Program Manager job market in California (2026)
The Program Manager job market in California is moderately active, with 197 open positions across 15+ employers. Hiring momentum is strong, with 187 new listings in the past month and 59 in the last week alone.
What can you expect to earn?
The median salary for Program Manager roles in California is $112,000, with most positions paying between $96,800 and $144,800. Top performers can earn $167,400 or more at the 90th percentile. Note that 43% of listings in this market don't disclose salary, so actual compensation varies — especially for negotiable roles. For higher compensation, consider Virginia where the median is $300,000.
Skills that employers want
Analysis of job descriptions in California shows the most requested skills are SAP, AWS, GCP, Terraform, Jira, and Azure. Including these keywords in your resume can significantly improve your ATS match rate. Our Program Manager resume example shows how to integrate these naturally.
Who's hiring?
The most active employers for Program Manager positions in California include Openkyber, Tesla, Rivian, Waymo, and Wayve. Use JobsChat AI to filter by specific companies or discover employers that match your preferences.
Remote & flexible work
1% of Program Manager jobs in California offer remote or hybrid work (2 positions). This role is predominantly on-site, though some employers are beginning to offer hybrid options.
Ready to apply?
Start with our Program Manager resume example. Pair it with a tailored cover letter. Then use JobsChat AI to search all 197 positions and generate application materials in minutes. Browse Program Manager jobs in other cities or explore all jobs in California.