Construction Manager Salary

Created by Henry Steele

By Henry Steele - April 15, 2018
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The following article discusses the career path of Construction Manager. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Construction Managers.

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Job Duties

Construction managers are responsible for overseeing the construction of structures, such as roads and buildings. They ensure that everything is done in an efficient manner. Before a new construction project starts, they will have to plan every step to be taken. They work together with their clients, and interact with suppliers and staff.

Sometimes, they hold responsibility for the work completed by third parties, such as plumbers or electricians. It is their responsibility to make sure that all of the work done are of the highest possible quality and are completely safe. Projects usually have to be completed by a certain date and within a certain budget, both of which must be ensured by the construction manager. They make decisions in terms of which materials to use, ensuring that they remain within budget without compromising on quality.

Other duties of a construction manager are:

  • To ensure that the budget, building, and materials for a construction project have been followed
  • To ensure that safety is the highest priority
  • To ensure adherence to relevant regulations
  • To obtain relevant permits and licenses
  • To oversee and manage all external contractors involved in the project
  • To create schedules that ensure work is done within the agreed timeframe
  • To supervise other staff members

Where We Work

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 403,800 construction managers in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals are:

  • Self-employed workers 38%
  • Specialty trade contractors 18%
  • Nonresidential building construction 15%
  • Residential building construction 10%
  • Heavy and civil engineering construction 7%

How to Become

Usually, construction managers need to have extensive construction experience. They often have backgrounds in engineering and construction. It is common for a bachelor’s degree to be required, but work experience is generally more important.

Typically, construction managers start as assistants for a more experienced manager. Some remain in this position for just a few months but larger firms generally require them to be in this role for several years. This enables them to gain experience in the different facets of managing a construction project and getting to know the different elements and external professionals involved.

Education Requirements

Typically, a bachelor’s degree is expected of construction managers, although they also need to undergo a lot of on-the-job training. Increasingly, employers look for those with a relevant bachelor’s degree in a field such as engineering, architecture, construction management, or construction science and those who are self-employed or who only have experience as construction workers are finding it hard to become employed.

Construction managers do not have to be licensed or certified, but obtaining these does show commitment to quality, while also demonstrating experience. The CCM (Certified Construction Manager) certification offered by the Construction Management Association of America is particularly popular and requires taking a self-study course and passing a technical examination. The CPC (Certified Professional Constructor) and AS (Associate Constructor) are awarded by the American Institute of Constructors. These also require managers to pass certain exams. Meanwile, in some states, licensure is required.

Traits & Qualities

The most effective construction managers have the following traits to some degree or other:

– Strong analytical skills
– Great business skills
– Excellent customer service skills
– Strong decision making skills
– Initiative
– Great leadership skills
– Excellent speaking skills
– Strong technical skills
– Great time management skills
– Strong communication skills, both oral and written

Minimum Education

Bachelor’s Degree

National Salary

The national average salary estimate for Construction Manager was $84,322. This number is estimated from over 2,537,736 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $43.92 and monthly of $7,027.

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$24,000

$179,000

Salary Distribution

Salary by State

The following section lists Construction Manager salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, DC had the largest quoted salary of $96,267 while Rhode Island had the smallest quoted salary of $62,602.

AlabamaIllinoisMontanaPennsylvania
ArkansasIndianaNorth CarolinaRhode Island
ArizonaKansasNorth DakotaSouth Carolina
CaliforniaKentuckyNebraskaSouth Dakota
ColoradoLouisianaNew HampshireTennessee
ConnecticutMassachusettsNew JerseyTexas
DCMarylandNew MexicoUtah
DelawareMaineNevadaVirginia
FloridaMichiganNew YorkWashington
GeorgiaMinnesotaOhioWisconsin
HawaiiMissouriOklahomaWest Virginia
IowaMississippiOregonWyoming
Alabama – $67,100Rank: 46th
The average salary ranks 46th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Properties Inc, United Contractor Services, LLC, and Reliable Labor Inc..

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$14,000

$159,000

Salary Distribution
Arkansas – $77,450Rank: 27th
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Walmart, CyberCoders, and Carter Recruiting and Associates.

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$20,000

$171,000

Salary Distribution
Arizona – $78,531Rank: 22nd
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Recruiting Connection, CyberCoders, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and Maricopa County.

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$24,000

$164,000

Salary Distribution
California – $95,667Rank: 2nd
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Peterson Group, Michael Page US, Hard Hat Hub, and Webuild Staffing.

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$30,000

$197,000

Salary Distribution
Colorado – $82,041Rank: 17th
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like City and County of Denver, Career Builder Construction Jobs, Denver Public Schools, and copperleaf homes.

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$25,000

$171,000

Salary Distribution
Connecticut – $87,771Rank: 7th
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Real Estate Executive Search, The McCloud Group, and SERVPRO of Washington, Newport & Bristol Counties.

