Which states pay the most and the least?
Ranked by median pay across the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the top five are Washington ($123,100), Massachusetts ($106,700), Colorado ($103,200), New York ($102,500) and the District of Columbia ($97,000). New Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island, Virginia and Oregon fill out the top ten, each with a median between $80,500 and $85,500. The pattern is clear. The Northeast corridor and the Pacific Northwest pay best.
The bottom five are Arkansas ($49,300), South Dakota ($51,000), Louisiana ($51,600), Idaho ($53,000) and Kentucky ($54,400). The top median is about two and a half times the bottom one. Washington is also strong at the low end: its 25th percentile of $102,600 sits above the 75th percentile in most states. Colorado has the highest 75th percentile, at $160,300.
How do California, Texas, Florida and New York compare?
New York is the only one of the four in the top five. Its median of $102,500 is $30,300 above the national figure, and its 75th percentile reaches $158,600. California ranks 12th with a median of $79,400, about $7,200 above the national median. Florida sits almost exactly at the national level, ranking 18th at $73,000.
Texas ranks 33rd, with a median of $63,200, about $9,000 below the national figure. Its spread is wide, though. The 75th percentile in Texas is $91,400, so experienced managers on larger or more complex assets can close much of the gap. These four states also hold a large share of the jobs. In the May 2023 BLS release, California and Texas had the two largest workforces in this occupation.
Does a higher salary mean more money in your pocket?
Not always. A BLS Monthly Labor Review article on purchasing power notes that even if wages in a new area are higher, a worker's purchasing power will fall if the cost of living there offsets the higher wage. BLS measures this with regional price parities from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, where a value above 100 means goods and services cost more than the national average.
The same article notes that actual wages tend to run higher where prices are higher. So before you relocate for a bigger number, compare the gap in pay against the gap in rent and everyday costs where you would actually live. A $20,000 raise can shrink fast in a high-cost metro, and a modest salary in a cheaper state can go further than it looks.
Why the top-paying states can mislead
Job counts matter as much as pay. In the May 2023 BLS release, Washington had about 2,720 jobs in this occupation and Colorado about 2,290, both with well below average concentration. California had about 50,100 and Texas about 31,810. A high median in a small workforce tells you less about your odds of landing a job than a solid median in a large one. BLS does not explain why the mix differs by state.
These figures also come from one BLS series. It covers residential, commercial and community association managers together, plus some managers of land and buildings. It does not separate an on-site apartment manager from a regional director. Your own pay will depend on asset type, portfolio size and your title as much as your state.
Pay
USD a year, before tax. BLS OEWS May 2025, moved to 2026 with the Employment Cost Index. The series covers property, real estate and community association managers together. State, portfolio size and asset class move the figure. Refer to the Residential & Multifamily Property Management salary guide for figures from live adverts.
State by state
| Washington | Highest median in the country at $123,100, with a 25th to 75th percentile range of $102,600 to $141,900. The workforce is small compared with the largest states. |
|---|---|
| New York | Ranks 4th with a $102,500 median. The 75th percentile reaches $158,600, second only to Colorado. |
| California | Ranks 12th with a $79,400 median, about $7,200 above the national figure. It has the largest workforce in this occupation. |
| Florida | Ranks 18th with a $73,000 median, almost level with the national median of $72,200. |
| Texas | Ranks 33rd with a $63,200 median, but the 75th percentile of $91,400 shows real room to grow. It has the second largest workforce. |
| Arkansas | Lowest median in the country at $49,300, with a 25th percentile of $38,400. |
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Questions people ask
What state pays property managers the most?
Washington, with a 2026 median of about $123,100. Massachusetts, Colorado and New York follow, each with a median above $100,000.
What state pays property managers the least?
Arkansas, with a median of about $49,300. South Dakota, Louisiana, Idaho and Kentucky round out the bottom five, all with medians below $55,000.
Do property managers make more in California or Texas?
California pays more at the median: $79,400 against $63,200 in Texas. The gap narrows at the top, where the 75th percentile is $104,400 in California and $91,400 in Texas.
Is it worth moving to a higher-paying state?
Only if the raise beats the extra cost of living. BLS research notes that wages tend to run higher where goods and services cost more, so compare housing and everyday costs against the pay difference before you move.
Do these figures cover HOA and commercial managers too?
Yes. BLS reports one series for property, real estate and community association managers, so residential, commercial and HOA managers share the same state figures. It does not break out pay by asset type or seniority.
