Entry-Level Construction Manager Salary (2026): What New Grad Construction Managers Actually Make
The average entry-level construction manager / assistant project manager salary is $75,851 per year ($36.47/hour) in 2026, based on the 10th percentile of BLS wage data. New CM starting pay ranges from $31,316 to $131,736 in Mount Vernon, WA — driven by top GCs (Turner, Skanska, Suffolk, Whiting-Turner, Mortenson), data-center / semiconductor mega-projects, per-diem on travel jobs, project bonus structure, and PMP / OSHA 30 / LEED credentials.
2019 BLS
$56,140
2025 BLS
$69,690
2026 Current Est.
$72,073
2019–2027 Growth
+32.8%
National Entry-Level Construction Manager Salary Trend (10th Percentile)
2019–2025: BLS OEWS actual data. 2026+: CAGR 3.42% projection.
| Year | Entry-Level Salary (P10) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56,140 | Actual |
| 2020 | $56,880 | Actual |
| 2021 | $60,050 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,210 | Actual |
| 2023 | $64,480 | Actual |
| 2024 | $65,160 | Actual |
| 2025 | $69,690 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $72,073 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $74,538 | Projected |
Entry-level construction manager salaries (10th percentile) have shown consistent growth over 7 years of BLS data. The 10th percentile represents typical starting pay for new graduates and early-career professionals. At the current 3.42% CAGR, starting salaries are projected to continue rising through 2027.
Note: BLS actual data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. Estimated and projected values are calculated using a 3.42% historical CAGR. Actual compensation may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Construction Manager Salary by State
Entry-level construction manager pay varies dramatically by state. The top-paying states offer starting salaries well above $75,851, while others fall below the national average. Here are all 52 states ranked by average starting salary for construction managers.
| # | State | Avg Starting Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $108,867 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $106,884 |
| 3 | Alaska | $99,607 |
| 4 | South Dakota | $94,557 |
| 5 | New York | $92,698 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $89,689 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $89,517 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $89,489 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $85,767 |
| 10 | California | $84,959 |
| 11 | Nevada | $83,412 |
| 12 | Colorado | $83,253 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $83,117 |
| 14 | Delaware | $82,774 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $81,120 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $80,699 |
| 17 | Arizona | $80,216 |
| 18 | Maryland | $80,208 |
| 19 | Oregon | $79,472 |
| 20 | Vermont | $79,083 |
| 21 | Virginia | $78,784 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $78,596 |
| 23 | Missouri | $77,430 |
| 24 | Montana | $77,047 |
| 25 | Georgia | $77,009 |
| 26 | Kansas | $76,050 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $74,164 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $73,297 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $73,241 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $72,292 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $71,494 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $71,292 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $71,183 |
| 34 | Ohio | $69,439 |
| 35 | Iowa | $68,331 |
| 36 | Texas | $68,202 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $66,983 |
| 38 | Michigan | $66,686 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $66,079 |
| 40 | Maine | $65,729 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $65,506 |
| 42 | Florida | $65,218 |
| 43 | Indiana | $65,158 |
| 44 | Alabama | $64,191 |
| 45 | Idaho | $63,190 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $62,922 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $60,664 |
| 48 | Utah | $59,510 |
| 49 | Illinois | $58,923 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $58,405 |
| 51 | Puerto Rico | $50,152 |
| 52 | Arkansas | $48,116 |
Beginner Construction Manager Pay: Top 20 Cities
These 20 metro areas offer the highest starting salaries for new construction managers. Each figure represents the 10th percentile of local BLS wage data — the typical pay range for professionals with little to no experience.
| # | City | Starting Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Vernon, WA | $131,736 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $113,555 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $109,480 |
| 4 | Yakima, WA | $105,488 |
| 5 | Bellingham, WA | $105,271 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $104,361 |
| 7 | Barnstable Town, MA | $103,989 |
| 8 | Bremerton, WA | $103,896 |
| 9 | Springfield, MA | $103,523 |
| 10 | Longview, WA | $103,141 |
| 11 | Worcester, MA | $103,089 |
| 12 | Sunnyvale, CA | $102,745 |
| 13 | Newton, MA | $102,225 |
| 14 | Olympia, WA | $102,179 |
| 15 | Oakland, CA | $101,857 |
| 16 | Fairbanks, AK | $101,631 |
| 17 | Kennewick, WA | $101,372 |
| 18 | San Jose, CA | $101,248 |
| 19 | Santa Clara, CA | $100,263 |
| 20 | Janesville, WI | $99,821 |
Construction Manager Salary With No Experience: New Grad Reality
The 10th percentile of BLS wage data is the standard proxy for entry-level construction manager / assistant project manager pay — predominantly new grads on field engineer / APM tracks at general contractors. Nationally, that sits at $75,851 ($36.47/hour) for 2026. New CM compensation includes base + project bonus + per-diem on travel jobs (often $50K+ per-diem on mega-projects like data centers / semiconductor fabs).
