Rates, 2026
What should a project manager charge in New York or LA?
About $750 a day for a project manager who is working and booked in New York or Los Angeles. $575 in the first years, $925 when senior.
Other markets: a major city · remote · a smaller market
First years
$575
a day · $70 an hour
Working, booked
$750
a day · $95 an hour
Senior, sought after
$925
a day · $125 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$750 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$95 per hour
- Monthly retainer$5,500 per month
Sold by the day, a monthly retainer, by the hour. The day is the unit; half days run 60%.
What to charge for each thing
Ranges for New York or Los Angeles: the low end is the first years, the high end is senior. Working and booked sits in the middle.
- Running one project end to end$3,000 to $12,000 per project
- Fractional, two days a week$4,000 to $8,000 per month
How the number is made
Project managers at this level day at about $750 ($500 to $1,000 in New York and LA). Put in the year you actually want on the perfect price page and the number moves with it.
A retainer is the month, not the hours: a set scope, paid up front on the 1st. It is priced about 20% under the same work bought one at a time, in exchange for the certainty; three months minimum, or it is not a retainer.
Questions
- What is a fair day rate for a project manager in New York or LA?
- About $750 a day for someone working and booked, $575 in the first years, $925 when senior and sought after. Half days usually run 60% of the day.
- What does a monthly retainer look like for a project manager?
- Around $5,500 a month. About 20% under the same work bought one piece at a time, in exchange for certainty; three months minimum.
- Are these rates a rule?
- No. They are US 2026 ranges for the role, placed by level and moved for the market. What a client actually paid you beats all of it. The tool has a box for that, and it wins.
Your number, in five seconds.
Pick your level and market, get a card you can send the next client who asks. Then RostrLab quotes, papers, invoices and chases every job with it: free for 14 days, $29 a month, never a cut.
More in sales and business
brand strategistconsultantsales consultantbusiness plan consultantmarket researcherfractional COOexecutive coach