How Much Do Construction Managers Make?
National median $106,980/yr ($51.43/hr)
Construction managers earn a national median of $106,980 a year, or about $51.43 an hour, as of May 2024 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The mean is higher at $119,660 a year, pulled up by large commercial and industrial jobs. This is one of the best-paying roles in construction, and you do not need a four-year degree to get there. Plenty of managers come up from the trades through foreman and superintendent.
Pay runs wide. The bottom 10 percent, mostly assistant and entry-level managers, earn under $65,160 a year. The top 10 percent clear $176,990, and seasoned managers running big industrial or infrastructure jobs go past that. Where you land depends on your sector, your region, and how much responsibility you carry.
The money follows the work. Heavy civil and industrial construction pay the most, with medians near $121,000, while residential runs closer to $91,000. Union and prevailing-wage (Davis-Bacon) jobs add base pay and benefits. Travel jobs pay a per diem on top of your wage, and overtime on a tight schedule adds up fast. High-cost states like New Jersey, New York, and California pay well above the national number.
Pay by experience
Highest-paying paths
Highest-paying sector, with a median near $121,060. Think highways, bridges, power plants, refineries, and water systems.
Median around $120,010. Offices, hospitals, schools, and large retail pay well above residential.
Union and prevailing-wage roles typically add $8,000 to $15,000 in base pay plus stronger benefits and pension.
New Jersey averages about $145,000, New York about $132,000, and California about $118,000 a year for construction managers.
Big out-of-town industrial builds pay a per diem, often $100 to $150 a day, tax-free on top of your wage, plus heavy overtime.
Data centers, semiconductor fabs, EV and battery plants, and oil and gas run six-figure premiums for managers who know the work.
How to earn more
- Come up through the trades to superintendent, then step into project management where the money jumps.
- Get certified: OSHA 30, the CCM (Certified Construction Manager), PMP, and LEED all move your pay and get you on bigger jobs.
- Move from residential into commercial, then into heavy civil or industrial where medians run near $121,000.
- Chase travel and per-diem work on large industrial builds and stack overtime on tight schedules.
- Take a union or prevailing-wage (Davis-Bacon) job for higher base pay, benefits, and a pension.
- Relocate to a high-paying metro or state like New Jersey, New York, or California.
- Get your general contractor license and start running your own jobs so you keep the profit, not just a salary.
See who's hiring
Browse Construction Manager jobs with pay shown upfront, or read the full Construction Manager career guide.
Construction Manager pay: common questions
How much do construction managers make?
The median is $106,980 a year, about $51.43 an hour, as of May 2024 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The lowest 10 percent earn under $65,160 and the highest 10 percent earn over $176,990.
Do construction managers make good money?
Yes. With a median above $106,000, it is one of the best-paying jobs in construction, and you can get there without a four-year degree by working up from the trades through foreman and superintendent.
Can you make $100,000 as a construction manager?
Yes, and it is the norm, not the exception. The national median already sits at $106,980. Commercial, industrial, and union jobs push managers well past six figures.
What are the highest-paying construction manager jobs?
Heavy civil and industrial construction pay the most, with medians near $121,000. Senior managers on large projects, plus union, travel, and specialty work like data centers and refineries, clear the top-10-percent mark of $176,990.
Do you need a college degree to become a construction manager?
No. A degree helps on some corporate tracks, but many construction managers come up from the field. Experience, a strong safety record, and certs like OSHA 30, CCM, and PMP carry a lot of weight.