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$28,000

$180,000

Salary Distribution
DC – $96,267Rank: 1st
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Michael Page US, Career Builder Construction Jobs, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$37,000

$183,000

Salary Distribution
Delaware – $83,254Rank: 12th
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders.

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$28,000

$166,000

Salary Distribution
Florida – $77,660Rank: 24th
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Trinity Search Group, Michael Page US, Vitality Group, and Hamilton Mayer.

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$22,000

$165,000

Salary Distribution
Georgia – $81,076Rank: 18th
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Power-Build Construction, LLC, Atlanta Hiring Solutions, Vitality Group, and Hard Hat Hub.

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$25,000

$168,000

Salary Distribution
Hawaii – $86,030Rank: 9th
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Career Builder Construction Jobs, CyberCoders, >> Read More, and AP Recruiters & Associates.

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$31,000

$167,000

Salary Distribution
Iowa – $74,551Rank: 34th
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Aerotek, Maxson Masonry, LLC, and The Samuels Group Inc.

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$25,000

$149,000

Salary Distribution
Illinois – $83,797Rank: 11th
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Michael Page US, MasTec Network Solutions, Tech USA, and ALDI.

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$26,000

$173,000

Salary Distribution
Indiana – $74,610Rank: 32nd
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Phillips Staffing Solutions, PMG Employment Consultants, Cameron Craig Group, and MedExec International.

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$24,000

$151,000

Salary Distribution
Kansas – $67,723Rank: 45th
The average salary ranks 45th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Aria Recruitment, CyberCoders, Aerotek, and Loyd Builders, Inc..

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$19,000

$145,000

Salary Distribution
Kentucky – $76,057Rank: 29th
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Federal Government Jobs, Pond and Fountain World, Inc., and Aerotek.

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$16,000

$182,000

Salary Distribution
Louisiana – $78,967Rank: 19th
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO), Triumph Construction LLC, Landry’s Landscape, and Wylander Solutions.

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$18,000

$182,000

Salary Distribution
Massachusetts – $89,732Rank: 5th
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Military4Hire, The Pursell Group, Phillips Staffing Solutions, and PMG Employment Consultants.

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$31,000

$179,000

Salary Distribution
Maryland – $82,713Rank: 14th
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Schneider Electric, Maryland Stadium Authority – Capital Projects Development Group, Triple Crown Construction, and Career Builder Construction Jobs.

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$26,000

$169,000

Salary Distribution
Maine – $71,319Rank: 44th
The average salary ranks 44th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders and Windsor Construction LLC.

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$18,000

$160,000

Salary Distribution
Michigan – $72,374Rank: 42nd
The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Michael Page US, Statewide-Staffing, Russ Hadick and Associates, and Russ Hadick & Associates, Inc..

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$22,000

$149,000

Salary Distribution
Minnesota – $77,601Rank: 26th
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Metropolitan Council, ALDI, Rauenhorst Recruiting Company, and MG Recruiting Source.

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$21,000

$169,000

Salary Distribution
Missouri – $74,734Rank: 31st
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Aria Recruitment, Vitality Group, CyberCoders, and Local contracting company.

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$19,000

$165,000

Salary Distribution
Mississippi – $73,252Rank: 39th
The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Silverleaf Recruitment and CyberCoders.

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$27,000

$142,000

Salary Distribution
Montana – $74,361Rank: 35th
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like LC Staffing, The Plato Group, and Collabera.

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$33,000

$132,000

Salary Distribution
North Carolina – $73,379Rank: 38th
The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Russ Hadick and Associates, Michael Page US, Family Dollar, and Thalle Construction Company, Inc..

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$20,000

$159,000

Salary Distribution
North Dakota – $72,955Rank: 40th
The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like National Hospitality Services, LLC and Spherion.

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$14,000

$179,000

Salary Distribution
Nebraska – $77,935Rank: 23rd
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, The Judge Group, White Lotus Group, and Edward’s Stone.

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$23,000

$165,000

Salary Distribution
New Hampshire – $74,193Rank: 36th
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CMGC Building Corp. and K. Clough Landscaping & Design.

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$24,000

$150,000

Salary Distribution
New Jersey – $84,546Rank: 10th
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Executive Leadership Solutions, Dover Contracting, Burns & McDonnell, and JA Carpentry Inc.

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$25,000

$178,000

Salary Distribution
New Mexico – $83,023Rank: 13th
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Sabio Systems, and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

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$24,000

$175,000

Salary Distribution
Nevada – $87,763Rank: 8th
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Lennar Corporation, Randstad, crom construction Inc,, and CyberCoders.

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$28,000

$181,000

Salary Distribution
New York – $94,992Rank: 3rd
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like NYCM Search, SOAR Staffing, Lisa Kalus & Associates, Inc., and Hard Hat Hub.

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$28,000

$201,000

Salary Distribution
Ohio – $82,602Rank: 16th
The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Russ Hadick and Associates, Executive Leadership Solutions, Integrity Technical Services, and Russ Hadick & Associates, Inc..

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$28,000

$165,000

Salary Distribution
Oklahoma – $77,643Rank: 25th
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Ultimate Placements, LLC, Rowland Group, The, and PDR&R of Tulsa OK.

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$26,000

$155,000

Salary Distribution
Oregon – $82,675Rank: 15th
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Essex General Construction, Oregon Health Sciences University, and Aerotek.

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$28,000

$166,000

Salary Distribution
Pennsylvania – $73,887Rank: 37th
The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ALDI, Burns & McDonnell, Allied Resources Staffing Solutions, and Executive Leadership Solutions.

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$19,000

$164,000

Salary Distribution
Rhode Island – $62,602Rank: 48th
The average salary ranks 48th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like R.W. Bruno HVAC Inc, SERVPRO of Washington, Newport & Bristol Counties, Executive Leadership Solutions, and CyberCoders.

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$15,000

$142,000

Salary Distribution
South Carolina – $72,595Rank: 41st
The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Synergy Professionals, Aerotek, and Paul Davis Restoration & Remodeling of Greenville And Spartanburg.

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$22,000

$150,000

Salary Distribution
South Dakota – $72,128Rank: 43rd
The average salary ranks 43rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Keller Associates, Inc., Executive Recruiting Services, Inc., and Empire Building Construction.

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$21,000

$153,000

Salary Distribution
Tennessee – $78,935Rank: 20th
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like MBA IT Consulting Services, Inc., Careers 2005, Bertram & Associates, and Bio-Partners.

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$25,000

$162,000

Salary Distribution
Texas – $87,779Rank: 6th
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like NES Global Talent, KBR, Integral Technical Services, and Peterson Group.

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$26,000

$186,000

Salary Distribution
Utah – $78,794Rank: 21st
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Xemplar Workforce Solutions, ENTELEN Design-Build, LLC, Rimrock Construction, and University of Utah.

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$21,000

$173,000

Salary Distribution
Virginia – $74,825Rank: 30th
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Michael Page US, Chesapeake Controls, Career Builder Construction Jobs, and Fairfax County Government.

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$23,000

$154,000

Salary Distribution
Washington – $94,809Rank: 4th
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like MRINetwork Construction, Velocity Consulting Solutions, Fore Property Company, and Peterson Group.

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$33,000

$187,000

Salary Distribution
Wisconsin – $74,561Rank: 33rd
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like GRN Chilton, Global Recruiters of Chilton, Sales Consultants of Brookfield, and Career Builder Construction Jobs.

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$26,000

$148,000

Salary Distribution
West Virginia – $76,408Rank: 28th
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like JC Smith LLC and Abel Services.

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$16,000

$183,000

Salary Distribution
Wyoming – $63,169Rank: 47th
The average salary ranks 47th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Blue Sky Services & Restoration, and Wilson Bros. Construction, Inc..

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$17,000

$137,000

Salary Distribution

Top 20 National Employers

According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Construction Manager. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.

Employer NameLocationAverage Salary
NES Global Talent Construction ManagerTexas$197,556
EWI Recruitment Construction ManagerKentucky$181,807
Priority Employment Solutions Construction ManagerPennsylvania$173,241
NYCM Search Construction ManagerNew York$169,712
KBR Construction ManagerTexas$165,642
Integral Technical Services Construction ManagerTexas$160,000
Soar Staffing, LLC Construction ManagerConnecticut$158,794
SOAR Staffing Construction ManagerNew York$152,987
S7 Real Estate Construction ManagerPennsylvania$150,000
MRINetwork Construction Construction ManagerWashington$150,000
Velocity Consulting Solutions Construction ManagerWashington$150,000
Abel Services Construction ManagerWest Virginia$150,000
Lisa Kalus & Associates, Inc. Construction ManagerNew York$144,778
Peterson Group Construction ManagerCalifornia$144,673
Fluor Corp. Construction ManagerSouth Carolina$144,576
Ethos Search Group Construction ManagerOregon$142,303
Vitality Group Construction ManagerFlorida$139,769
Los Alamos National Laboratory Construction ManagerNew Mexico$139,192
Atlanta Hiring Solutions Construction ManagerGeorgia$136,935
Hard Hat Hub Construction ManagerNew York$136,239

Learn More

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Henry Steele
Managing Editor
Henry is Managing Editor of BusinessStudent.com. He is a seasoned business professional who regularly consults with local business's throughout Southern California. Henry pursued his undergrad in Business and Economics at the University of San Diego and gained valuable life changing experience through a unique internship upon graduation.

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