What New Grad Construction Managers Actually Earn (Year 1)
- Top GC (Turner, Skanska, Suffolk, Whiting-Turner, Mortenson, Clark, Gilbane, Hensel Phelps, McCarthy, Hoar, JE Dunn, DPR, Webcor, Walsh) — $72,000–$92,000 base + signing + project bonus + per-diem on travel. Top metros / mega-projects total comp $100,000–$150,000.
- Data center construction (Holder, Hensel Phelps, DPR data center division, Turner/Brookfield data center) — premium mega-project track. $80,000–$100,000 base + heavy per-diem.
- Semiconductor fab construction (Bechtel, Fluor, Turner mega-projects at TSMC Arizona, Intel Ohio, Samsung Texas) — premium mega-project. $80,000–$105,000 base + heavy per-diem.
- Mid-tier regional GC — $60,000–$78,000 base + project bonus.
- Subcontractor APM (MEP, structural, glazing, drywall) — $55,000–$75,000 base + bonus.
- Owner's representative (developer side — Hines, Related, Brookfield, Lendlease) — $75,000–$95,000 base + bonus.
- Owner's rep federal (USACE, NAVFAC, GSA, VA) — $55,000–$78,000 base + pension + PSLF.
- FAANG / Big Tech in-house construction (Meta DCs, Google DCs, Amazon FCs) — $90,000–$120,000 base + stock + bonus. Premium owner-side track.
- Defense / federal contractor (Hensel Phelps gov, Caddell, Kiewit gov) — clearance premium + PSLF.
- Pre-construction estimator new grad — $60,000–$80,000 base + bonus.
Education + Credentials
- Bachelor's in Construction Management (BSCM) or Construction Engineering — preferred at top GCs.
- Civil Engineering / Architectural Engineering bachelor's — strong alternative.
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction — required at most GCs.
- USACE training — required for federal projects.
- LEED Green Associate / LEED AP BD+C — sustainability credential.
- PMP (Project Management Professional) — premier project management credential. Pursued years 3–5.
- CCM (Certified Construction Manager) — CMAA — premier industry credential.
- Procore certification — premium for project management software fluency.
- Bluebeam Revu certification — premium for plan review fluency.
- FE / EIT (if civil background) — engineering credential signal.
Setting Selection: Top GC / Data Center / Owner's Rep / Sub / Federal / FAANG
- Top GC (Turner, Skanska, Suffolk, Whiting-Turner, Mortenson) — broadest market + project bonus + per-diem.
- Data center construction (Holder, Hensel Phelps DC division) — premium mega-project track.
- Semiconductor fab construction (Bechtel, Fluor TSMC/Intel/Samsung) — premium mega-project.
- Mid-tier regional GC — broader exposure.
- Subcontractor APM (MEP, structural, glazing) — specialty premium.
- Owner's rep developer (Hines, Related, Brookfield, Lendlease) — owner-side premium.
- Owner's rep federal (USACE, NAVFAC, GSA, VA) — pension + PSLF.
- FAANG / Big Tech in-house (Meta DCs, Google DCs, Amazon FCs) — premium owner-side + stock.
- Defense / federal contractor — clearance + PSLF.
- Pre-construction estimator — alternative entry path.
Year-by-Year Progression to CM National Median
- Year 0–1 (P10 baseline, APM / field engineer) — $75,851 national average.
- Year 1–3 (APM 1 → APM 2 → PM) — 10–20% annual raises. PMP pursuit.
- Year 3–5 (Project Manager promotion) — $110,000–$140,000 base + project bonus.
- Year 5–8 (Senior PM / Superintendent) — $140,000–$180,000+ total comp.
- Year 8–12 (PX / Operations Manager) — $180,000–$280,000+ total.
- Year 12+ (VP / Principal / Owner) — $300,000–$700,000+ at top GC; partner equity at firms can reach $1M+.
