What a project manager keeps 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 account for most of it. The net figures across sectors and levels follow.
Net pay by seniority for Australian project managers in 2026
Deductions are income tax and the Medicare Levy at 2%. The superannuation guarantee of 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 willing to work a FIFO roster will find the resources projects of Western Australia and Queensland among the best-paid corners of the profession anywhere in the country. The premium buys your time and your life away from home; none of it comes free.
Where Australian project managers sit 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 |
Questions readers ask
The median Australian project manager grosses around A$125,000, 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 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, usually by A$8,000 to A$15,000 a year from mid-level upwards, 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 repays itself within the first few months of the salary it unlocks.