Construction Manager Salary in Helena, MT: $104,640 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time construction manager in Helena, MT earns a median $104,640/year (≈ $50.31/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 11-9021). Once you factor in Helena's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 95.7), that paycheck buys what $109,370 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the Montana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With the ongoing mega-project boom in Helena, especially in the construction of data centers and semiconductor fabs, construction managers are seeing competitive salaries. The 2026 median annual salary for a construction manager in Helena stands at $104,640, which is notably lower than the national median of $118,923 by approximately 12.01%. Salary ranges for this role are diverse, with entry-level positions starting at around $74,980 and the highest earners making as much as $175,028 annually. This salary data, derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), reflects the strong demand for skilled professionals in a city that is increasingly becoming a hub for technological and infrastructural development.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $74,980 | $36.04 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $93,719 | $45.06 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $104,640 | $50.31 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $137,921 | $66.31 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $175,028 | $84.15 |
Median Salary Position
12.01% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Helena
In Helena, MT, the construction manager salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $100,048 (2026 est.). At $104,640, the local median is 12.01% below the national median of $118,923.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Helena: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Helena Construction Manager Pay Compares
Helena median: $104,640/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Helena Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $118,923 | -12.01% less |
Construction Managers in Helena, MT earn a median of $104,640 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.01% lower than the national median of $118,923.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Helena has a cost of living 4.33% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Helena, MT has a cost-of-living index of 95.675 (below the national average of 100). A construction manager earning $104,640 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $109,370 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.52% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$83,820
2025 BLS Actual
$101,180
2026 Current Est.
$104,640
2019–2027 Growth
+29.1%
Salary Trajectory for Construction Managers in Helena (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.42% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $83,820 | Actual |
| 2020 | $85,509 | Actual |
| 2021 | $87,014 | Actual |
| 2022 | $89,293 | Actual |
| 2023 | $92,302 | Actual |
| 2024 | $96,370 | Actual |
| 2025 | $101,180 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $104,640 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $108,219 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Helena metropolitan area, the median construction manager salary grew 20.7% from $83,820 (2019) to $101,180 (2025). At a 3.42% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $108,219 by 2027 — a total increase of $24,399 (29.11%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Helena 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) | $74,980 – $93,719 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $93,719 – $104,640 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $104,640 – $137,921 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $137,921 – $175,028 |
CM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual construction manager compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Construction Manager Job Market in Helena
Helena's job market for construction managers shows promising strength, with approximately 120 individuals currently employed in this field. The cost of living index in Helena is 95.675, indicating that while salaries may be lower than the national average, the overall purchasing power remains favorable for residents. Employers in the area that tend to offer the highest compensation include top general contractors like Bechtel and Turner Construction, as well as specialty contractors in mechanical and electrical work. The significant pay gap seen in the local market can be attributed to factors such as the complexity of projects, the tier of the general contractor, and bonuses linked to project profitability. Construction managers looking to maximize their earnings should consider targeting roles with mega-projects, seeking positions with established firms, and exploring owner’s representative roles that can offer better work-life balance alongside competitive pay.
More salary data for Helena, MT:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can construction managers make $100K in Helena?
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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 $101,180 for construction managersin the Helena 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, 2-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