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Project Manager.

Little Rock.

$83,000

median salary, 18% below the national average

$63,000 to $108,000. Last updated August 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

Little Rock is 18% cheaper than the national average. For Project Managers, that shakes out to a median of $83,000, with the full range spanning $63,000 to $108,000. Industry, project complexity, and budget size are the primary drivers. Know the range before you walk in. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.

Salary range.

25th Percentile

$63,000

per year

Median

$83,000

per year

75th Percentile

$108,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$63,000$108,000

Orbyt estimate for Project Manager in Little Rock, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.

Government benchmark for this occupation

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $73,480 for Project Management Specialists (SOC 13-1082) in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metropolitan area, based on 1,730 employed workers (May 2025 release).

10th percentile

$47,280

25th percentile

$56,280

Median

$73,480

75th percentile

$98,930

90th percentile

$128,190

Workers surveyed

1,730

BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Project Management Specialists (SOC 13-1082) rather than Project Manager specifically. The Little Rock range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.

View the BLS source for SOC 13-1082

Salary by experience.

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $75,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$54,000

to $66,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$71,000

to $87,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$91,000

to $108,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$104,000

to $129,000

Total compensation.

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $20,000 to the total package.

Base

$83,000

Equity

$11,000

Bonus

$7,000

Signing

$2,000

Estimated total: $103,000

How Little Rock compares.

Little Rock, AR

$83,000

Cost of living: 18% below average

National Average

$101,000

Little Rock is $18,000 below

Project Manager salary by city.

Project Manager salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Jose, CA$138,000$105,000 to $180,0001.38x$100,000
San Francisco, CA$136,000$104,000 to $178,0001.35x$101,000
Honolulu, HI$130,000$99,000 to $170,0001.30x$100,000
New York, NY$129,000$99,000 to $169,0001.28x$101,000
Seattle, WA$129,000$98,000 to $169,0001.24x$104,000
Washington DC, DC$129,000$98,000 to $168,0001.25x$103,000
Newark, NJ$120,000$92,000 to $157,0001.18x$102,000
San Diego, CA$119,000$91,000 to $156,0001.17x$102,000
Boston, MA$118,000$90,000 to $155,0001.22x$97,000
Little Rock, AR$83,000$63,000 to $108,0000.82x$101,000

See all 81 cities for Project Manager →

Salary by role in Little Rock.

Salary comparison by role in Little Rock
RoleMedianRange
CTO$253,000$198,000 to $329,000
General Counsel$225,000$175,000 to $293,000
CEO$221,000$161,000 to $305,000
Business Analyst$84,000$64,000 to $111,000
Project Manager$83,000$63,000 to $108,000
Physical Therapist$83,000$68,000 to $96,000
Environmental Engineer$83,000$64,000 to $104,000
Investment Banker$83,000$64,000 to $108,000

What you should know.

The Project Manager landscape in Little Rock is not what most salary sites will tell you. Little Rock's economy is driven by Walmart's nearby headquarters ecosystem, state government, healthcare, and logistics. The metro's extremely low cost of living means even moderate salaries deliver strong purchasing power. Tech jobs are growing as companies seek affordable alternatives to major metros. Industry, project complexity, and budget size are the primary drivers. IT and construction project managers managing multimillion dollar initiatives earn significantly more than those on smaller engagements. PMP certification adds a measurable premium. Agile coaching experience and program level responsibility also push compensation upward.

Associate project managers start at $60,000 to $80,000, advancing to PM at $90,000 to $125,000 in two to four years. Senior PMs earn $125,000 to $160,000. Program managers reach $150,000 to $200,000, and directors of PMO or VP level roles at large organizations can exceed $220,000. In Little Rock, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 18% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.

Base salary is not the full picture. Bonuses of 8 to 15% tied to project delivery milestones are common. Equity is available at tech companies, adding $10,000 to $50,000 annually. Benefits packages often include professional development budgets and certification exam reimbursement for PMP, Scrum Master, and related credentials. And on the tax side: arkansas has a top income tax rate of 4.4%. Little Rock has no city income tax. The combination of low taxes and very affordable housing creates one of the best net pay environments in the country. When someone quotes you $83,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Reference the Walmart and Tyson ecosystem when negotiating. Northwest Arkansas and Little Rock employers benchmark against national corporate pay scales. The range for Project Managers in Little Rock runs from $63,000 to $108,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology

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$

25th

$63,000

Median

$83,000

75th

$108,000

Considering a related role?

Common questions.

PMP certified project managers earn approximately 20 to 25% more than non certified peers on average, according to PMI's salary survey. The certification signals a standardized knowledge base and commitment to the profession, making it one of the highest ROI credentials for project managers.

Technology project managers typically earn 10 to 20% more in base salary than construction counterparts, though construction PMs managing large capital projects can earn comparable total compensation with bonuses. Tech offers more equity upside, while construction provides steadier bonus structures.

In 2026, the average Project Manager salary in Little Rock, AR is $83,000. The estimated range runs from $63,000 to $108,000. Where you land depends on your experience, the company's size, and the specific skills you bring.

Entry level Project Manager positions in Little Rock typically start near $63,000. Candidates with relevant internships, certifications, or portfolio work often negotiate closer to the median of $83,000. Associate project managers start at $60,000 to $80,000, advancing to PM at $90,000 to $125,000 in two to four years.

Relevant certifications can add 5 to 15% to a Project Manager's base salary in Little Rock. Specifically, industry, project complexity, and budget size are the primary drivers. In a market where the range spans $63,000 to $108,000, certifications often bridge the gap between the median and the top of the range.

Associate project managers start at $60,000 to $80,000, advancing to PM at $90,000 to $125,000 in two to four years. Senior PMs earn $125,000 to $160,000. Program managers reach $150,000 to $200,000, and directors of PMO or VP level roles at large organizations can exceed $220,000. In Little Rock, each step up the ladder is amplified by the local cost of living multiplier, which means senior roles pay proportionally more than in lower cost markets.

Little Rock's cost of living is 18% below the national average. Little Rock's economy is driven by Walmart's nearby headquarters ecosystem, state government, healthcare, and logistics. Calculate your actual take home pay after housing, taxes, and transportation before deciding. A $83,000 salary here buys a different lifestyle than the same number in another market.

Project Manager salary in other cities.

Other salaries in Little Rock.

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Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.

"Project Manager Salary in Little Rock, AR." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/project-manager/little-rock

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