Construction Manager Salary in Brookings, SD: $101,959 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time construction manager in Brookings, SD earns a median $101,959/year (≈ $49.02/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 11-9021). Once you factor in Brookings's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.8), that paycheck buys what $109,870 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.6% below the South Dakota state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, construction managers in Brookings, South Dakota, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $101,959, significantly influenced by the ongoing boom in mega-projects, such as data centers, semiconductor plants, and EV battery facilities. The salary range for this role varies widely, from $67,493 at the 10th percentile to $157,165 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the diverse nature of projects and responsibilities assigned to construction managers in the region. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for local economic conditions, suggest that while Brookings’ salary levels may be lower than the national median of $118,923, the region's robust project pipeline may bring further opportunities for growth and compensation in local construction management roles.
About the Brookings Market
Salary estimated from South Dakota average ($94,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $67,493 | $32.45 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $81,471 | $39.17 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $101,959 | $49.02 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $130,345 | $62.66 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $157,165 | $75.56 |
Median Salary Position
14.26% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Brookings
In Brookings, SD, the construction manager salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $89,672 (2026 est.). At $101,959, the local median is 14.26% below the national median of $118,923.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Brookings: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Brookings Construction Manager Pay Compares
Brookings median: $101,959/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Brookings Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota Average | $110,345 | -7.60% less |
| National Average | $118,923 | -14.26% less |
Construction Managers in Brookings, SD earn a median of $101,959 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.26% lower than the national median of $118,923 and 7.60% below the South Dakota state average of $110,345.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Brookings has a cost of living 7.20% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Brookings, SD has a cost-of-living index of 92.8 (below the national average of 100). A construction manager earning $101,959 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $109,870 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.76% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$81,671
2025 BLS Actual
$98,587
2026 Current Est.
$101,959
2019–2027 Growth
+29.1%
Salary Trajectory for Construction Managers in Brookings (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.42% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $81,671 | Actual |
| 2020 | $83,318 | Actual |
| 2021 | $84,784 | Actual |
| 2022 | $87,004 | Actual |
| 2023 | $89,936 | Actual |
| 2024 | $80,591 | Actual |
| 2025 | $98,587 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $101,959 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $105,446 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Brookings metropolitan area, the median construction manager salary grew 20.7% from $81,671 (2019) to $98,587 (2025). At a 3.42% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $105,446 by 2027 — a total increase of $23,775 (29.11%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Brookings 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) | $67,493 – $81,471 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $81,471 – $101,959 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $101,959 – $130,345 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $130,345 – $157,165 |
CM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual construction manager compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Construction Manager Job Market in Brookings
As of now, there are four construction managers employed in Brookings, which indicates a niche yet stable job market for this profession. With a cost-of-living index of 92.8, the purchasing power for construction managers is enhanced, allowing take-home salaries to stretch further compared to national averages. Among local employers, top-tier general contractors like Bechtel and Turner Construction are likely to offer the highest compensation packages, leveraging the intensity and complexity of mega-projects to justify competitive pay. The difference between lower and higher salaries is often tied to project scale and complexity, GC tier affiliations, and bonus structures based on project profitability. For construction professionals considering Brookings, strategies to maximize earnings include targeting roles with larger general contractors or seeking owner’s representative positions which offer better work-life balance and comparable compensation while delivering an opportunity to pivot from traditional contractor roles to client-side project management.
More salary data for Brookings, SD:
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 $98,587 for construction managersin the Brookings 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
Salary data for Brookings is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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