State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Construction Manager Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Construction Managers is $114,990 a year ($55.28/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 8.7% through 2034, with about 46,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
SOC 11-9021ManagementLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $114,990
- Projected growth
- +8.7%
- Openings a year
- 46,800
- Typical education
- Bachelor's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Concrete Foreman, Construction Area Manager, Construction Foreman, Construction Management Supervisor, Construction Manager, Construction Services Manager.
How much do Construction Managers make?
10th percentile$69,690
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$88,550
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$114,990
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$151,640
Upper quartile
90th percentile$189,440
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $114,990 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $55.28/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $124,360 |
| People employed | 380,360 |
Versus all US occupations
At $114,990, Construction Managers earn 126% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $64,010 a year.
Versus management occupations
Inside the Management group, where the middle occupation pays $126,060, this is 9% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $189,440 or more while the bottom 10% earn $69,690, a gap of 2.7×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 86% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
New York posts the highest raw median ($155,360), but once local prices are taken into account Washington leads at $144,908 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Construction Managers the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $155,360 | $143,957 | 10,280 |
| Washington | $155,070 | $144,908 | 6,010 |
| Massachusetts | $145,010 | $137,116 | 9,870 |
| Alaska | $139,190 | $135,982 | 1,720 |
| New Jersey | $138,230 | $127,044 | 6,910 |
| California | $133,160 | $120,267 | 34,750 |
| Delaware | $132,150 | $132,404 | 610 |
| Oregon | $131,420 | $127,147 | 4,300 |
| New Hampshire | $129,260 | $124,092 | 660 |
| Hawaii | $128,910 | $117,243 | 2,890 |
Is Construction Manager a growing career?
Construction Managers8.7%
All US occupations3.1%
+8.7% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Construction Managers to change 8.7% over 2024–2034, roughly 2.8× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 48,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 46,800 openings are projected each year, 8.5% of the 550,300 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Construction managers are expected to be needed as overall construction activity expands. Over the projections decade, population and business growth will result in the construction of new residences, office buildings, retail outlets, hospitals, schools, restaurants, and other structures. Also, the need to improve portions of the national infrastructure may spur employment growth as roads, bridges, and sewer pipe systems are upgraded or replaced.
In addition, a continuing emphasis on retrofitting buildings to make them more energy efficient should create jobs for general contractors, who are more likely to manage the renovation and upgrading of buildings than to oversee new large-scale construction projects.
Construction processes and building technology are becoming more complex, requiring greater oversight and spurring demand for specialized management personnel even as technology makes construction managers more productive.
How to become a Construction Manager
There is no national construction manager licence, and BLS records only that "some states require construction managers to be licensed". The gate most people actually hit is a different one: contracting the work, rather than managing it for a fee, requires a contractor's licence in nearly every state, and those licences carry real experience and examination requirements. In California that means four years of journey-level experience and two examinations before you can take a job worth $1,000 or more. The CCM is a voluntary certification, accredited but not required.
The credential path, step by step
- Get the degree, or the trade years4 years for a bachelor's degree
Construction managers typically need a bachelor's degree in construction, business, engineering or a related field. An associate degree combined with work experience is typical for managers who supervise small projects. Candidates with a high school diploma and several years of relevant experience may qualify, but BLS is blunt that those people are more likely to work as self-employed general contractors than to be hired as construction managers.
- Serve the apprenticeship that nobody calls an apprenticeshipUp to 1 year, sometimes several
Newly hired construction managers typically work under the guidance of an experienced manager for up to 1 year, and depending on the firm this on-the-job training may last several years. Internships and cooperative education programmes count toward the experience employers want.
- Separate managing from contracting, because only one of them is licensed
A construction manager acting as the owner's agent generally does not need a contractor licence for that role. A construction manager who contracts the work, including construction-manager-at-risk arrangements, is contracting and needs the licence. This is the distinction BLS gestures at when it says some states require construction managers to be licensed, and it is the one worth checking with your own state licensing board before you bid.
