Construction management has been a high-demand career field for several decades and continues to grow. A construction manager, often also referred to as a construction supervisor, is the primary overseer of the entire project and the process. Most construction manager roles often require much more than overseeing the building project.
Given this is a career field still in steady demand, many looking to get into the field may wonder what the job entails and how much a construction manager makes. Therefore, let’s explore the typical salary for construction management careers and what’s involved in this occupation.
Average salary for a construction manager
Construction managers have the most responsibility for the construction and projects that occur on job sites. Provided this type of job requires the most significant amount of responsibility, how much a construction manager makes is one of the highest-paid roles on the build team.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a construction manager is approximately $97,000 annually in the most recent year. Theoretically, breaking down that average into an hourly rate equals about $46 an hour. This average was last surveyed and studied in 2020 and is updated yearly to reflect any inflation fluctuations to the average salary range for the construction management industry.
Regional salaries for construction managers
An additional vital factor to consider when researching how much a construction manager makes is exploring the regional variations of incomes for a construction manager career. It’s imperative to understand that a construction manager who resides and administers this role in California will have a larger salary than one in Arkansas. The reasoning for this is that different regions throughout the U.S. undoubtedly have variable cost-of-living expenses for citizens surrounding that area.
For example, a construction manager in California could make $50 an hour in that role versus someone in the same position in Missouri, making $35 an hour with the same definite job requirements.
Additionally, regional salaries break down even further based on the counties and even cities where the construction manager works. Notably, a construction manager working in Los Angeles, California, is likely to make more per hour or annually than a construction manager in Bakersfield, California. Comparatively, larger towns and counties require higher salaries to match the elevated cost of living. A specific city, county, and state can dictate and drive how much a construction manager makes.
Educational requirements
A construction manager role doesn’t always require a bachelor’s or higher degree to execute the job. Although a degree is not essential to perform the duties of this career, on-the-job training and experience are crucial. However, having additional education or degrees and a background in the industry can establish how much a construction manager makes. A skilled construction manager with at least a bachelor’s degree in construction management will respectfully have an increased salary versus a construction manager with experience yet no degree.
Typical job responsibilities
The responsibility of a construction manager is to oversee every step of a construction project, from start to finish. General construction projects may include residential, commercial, public buildings, industrial properties, and road and bridge building projects. Some of the typical role responsibilities of a construction manager include:
- Appraising construction project costs while creating project budgets and timelines of the building process
- Consulting with clients during the design and planning process to clarify building plans and budgetary needs
- Coordinating with the architects, engineers, and other experts in the construction industry
- Discussing contracts and technical details with other building professionals
- Managing subcontractor schedules, duties, timelines, and project activities
- Dealing with emergencies, delays, or additional problems that may slow down construction projects and keeping clients informed about the project progress
- Ensuring all building projects comply with local, state, and federal regulations
Projected career outlook
Alongside researching how much a construction manager makes, ideally, you want to ensure the field has plenty of optimistic career projections for that role. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there’s a projected growth of approximately 11% by 2030 in construction supervision careers. This projection is partly due to an anticipated need for construction supervisors, as overall construction activity expands along with the demand for new construction.
Final thoughts on the salary of a construction manager
Construction management roles have been in demand and are projected to increase in need in the coming decade. As the necessity of new construction continues to grow, so will the market for construction supervisors. Keep this in mind, when you’re researching how much a construction manager makes, there are several factors included. How much a construction manager makes can depend on the geographic region, experience, and education.