2026 New Construction Manager Salary Outlook
Entry-level CM pay has grown at a compound annual rate of 3.42% nationally — driven by data center mega-projects (hyperscaler buildouts), CHIPS Act semiconductor fab construction (TSMC Arizona, Intel Ohio, Samsung Texas, Micron NY), IIJA infrastructure wave, EV battery plant construction, and structural construction shortage forcing premium hiring. The BLS projects construction manager employment growth at 9% through 2033.
Entry-Level to Mid-Career: Construction Manager Salary Growth
Construction Manager salaries follow a predictable growth curve. Here's how pay typically progresses from entry-level to experienced:
How to Maximize Your Starting Construction Manager Salary
New CMs who strategically target data center / semiconductor mega-projects, top GC field engineer pipelines, or FAANG owner-side roles consistently land starting compensation 30–60% above the national average. Here's how to maximize your first CM total comp:
1. Target Data Center / Semi Fab / Top GC / FAANG Owner-Side
- Data center construction (Holder, Hensel Phelps DC, Turner/Brookfield) — premium per-diem + project bonus.
- Semiconductor fab construction (Bechtel, Fluor, Turner at TSMC AZ, Intel OH, Samsung TX, Micron NY) — premium mega-project.
- Top GC (Turner, Skanska, Suffolk, Whiting-Turner, Mortenson, Clark, Gilbane, Hensel Phelps, McCarthy, JE Dunn, DPR, Webcor, Walsh) — strong field engineer / APM pipeline.
- FAANG / Big Tech owner-side (Meta DC, Google DC, Amazon FC) — premium owner-side + stock.
- Owner's rep developer (Hines, Related, Brookfield, Lendlease) — owner-side premium.
- Highest-paying new CM metro — Mount Vernon, WA at $131,736.
2. Complete BSCM / Civil + OSHA 30 / LEED
- BSCM (Bachelor's in Construction Management) — preferred at top GCs.
- Civil Engineering / Architectural Engineering bachelor's — strong alternative.
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction — required at most GCs.
- USACE training — required for federal projects.
- LEED Green Associate — sustainability credential.
- Procore certification — project management software.
- Bluebeam Revu — plan review fluency.
- FE / EIT (civil background) — engineering credential.
3. Pursue Mega-Project / Travel Jobs for Per-Diem
- Data center mega-projects — premium per-diem.
- Semi fab mega-projects — premium per-diem.
- EV battery plant construction — premium per-diem.
- Federal mega-project (DoD, NASA, VA, embassy) — clearance + per-diem.
- Healthcare mega-project (hospital, lab) — premium project complexity.
- Per-diem rate ($100–$200/day) — often $40K–$60K+ annual untaxed addition.
- Mobile housing / per-diem stipend on remote projects — clarify housing arrangement.
- Project completion bonus — premium at top GCs.
4. Negotiate Base + Signing + Per-Diem + Bonus
- Base salary range — top GCs $72,000–$92,000 starting.
- Signing bonus — $5,000–$15,000 at top GCs.
- Per-diem on travel jobs — $100–$200/day plus housing.
- Project completion bonus — premium at top GCs.
- Annual performance bonus (8–15% target) — verify history.
- Tuition reimbursement (PMP, CCM, MBA) — premium at top GCs.
- Truck / vehicle allowance (field roles) — premium superintendent track.
- FAANG owner-side: stock + signing — premium total comp.
5. Plan PM / Senior PM / PX / VP / Owner Path
- PMP (Project Management Professional) — premier PM credential. Pursue years 3–5.
- CCM (Certified Construction Manager) — CMAA — premier industry credential.
- Project Manager promotion (years 3–5) — $110,000–$140,000 + bonus.
- Senior PM / Superintendent (years 5–8) — $140,000–$180,000+ total.
- PX (Project Executive) / Operations Manager (years 8–12) — $180,000–$280,000+ total.
- VP / Principal / Owner (years 12+) — $300,000–$700,000+ at top GC.
- Construction-tech founder (Procore alums, ConTech VC) — emerging path.
- Independent GC / developer (post 10+ years) — premier long-term wealth path.
More Salary Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Michael Johnson, MS, CCM
Career Analyst
Michael has 10 years of experience in construction management. He specializes in project scheduling and cost control. He works with a mid-sized general contracting firm.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS , released .
Compiled and verified by Michael Johnson, MS, CCM, a licensed construction manager with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. We applied a 3.42% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS trends, to estimate current 2026 compensation.