Median salary: $85K (Web Developer) vs $98K (Project Manager). Salary ranges overlap between 50K–140K and 65K–145K. The take-home difference depends on state taxes, cost of living, and where in the salary range you fall.
At the national median, Web Developers earn $85K and Project Managers earn $98K. After federal taxes and FICA (calculated without state tax to isolate the salary effect), Web Developers take home $68,573 vs $77,718 for Project Managers.
The $13K salary advantage for Project Managers doesn’t translate dollar-for-dollar to take-home. Because of progressive federal tax brackets, the Project Manager’s higher salary is taxed at a higher marginal rate. Of the $13K gross difference, only $9,146 reaches the Project Manager’s pocket — the rest goes to taxes.
Web Developers face an effective tax rate of 19.3% at median, while Project Managers pay 20.7%. The higher rate for Project Managers reflects more income being pushed into higher federal brackets.
The best states differ for each profession because salary adjustments vary by state cost index and interact differently with tax brackets. A state that’s great for a $85K earner may not be optimal for a $98K earner.
All 50 states showing estimated salary and take-home for both professions. Sorted by which states give Web Developers the largest take-home advantage over Project Managers.
| State | Web Developer Salary | Web Developer Take-Home | Project Manager Salary | Project Manager Take-Home | Difference | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $71K | $56,361 | $81K | $63,063 | $-6,702 | Project Manager |
| Mississippi | $71K | $56,416 | $81K | $63,126 | $-6,710 | Project Manager |
| Kentucky | $77K | $59,095 | $88K | $66,283 | $-7,188 | Project Manager |
| Alabama | $75K | $57,975 | $86K | $65,191 | $-7,216 | Project Manager |
| Missouri | $76K | $58,730 | $87K | $65,960 | $-7,230 | Project Manager |
| Indiana | $77K | $59,518 | $88K | $66,767 | $-7,249 | Project Manager |
| Ohio | $77K | $59,672 | $88K | $66,943 | $-7,271 | Project Manager |
| Iowa | $76K | $59,353 | $87K | $66,674 | $-7,320 | Project Manager |
| Kansas | $77K | $60,092 | $88K | $67,423 | $-7,331 | Project Manager |
| Oklahoma | $74K | $58,549 | $85K | $65,948 | $-7,399 | Project Manager |
| Arkansas | $73K | $58,280 | $84K | $65,740 | $-7,460 | Project Manager |
| Tennessee | $77K | $62,945 | $88K | $70,683 | $-7,738 | Project Manager |
| Michigan | $77K | $58,517 | $89K | $66,269 | $-7,752 | Project Manager |
| Idaho | $81K | $61,466 | $93K | $69,272 | $-7,806 | Project Manager |
| Georgia | $79K | $60,251 | $91K | $68,071 | $-7,819 | Project Manager |
| Wisconsin | $79K | $60,423 | $91K | $68,269 | $-7,845 | Project Manager |
| Illinois | $79K | $60,441 | $91K | $68,289 | $-7,848 | Project Manager |
| South Carolina | $78K | $60,403 | $90K | $68,346 | $-7,943 | Project Manager |
| North Carolina | $81K | $62,527 | $93K | $70,490 | $-7,963 | Project Manager |
| New Mexico | $77K | $59,992 | $89K | $67,973 | $-7,982 | Project Manager |
| Nebraska | $77K | $60,667 | $89K | $68,754 | $-8,087 | Project Manager |
| Louisiana | $77K | $60,817 | $89K | $68,928 | $-8,110 | Project Manager |
| North Dakota | $78K | $62,659 | $90K | $70,949 | $-8,290 | Project Manager |
| Minnesota | $84K | $62,491 | $97K | $70,804 | $-8,313 | Project Manager |
| Delaware | $87K | $64,942 | $100K | $73,335 | $-8,393 | Project Manager |
| South Dakota | $78K | $63,648 | $90K | $72,090 | $-8,442 | Project Manager |
| Texas | $79K | $64,352 | $91K | $72,794 | $-8,442 | Project Manager |
| Wyoming | $80K | $65,055 | $92K | $73,497 | $-8,442 | Project Manager |
| Utah | $84K | $63,963 | $97K | $72,504 | $-8,541 | Project Manager |
| Maine | $83K | $63,308 | $96K | $71,849 | $-8,541 | Project Manager |
| Pennsylvania | $83K | $63,372 | $96K | $71,924 | $-8,551 | Project Manager |
| Virginia | $88K | $67,394 | $101K | $76,054 | $-8,660 | Project Manager |
| Montana | $82K | $63,451 | $95K | $72,119 | $-8,668 | Project Manager |
| Oregon | $94K | $67,445 | $108K | $76,183 | $-8,738 | Project Manager |
| Arizona | $82K | $64,412 | $95K | $73,233 | $-8,820 | Project Manager |
| Vermont | $89K | $66,325 | $103K | $75,377 | $-9,053 | Project Manager |
| Florida | $85K | $68,573 | $98K | $77,718 | $-9,145 | Project Manager |
| Nevada | $86K | $69,276 | $99K | $78,422 | $-9,145 | Project Manager |
| Colorado | $89K | $67,471 | $103K | $76,704 | $-9,233 | Project Manager |
| Rhode Island | $89K | $67,921 | $103K | $77,225 | $-9,304 | Project Manager |
| New Jersey | $98K | $70,870 | $113K | $80,375 | $-9,504 | Project Manager |
| Maryland | $95K | $70,632 | $110K | $80,399 | $-9,767 | Project Manager |
| New Hampshire | $92K | $73,497 | $106K | $83,346 | $-9,849 | Project Manager |
| Washington | $94K | $74,904 | $108K | $84,753 | $-9,849 | Project Manager |
| Connecticut | $94K | $70,633 | $109K | $80,504 | $-9,871 | Project Manager |
| Massachusetts | $100K | $74,125 | $116K | $84,581 | $-10,456 | Project Manager |
| New York | $106K | $74,246 | $123K | $84,737 | $-10,491 | Project Manager |
| California | $121K | $83,438 | $139K | $94,216 | $-10,778 | Project Manager |
| Alaska | $108K | $84,753 | $124K | $95,980 | $-11,227 | Project Manager |
| Hawaii | $163K | $110,982 | $188K | $126,499 | $-15,517 | Project Manager |
Job Security & Demand: Tech roles tend to offer higher base salaries but with more volatility — layoffs can happen quickly even at profitable companies. Business roles provide more stability with slower but steadier career progression. Both Web Developers and Project Managers are in consistent demand, but the nature of that demand differs: tech skills can become obsolete faster, while business fundamentals remain relevant longer.
Growth & Advancement: Earning potential in tech often exceeds business roles at the individual contributor level, with senior engineers and data scientists earning $200K–$400K+ at top companies. Business professionals typically need to move into management to reach similar compensation. However, business roles offer a broader path to executive leadership and the compensation that comes with it.
Work-Life Balance & Lifestyle: Remote work capability is a key differentiator for tax planning. Tech roles overwhelmingly support remote work, enabling you to live in a no-tax state while earning a coastal salary. Business roles increasingly offer hybrid arrangements but may require more in-office presence for relationship building and management responsibilities.