With a national median of $114,990 and +8.7% projected job growth through 2034, Construction Managers offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.
Also known as:
Construction Managers earn $114,990 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $88,550 and $151,640. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Well above average for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Construction Managers roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.
The BLS projects +8.7% employment change for Construction Managers through 2034, well above the national average of +5%. About 46,800 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
Faster than average.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
The five states below employ the most Construction Managers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $114,990 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 51,960 | $99,600 | -13.4% |
| 2 | California | 35,790 | $129,000 | +12.2% |
| 3 | Florida | 28,090 | $103,320 | -10.1% |
| 4 | North Carolina | 17,100 | $104,750 | -8.9% |
| 5 | Illinois | 16,740 | $108,570 | -5.6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Construction Managers positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 5 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business Administration | 395,227 | $68,257 | 2,611 |
| 2 | Business | 57,204 | $68,407 | 933 |
| 3 | Public Administration | 15,867 | $65,093 | 496 |
| 4 | Construction Engineering Tech | 4,771 | $93,843 | 164 |
| 5 | Construction Management | 4,158 | $95,124 | 169 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT | 96 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
Once you've sized up Construction Managers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Construction Managers pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Strong earnings and growing demand make Construction Managers a compelling path. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
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