- Meet the state contractor board requirements if you will contract
California is representative and strict. The Contractors State License Board requires the qualifying individual to be 18 or older and to have at least four full years of experience at journey level, or as a foreman, supervising employee, contractor or owner-builder, within the ten years preceding the application, in the classification applied for. Applicants must take and pass two examinations, Law and Business plus the trade examination, with a trade examination not required for the C-61 Limited Specialty classification. The licence is required for any project needing a building permit, using additional workers, or where the total cost of labour and materials on one or more contracts on the project is $1,000 or more, and work may not be split into smaller contracts to stay under it.
- Add the CCM if the market you work in values it
The Certified Construction Manager comes from CMAA through the Construction Manager Certification Institute. It requires an accredited degree or additional experience in its place, a minimum of 48 months of responsible-in-charge experience spread across all parts of a project or programme, at least two professional references to verify that experience, and a comprehensive examination covering 10 practice areas including management of time, cost, safety, sustainability and technology. It is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board under ISO 17024, and holders recertify every three years with at least 25 points of professional development or by retaking the exam.
Exams you have to pass
California Contractor Licence Examinations
Two examinations are required as a condition of licensure: a Law and Business examination and a trade examination in the classification applied for. A trade examination is not required for the C-61 Limited Specialty classification, and a waiver of one or both examinations may be granted under certain conditions determined during application review.
Administered by California Contractors State License Board (CSLB).
Certified Construction Manager Examination (CCM exam)
A comprehensive examination covering 10 construction management practice areas, including management of time, safety, sustainability, technology and costs. Taken after meeting the education and responsible-in-charge experience criteria and supplying at least two professional references.
Administered by Construction Manager Certification Institute, CMAA.
- How long the training takes
4 years for a bachelor's degree, plus up to a year working under an experienced manager
An associate degree combined with work experience is typical for managers of small projects, and qualifying on experience alone means many years in a construction speciality such as carpentry or masonry. If you will be contracting rather than managing, California's contractor licence separately requires four full years of journey-level or supervisory experience within the previous ten, and the CCM requires 48 months of responsible-in-charge experience.
- Continuing education
Set by each state
Set by whichever body issued your credential rather than nationally. State contractor boards set their own renewal and, where they impose it, continuing education rules. CCM holders recertify every three years, either by earning a minimum of 25 points through training or industry volunteering, or by retaking the examination.
Licensing and state variation
Licensed state by state
What states license is contracting, not construction management as such. BLS records only that some states require construction managers to be licensed and refers candidates to their state licensing board, which is unusually vague for the Handbook and reflects a genuinely patchy picture. Contractor licensing, by contrast, is well defined and differs in ways that matter: the classifications available, the years and kind of experience accepted, whether a trade examination is required for the classification you want, the bond and workers' compensation requirements, and the dollar threshold below which no licence is needed at all. California sets that threshold at $1,000 in combined labour and materials across one or more contracts on a project, and prohibits splitting work to fall under it.
Who governs the credential
- California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — Issues California contractor licences, sets the four-year journey-level experience requirement and administers the Law and Business and trade examinations. It is included here as a worked example of the licence that construction managers who contract work actually need; every state has its own board with its own rules.
- Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) — Awards the Certified Construction Manager (CCM) through the Construction Manager Certification Institute, a voluntary certification accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board under ISO 17024.
Credential detail for construction managers is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Construction Managers · checked August 23, 2026
- CSLB: Step 1, Before Applying for the Examination · checked August 23, 2026
- CSLB: Step 3, Qualifying Experience for the Examination · checked August 23, 2026
- CSLB: Applicants (examination requirements) · checked August 23, 2026
- CMAA: Certified Construction Manager · checked August 23, 2026
- CMAA: Becoming a CCM · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Construction managers typically need a bachelor’s degree, and they learn management techniques through on-the-job training. Large construction firms may prefer to hire candidates who have both construction experience and a bachelor’s degree in a construction-related field. Firms might hire as managers those who have a high school diploma and many years of experience in a construction trade; however, these people may be more likely to work as self-employed general contractors than to be hired as construction managers.
