Salary Outlook
Managing a construction project from start to finish is a weighty task, and construction managers make handsome salaries. Their average salary in 2011 was $84,240, while the highest-paid in the profession made $149,070. Those making bottom-rung salaries still earned around $50,000. Industries that pay the most include amusement parks and arcades, and the travel industry. And the top-paying parts of the country include Elmira, N.Y., Nassau, N.Y., and Edison-New Brunswick, N.J.
| Job Salary | Year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | $71,410.00 |
| 2004 | $79,290.00 |
| 2006 | $82,910.00 |
| 2008 | $89,560.00 |
| 2010 | $94,000.00 |
Average Construction Manager Pay vs. All Construction Jobs
Construction managers are paid well compared with others in their field. With a median salary of $84,240, construction managers make more than general laborers, electricians, carpenters, and plumbers. Cost estimators, who also do some of the planning and budgeting for a construction project, earn around $58,460, which is over $25,000 less per year than the average construction manager.
| Job Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Construction Manager | $84,240.00 |
| Cost Estimator | $58,460.00 |
| Electrician | $49,320.00 |
| Plumber | $47,750.00 |
| Carpenter | $40,010.00 |
| Construction Worker | $29,730.00 |
See Complete List of Best Construction Jobs
Best Paying Cities for Construction Managers
The highest paid in the construction manager profession work in the metropolitan areas of Elmira, NY, Nassau, NY, and Edison & New Brunswick, NJ. The New York City, NY area also pays well, as does the city of Santa Cruz, CA.
Elmira, NY
Average Salary: $155,570 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a construction manager working in Elmira, NY is $155,570, which is $71,330 more than the average pay in the profession.
Nassau, NY
Average Salary: $143,320 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a construction manager working in Nassau, NY is $143,320, which is $59,080 more than the average pay in the profession.
Edison & New Brunswick, NJ
Average Salary: $139,230 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a construction manager working in Edison & New Brunswick, NJ is $139,230, which is $54,990 more than the average pay in the profession.
New York City, NY
Average Salary: $135,060 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a construction manager working in New York City, NY is $135,060, which is $50,820 more than the average pay in the profession.
Santa Cruz, CA
Average Salary: $132,000 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a construction manager working in Santa Cruz, CA is $132,000, which is $47,760 more than the average pay in the profession.
