Last updated on October 5th, 2024 at 01:03 pm
UPDATED : New post on Salaries for TPMs
Salaries
Having covered Roles and responsibilities of project managers, Program managers in my previous post. In this post, I am taking a deeper look into compensation for these roles here in Seattle. How much does a Program Manager make? What should your Salary as a Program Manager be and what are the subtle differences between a Program Manager, Senior Program Manager, Technical Program Manager, Lead Program Manager, and a Principal Program Manager. Having discussed Roles and responsibilities in my previous post Lets look at Compensation here.
What is defined as compensation? In my opinion, it’s the Base Salary + Stock or Bonus + any significant perks.
Base Pay
Base pay/salary is pretty straightforward. It is the minimum pay you are eligible for. In almost all organizations there is a bands or levels. Each having a defined range of base pay, Bonus and stock options. Each level or band has unique set of expectations from the employee. Its always good to know when you move into a new organization on the band you would be joining at.
Bonus
Bonus on the other hand depends on your base salary and also depends on the performance of either your business unit or the company as a whole. When discussing about your possible bonus payout when you join your company. It is always advisable to ask what the average bonus % is and what the min and max % are. This would give you an approximate value for you to calculate what your possible earnings for a year might be. Most companies give anywhere from 10 to 15% of the base salary as a bonus to their top performers. Which is why the Base salary is important.
It is important to understand what types of compensation at the companies you are looking to join.
Stock
Stock is is normally given in terms of value vested over x% every year. Most often its vested over a 4 year or five year period.
Perks
Ohh this is a very interesting aspect to discuss. Perks can range from getting free flights if you work for Alaska Airlines, to getting a large number of vacation days in other places or even a year long maternity leave. Every company offers some perks. In seattle most offer ORCA for free some offer a gym membership.. It all comes down if you can and will utilize them and what is the value it adds to your life.
See also: Amazon Program Manager Salary
Finally here is the real deal. My tabulation of Program Manager Salaries in Seattle, values might change but that’s what the links are there for.
Salary Analysis of Senior Program Managers in Seattle
Company |
Title |
Avg Base |
Total |
Link |
| Senior Program Manager | $161,788 | $227,840 | Link | |
| Technical Program Manager | $145,712 | $195,094 | Link | |
| Amazon | Senior Technical Program Manager | $141,445 | $177,990 | Link |
| Microsoft | Senior Program Manager | $137,222 | $169,120 | Link |
| Amazon | Senior Program Manager | $119,288 | $158,803 | Link |
| SalesForce | Technical Program Manager | $124,872 | $157,877 | Link |
| Adobe | Senior Program Manager | $129,603 | $157,658 | Link |
| Big Fish Games | Technical Project Manager | $99,948 | $151,585 | Link |
| VMWare | Senior Program Manager (Product Security) | $147,835 | $147,835 | Link |
| Expedia | Senior Program Manager | $124,098 | $145,226 | Link |
| T-Mobile | Senior Project Manager | $111,758 | $145,017 | Link |
| Starbucks | Senior IT Project Manager | $129,417 | $139,849 | Link |
| Getty | Senior Program Manager | $133,681 | $138,129 | Link |
| Philips | Senior Project Manager | $124,093 | $138,063 | Link |
| Zillow | Senior Program Manager | $130,410 | $135,680 | Link |
| AT&T | Senior Techenical Project Manager | $127,705 | $132,977 | Link |
| F5 Networks | Senior Program Manager | $125,981 | $131,257 | Link |
| EMC | Senior Technical Project Manager | $107,164 | $131,080 | Link |
| AT&T | Senior Program Manager | $115,763 | $125,839 | Link |
| Russell Investments | Project Manager | $103,186 | $125,711 | Link |
| Nordstrom | Sr. Program Manager | $115,162 | $124,599 | Link |
| AT&T | Senior Project Manager | $107,012 | $121,451 | Link |
| AT&T | AT&T Senior IT Project Manager | $107,012 | $121,451 | Link |
| Disney Careers | Senior Program Manager | $114,230 | $119,303 | Link |
| Rhapsody | Senior Program Manager | $113,451 | $116,558 | Link |
| REI | IT Project Manager | $104,362 | $112,614 | Link |
| Gates Foundation | Project Manager | $99,752 | $99,752 | Link |
| Nuance Communications | Project Manager | $110,070 | $0 | Link |
| Panasonic Avionics Corp | Program Manager III | $102,797 | $0 | Link |
| Average | $121,201 | $$142,532 | ||
| Pay Scale Report | ||||
| Senior Program Manager | $122,755 | $138,157 | Link | |
| Salary.com Report | ||||
| Program Manager | $125,600 | $133,284 | Link | |
| Glass Door | ||||
| Senior Program Manager Salary | $131,840 | Link | ||
| Principal Program Manager | $161,876 | Link | ||
| Amazon Principal Technical Program Manager | $159,213 | Link |
Microsoft & Amazon
Here is some information on the various levels at Microsoft.
59 and 60 – Level 1 (PM I)
61 and 62 – Level 2 (PM II)
63 and 64 – Senior (Senior PM)
65 through 67 – Principal
68+ -Partner, Director, GM
Amazon Salary Comparison by Title
| Base | Total Comp | Link | |
| Technical Program Manager | $119,237 | $163,758 | Link |
| Technical Program Manager II | $123,636 | $147,380 | Link |
| Technical Program Manager III | $140,775 | $183,754 | Link |
| Senior Technical Program Manager | $143,104 | $182,776 | Link |
| Principal Technical Program Manager | $156,478 | $275,045 | Link |
Always remember that all values listed here are subject to change that’s why I have added a link as well. Also another very important piece of information is that all numbers here are AVERAGE. Please remember that there are quite some people making a lot more and a lot less.
Salary Analysis of Senior Program Managers in Seattle
Read The Most Popular Post: Interview Questions For A Technical Program Manager
If you want to learn more about Technical Program Management or how you can become a TPM, visit the website.
Looking to Ace Your Technical Program Management Interview?
Learn what to expect from a technical program manager’s job and how to make it as a TPM at FAANG Companies.