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Medium preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as construction managers.
- Bachelor's Degree40.0%
- High School Diploma15.0%
- Post-Secondary Certificate15.0%
- Some College Courses10.0%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)10.0%
What does a Construction Manager do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.
Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish.
Day-to-day tasks
- Inspect or review projects to monitor compliance with building and safety codes or other regulations.
- Plan, schedule, or coordinate construction project activities to meet deadlines.
- Prepare and submit budget estimates, progress reports, or cost tracking reports.
- Confer with supervisory personnel, owners, contractors, or design professionals to discuss and resolve matters, such as work procedures, complaints, or construction problems.
- Study job specifications to determine appropriate construction methods.
- Plan, organize, or direct activities concerned with the construction or maintenance of structures, facilities, or systems.
- Apply for and obtain all necessary permits or licenses.
- Develop or implement quality control programs.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most construction managers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Construction managers’ work schedules may vary. They may need to work extra hours to meet deadlines, and they may have to be on call 24 hours a day to respond to project emergencies.
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
Pressure and stakes
- Meeting strict deadlines at least weekly
Autonomy
- A lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where construction managers work
| Self-employed workers | 36% |
|---|---|
| Specialty trade contractors | 17% |
| Nonresidential building construction | 16% |
| Residential building construction | 10% |
| Heavy and civil engineering construction | 8% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Active Learning3.9/5
- Monitoring3.9/5
- Writing3.8/5
- Mathematics3.5/5
Transferable skills
- Judgment and Decision Making4.1/5
- Management of Personnel Resources4.1/5
- Coordination4.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0/5
- Time Management4.0/5
- Negotiation3.9/5
- Systems Analysis3.6/5
- Management of Financial Resources3.6/5
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Construction Manager?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary4.7
Investigative3.2
Artistic1.7
Social2.4
Enterprisingprimary5.7
Conventionalprimary4.8
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Construction Manager: frequently asked questions
How much do Construction Managers make?
Construction Managers earn a median of $114,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 126% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $55.28/hr. The middle half earn between $88,550 and $151,640. The top 10% earn $189,440 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Construction Manager?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Construction Managers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 40.0% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Construction Manager a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 8.7% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 46,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Construction Manager do?
Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish. A core O*NET task: inspect or review projects to monitor compliance with building and safety codes or other regulations. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Construction Managers the most?
The highest state medians for Construction Managers are New York ($155,360), Washington ($155,070), Massachusetts ($145,010) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Washington moves to the top at $144,908.
What personality type suits a Construction Manager?
O*NET scores Construction Managers highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become a Construction Manager?
4 years for a bachelor's degree, plus up to a year working under an experienced manager. An associate degree combined with work experience is typical for managers of small projects, and qualifying on experience alone means many years in a construction speciality such as carpentry or masonry. If you will be contracting rather than managing, California's contractor licence separately requires four full years of journey-level or supervisory experience within the previous ten, and the CCM requires 48 months of responsible-in-charge experience.
Do you need a license to work as a Construction Manager?
Yes, and it is issued by the state you work in, not nationally. What states license is contracting, not construction management as such. BLS records only that some states require construction managers to be licensed and refers candidates to their state licensing board, which is unusually vague for the Handbook and reflects a genuinely patchy picture. Contractor licensing, by contrast, is well defined and differs in ways that matter: the classifications available, the years and kind of experience accepted, whether a trade examination is required for the classification you want, the bond and workers' compensation requirements, and the dollar threshold below which no licence is needed at all. California sets that threshold at $1,000 in combined labour and materials across one or more contracts on a project, and prohibits splitting work to fall under it.
What exams do you have to pass to become a Construction Manager?
The California Contractor Licence Examinations and the CCM exam (Certified Construction Manager Examination). Two examinations are required as a condition of licensure: a Law and Business examination and a trade examination in the classification applied for. A trade examination is not required for the C-61 Limited Specialty classification, and a waiver of one or both examinations may be granted under certain conditions determined during application review.