Expert Project Manager salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 152 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Fremont, Newark, Foster City, Pleasanton, San Mateo.
Also listed as: Project Management Specialist, Project Coordinator
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $160,000 |
| 25th | $164,715 |
| 50th (median) | $180,000 |
| 75th | $210,000 |
| 90th | $230,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 0 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2023 | $185,000 | $160,389 | $204,820 | 21 |
| FY2024 | $174,000 | $168,400 | $199,000 | 35 |
| FY2025 | $180,000 | $164,715 | $210,000 | 70 |
| FY2026 | $180,000 | $164,715 | $205,000 | 82 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median expert Project Manager salary of $180,000 is worth about $155,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Francisco = 115.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Project Management Specialists in the San Francisco, CA area earned a median of $135,040 in May 2025 (20,770 employed). The H-1B median here is $180,000, 33% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Lucid Motors | too few | 7 |
| Visa | too few | 6 |
| Airwallex | too few | 6 |
| Zoox | too few | 6 |
| Deloitte | too few | 5 |
| Chime Financial | too few | 5 |
| Gilead Sciences | too few | 5 |
| Intuit | too few | 5 |
| Stryder | too few | 5 |
| Coefficient Giving | too few | 4 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $92,955 | 71 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $120,000 | 121 |
| Senior · Level III | $149,903 | 86 |
| Expert · Level IV | $180,000 | 152 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $82,098 | $92,955 | 71 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $113,214 | $120,000 | 121 |
| Senior · Level III | $138,965 | $149,903 | 86 |
| Expert · Level IV | $164,715 | $180,000 | 152 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.