Construction Manager Salary in Winston, NC: $107,298 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time construction manager in Winston, NC earns a median $107,298/year (≈ $51.59/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 11-9021). Once you factor in Winston's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.0), that paycheck buys what $116,574 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.6% below the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the construction manager salary in Winston, North Carolina, is projected at $107,298, significantly lower than the national median of $118,923. This figure reflects a salary range from $67,564 at the lower end (10th percentile) to as high as $187,459 for the top 90th percentile earners. The data sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys indicates a clear distinction in pay scales across different tiers of general contractors (GCs), with top ENR-ranked firms offering competitive compensation. This disparity can be attributed to various factors, including project scale and complexity. As the regional economy thrives with an emphasis on mega-projects, Winston presents a promising job market for construction managers, especially those with specialized skills.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $67,564 | $32.48 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $86,139 | $41.41 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $107,298 | $51.59 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $141,241 | $67.91 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $187,459 | $90.12 |
Median Salary Position
9.78% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Winston
In Winston, NC, the construction manager salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $119,895 (2026 est.). At $107,298, the local median is 9.78% below the national median of $118,923.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Winston: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Winston Construction Manager Pay Compares
Winston median: $107,298/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Winston Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $109,043 | -1.60% less |
| National Average | $118,923 | -9.78% less |
Construction Managers in Winston, NC earn a median of $107,298 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.78% lower than the national median of $118,923 and 1.60% below the North Carolina state average of $109,043.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Winston has a cost of living 7.96% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Winston, NC has a cost-of-living index of 92.043 (below the national average of 100). A construction manager earning $107,298 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $116,574 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.65% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$98,240
2025 BLS Actual
$103,750
2026 Current Est.
$107,298
2019–2027 Growth
+13.0%
Salary Trajectory for Construction Managers in Winston (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.42% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $98,240 | Actual |
| 2020 | $98,950 | Actual |
| 2021 | $97,090 | Actual |
| 2022 | $89,680 | Actual |
| 2023 | $99,560 | Actual |
| 2024 | $104,700 | Actual |
| 2025 | $103,750 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $107,298 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $110,968 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Winston metropolitan area, the median construction manager salary grew 5.6% from $98,240 (2019) to $103,750 (2025). At a 3.42% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $110,968 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,728 (12.96%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Winston 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) | $67,564 – $86,139 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $86,139 – $107,298 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $107,298 – $141,241 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $141,241 – $187,459 |
CM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual construction manager compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Construction Manager Job Market in Winston
The local job market reports approximately 710 construction managers currently employed in the Winston area. The cost of living index, which stands at 92.043, indicates a lower-than-average living cost compared to the national average, enhancing take-home purchasing power for professionals in this field. Employers such as Bechtel, Skanska USA, and Turner Construction among general contractors, as well as specialized firms in the mechanical, electrical, and structural trades, tend to offer higher salaries. The breadth of compensation is influenced by various elements, including the tier of the employer, project size, and possible bonuses related to project profitability. For construction managers looking to maximize pay in Winston, considerations should include the type of projects pursued, whether to shift to owner's representative roles for a better work-life balance, or to align with firms engaged in high-stakes projects like data centers and semiconductor fabs, which can command premium wages.
More salary data for Winston, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do construction managers make in Winston, NC in 2026?
Is Winston, NC a good place to work as a construction manager?
Can construction managers make $100K in Winston?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted construction manager salary in Winston?
How much does a construction manager make per hour in Winston?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in North Carolina
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 $103,750 for construction managersin the Winston 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