Construction Manager Salary in St. Louis, MO: $120,670 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time construction manager in St. Louis, MO earns a median $120,670/year (≈ $58.01/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 11-9021). Once you factor in St. Louis's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 95.1), that paycheck buys what $126,903 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.5% above the Missouri state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With the ongoing mega-project boom in the St. Louis area, driven by the expansion of data centers, semiconductor fabs, and electric vehicle battery plants, the average construction manager salary in St. Louis, MO, is projected to reach $120,670 in 2026. This figure indicates a competitive compensation environment in the region, particularly when compared to the national median of $118,923. Salaries for construction managers range from $74,928 at the lower end to as much as $175,524 for those at the top of the pay scale. These projections, derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, highlight the importance of skilled construction management in navigating the complexities of these large-scale projects, all of which require the expertise that only experienced professionals can provide.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $74,928 | $36.02 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $95,839 | $46.08 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $120,670 | $58.01 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $144,405 | $69.43 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $175,524 | $84.39 |
Median Salary Position
1.47% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Louis
In St. Louis, MO, the construction manager salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $100,596 (2026 est.). At $120,670, the local median is 1.47% above the national median of $118,923.
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At 40 hours/week in St. Louis: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How St. Louis Construction Manager Pay Compares
St. Louis median: $120,670/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Louis Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Average | $112,252 | +7.50% more |
| National Average | $118,923 | +1.47% more |
Construction Managers in St. Louis, MO earn a median of $120,670 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.47% higher than the national median of $118,923 and 7.50% above the Missouri state average of $112,252.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Louis has a cost of living 4.91% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Louis, MO has a cost-of-living index of 95.088 (below the national average of 100). A construction manager earning $120,670 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $126,903 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.17% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$105,280
2025 BLS Actual
$116,680
2026 Current Est.
$120,670
2019–2027 Growth
+18.5%
Salary Trajectory for Construction Managers in St. Louis (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.42% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $105,280 | Actual |
| 2020 | $102,170 | Actual |
| 2021 | $98,590 | Actual |
| 2022 | $99,990 | Actual |
| 2023 | $104,740 | Actual |
| 2024 | $104,310 | Actual |
| 2025 | $116,680 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $120,670 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $124,797 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Louis metropolitan area, the median construction manager salary grew 10.8% from $105,280 (2019) to $116,680 (2025). At a 3.42% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $124,797 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,517 (18.54%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Louis metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.42% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $74,928 – $95,839 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $95,839 – $120,670 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $120,670 – $144,405 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $144,405 – $175,524 |
CM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual construction manager compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Construction Manager Job Market in St. Louis
As of 2026, St. Louis employs approximately 2,880 construction managers who contribute significantly to the local economy. Given the cost of living index in St. Louis is 95.088, professionals in this field enjoy a relatively favorable take-home purchasing power compared to other regions. Employers that tend to offer the highest salaries include major general contractors like Bechtel and Skanska USA, alongside specialty contractors and internal real estate developers. The disparities in compensation can often be attributed to project size and complexity, which can elevate salaries for those managing mega-projects, particularly in the healthcare and technology sectors. To maximize earnings in St. Louis, construction managers should consider seeking positions with top-tier general contractors or pivoting to owner's representative roles where the caliber of projects matches compensation expectations.
More salary data for St. Louis, MO:
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.
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $116,680 for construction managersin the St. Louis metropolitan area. A 3.42% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.42%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for construction managers (SOC 11-9021).
Compiled and verified by Michael Johnson, MS, CCM, a licensed construction manager with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov