Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Construction managers oversee construction projects and coordinate many aspects of getting buildings and infrastructure completed. This role combines project management, leadership, and analytical thinking with practical knowledge of construction processes. Nationally, there are about 550,000 construction managers, indicating a sizable professional field. The projected employment growth of 8.7% and 47,000 annual openings suggest a steady flow of opportunities over time. Many positions typically require a bachelor’s degree, which reflects the need for both technical understanding and strong management capabilities. Success in this career draws heavily on skills such as project management, problem solving and decision making, mathematics, critical and analytical thinking, and leadership. Strong speaking and listening, adaptability, and customer service skills also matter because construction managers work with many different stakeholders. For students, career changers, and experienced professionals, this occupation offers a blend of organizational, technical, and people-focused work with varied opportunities across states and metro areas.
Construction managers have a national median annual salary of $106,980, but earnings can vary significantly by location. Several states stand out with higher median salaries, including New York at $155,360, Massachusetts at $145,010, Washington at $155,070, California at $133,160, and Colorado at $124,830. At the metro level, compensation can be even higher. Median salaries reach $166,030 in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, $163,040 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, $158,000 in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, $156,470 in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, and $129,650 in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. These figures show that construction managers who are able to work in certain high-opportunity states and metro areas may access higher earning potential compared with the national median, though actual pay will still depend on individual roles and employers.
Construction managers currently account for about 550,000 jobs nationwide. The projected employment growth rate of 8.7% points to continued demand over the projection period rather than a static job market. With an estimated 47,000 annual openings, there should be regular opportunities arising from a combination of new positions and turnover in existing roles. This combination of established employment levels and ongoing openings can be relevant for both new entrants and experienced professionals planning their careers. Growth of 8.7% is also reflected consistently in the listed top states and metro areas, indicating that the projected expansion of this occupation is broad-based rather than limited to a single region. For someone considering long-term prospects, these numbers suggest that construction management offers a sizeable employment base with ongoing hiring needs in multiple parts of the country.
Location can significantly shape the opportunity profile for construction managers. At the state level, California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington all rank highly by CareerGPS opportunity score, ranging from 56.29 in Washington to 67.38 in California. Salaries and employment levels differ among them: New York and Washington both show median pay above $155,000, while California combines a high median salary of $133,160 with the largest employment among these states at 34,750. Massachusetts and Colorado also pair solid employment numbers with six-figure median pay and opportunity scores above 56.9. Metro areas can offer even more concentrated opportunities. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ lead with opportunity scores above 77 and median salaries above $158,000. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA stands out for a median salary of $166,030, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV combine sizable employment with strong pay and solid opportunity scores.
The typical education requirement for construction managers is a bachelor’s degree. This reflects the mix of technical and managerial capabilities needed to coordinate construction projects effectively. The role draws on a broad skill set that combines quantitative, analytical, and people-oriented strengths. Mathematics, science, and computers and information technology support the more technical aspects of planning, measurement, and analysis. Critical and analytical thinking and problem solving and decision making are central to evaluating options and handling challenges that arise over the course of a project. Project management and leadership skills are important for organizing work and guiding teams. Speaking and listening skills support clear communication with clients, teams, and other stakeholders, while adaptability and customer service help construction managers respond to changing conditions and expectations. For students and career changers, building this combination of technical and soft skills aligns well with the demands of the occupation’s typical education level.
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