Construction Manager Salary in Houston, TX: $107,071 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time construction manager in Houston, TX earns a median $107,071/year (≈ $51.48/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 11-9021). Once you factor in Houston's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.6), that paycheck buys what $108,559 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.0% above the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, construction managers in Houston, Texas, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $107,071, reflecting a competitive market compared to the national median of $118,923. Salary ranges highlight significant earning potential, with entry-level positions starting at $70,843 and experienced professionals potentially earning up to $176,424. This compensation trend, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, demonstrates the increasing demand for skilled construction managers, particularly as mega-projects involving semiconductor fabs and EV battery plants reshape the local industry. The leadership tier of general contractors, such as Bechtel and Turner Construction, typically offers the highest salaries, indicating that career advancement within top ENR-represented firms can yield substantial financial rewards.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $70,843 | $34.06 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $84,577 | $40.66 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $107,071 | $51.48 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $138,417 | $66.55 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $176,424 | $84.81 |
Median Salary Position
9.97% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Houston
In Houston, TX, the construction manager salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $105,581 (2026 est.). At $107,071, the local median is 9.97% below the national median of $118,923.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Houston: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Houston Construction Manager Pay Compares
Houston median: $107,071/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Houston Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $98,230 | +9.00% more |
| National Average | $118,923 | -9.97% less |
Construction Managers in Houston, TX earn a median of $107,071 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.97% lower than the national median of $118,923 and 9.00% above the Texas state average of $98,230.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Houston has a cost of living 1.37% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Houston, TX has a cost-of-living index of 98.629 (below the national average of 100). A construction manager earning $107,071 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $108,559 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.39% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$91,300
2025 BLS Actual
$103,530
2026 Current Est.
$107,071
2019–2027 Growth
+21.3%
Salary Trajectory for Construction Managers in Houston (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.42% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $91,300 | Actual |
| 2020 | $89,750 | Actual |
| 2021 | $98,990 | Actual |
| 2022 | $99,410 | Actual |
| 2023 | $100,900 | Actual |
| 2024 | $101,850 | Actual |
| 2025 | $103,530 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $107,071 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $110,733 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Houston metropolitan area, the median construction manager salary grew 13.4% from $91,300 (2019) to $103,530 (2025). At a 3.42% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $110,733 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,433 (21.28%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Houston 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) | $70,843 – $84,577 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $84,577 – $107,071 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $107,071 – $138,417 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $138,417 – $176,424 |
CM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual construction manager compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Construction Manager Job Market in Houston
With approximately 16,500 construction managers working in the Houston area, the job market exhibits robust growth, projected at an annual rate of 3.42%. The cost of living index stands at 98.629, which is slightly below the national average, suggesting that construction manager pay in Houston allows for a reasonable standard of living. The most lucrative opportunities can be found with large general contractors and specialty firms that handle complex projects, where high compensation often correlates with project size and intricacy. Additionally, those seeking better work-life balance might find in-house roles as owner's representatives attractive, offering similar pay without the demanding hours typical of top GC positions. To maximize earnings in this market, professionals should focus on gaining certification in specialized areas like CMAA or PMP and consider roles that provide performance bonuses tied to project success or require out-of-town assignments, which often come with travel premiums.
More salary data for Houston, TX:
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 $103,530 for construction managersin the Houston 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