Construction Managers: Salary Overview
Construction managers plan, budget, and coordinate construction projects and are responsible for preparing cost estimates, interpreting and explaining contracts, reporting work progress to clients, and coordinating with architects.
They are also responsible for selecting subcontractors, responding to work delays, and making sure that the project complies with legal requirements.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for construction managers was $95,260 as of May 2019 which means that half of all workers in this profession earned less than this amount while half earned more.
Salaries vary depending on the industry of employment, region, experience, and education level- among other factors.
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $56,140 per year while the top 10 percent reportedly earned more than $164,790 per year.
Construction Manager Salary by Industry
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction managers held approximately 476,700 jobs in the United States in 2019, most of them being self-employed workers or being employed by specialty trade contractors.
The average annual wage reported by construction managers in the field of nonresidential building construction was $105,640 as of May 2019.
Construction managers who worked in the industry of residential building contractors earned $98,120 per year while those who worked for building equipment contractors reportedly earned $108,780.
The mean annual wage was $107,220 for construction managers in the field of utility system construction and $98,520 for those who worked for foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors.
Construction Manager Salary by Education Level
There are many other factors that influence salaries for construction managers, including the education level.
Construction managers typically start their careers in a related entry-level position after earning a bachelor’s degree in construction science, architecture, construction management, or a similar field.
An associate’s degree in construction management combined with work experience is sometimes enough for construction managers who supervise smaller projects.
Gaining certification in the field is not a requirement but can help prove your skills to a potential employer and may improve your earning prospects.
One such credential is the Certified Construction Manager designation offered by the Construction Management Association of America.
The American Institute of Constructors offers the Associate Constructor and Certified Professional Construction credential to candidates who meet the admission criteria and pass the appropriate exams.
Salaries in the construction business vary depending on the region, the local economy but also the time of the year.
Construction managers are typically busier during warm months and may face unemployment during winter.
The highest-paying state for this occupation was, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, New Jersey- where workers in this profession were remunerated on average with $147,410 per year.
Construction managers in New Your reportedly earned $135,320 per year while those who work in Delaware reported an average annual wage of $124,730 as of May 2019.
Construction managers in Tennessee and Idaho, on the other hand, made less than $80,000 per year on average.
The top-paying metropolitan area for this profession is Vineland-Bridgeton, New Jersey with a reported average annual wage of $160,500.
Other regions where you may earn a pretty decent salary as a construction manager are New York-Newark-Jersey City and Atlantic City-Hammonton where the average annual wages for this occupation were $148,140 and $146,820 per year respectively.
Job Prospects
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for construction managers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2019 to 2029.
This projected growth is explained in part by the fact that construction activity expands but employment prospects, as well as salaries, vary depending on the region, the local economy, and the time of the year.
* Based on information from the May 2021 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Construction Managers. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.