000 around A$9,180, and a program director on A$220,000 approximately A$12,539.
Fly-in-fly-out resources projects across WA and QLD pay a substantial premium, frequently 20% to 35% above an equivalent corporate role in a capital city, to compensate for the time spent away from home on rotating rosters. Site allowances, accommodation and meals are normally provided separately on top of salary.
Salary surveys put the 2026 national average for a mid-level project manager at roughly A$120,000 to A$135,000, leaving about A$7,600 to A$8,400 a month after tax. Resources-sector managers in WA and QLD commonly earn 20% to 35% more at equivalent seniority.
It does, normally by A$8,000 to A$15,000 a year from mid-level upward, and government and larger corporate roles treat it as close to a baseline expectation. The examination costs roughly A$650 to A$900 depending on PMI membership and generally pays for itself within the first few months of the salary it unlocks.