Construction managers
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Construction Managers: Plan, direct, coordinate, or budget, 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, and implementation. Include specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing. Include general superintendents, project managers, and constructors who manage, coordinate, and supervise the construction process.
Construction managers held 431,000 jobs in 2004. Over half were self-employed, many as owners of general or specialty trade construction firms. Most of the rest were employed in the construction industry, 13 percent by specialty trade contractors—for example, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning and electrical contractors—and 18 percent by general building contractors. Others were employed by architectural, engineering, and related services firms and by local governments.
Earnings of salaried construction managers and self-employed independent construction contractors vary depending upon the size and nature of the construction project, its geographic location, and economic conditions. In addition to typical benefits, many salaried construction managers receive benefits such as bonuses and use of company motor vehicles.
Median annual earnings of construction managers in May 2004 were $69,870. The middle 50 percent earned between $53,430 and $92,350. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $42,120, and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $126,330. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of construction managers in 2004 were as follows:
| Building equipment contractors | $72,560 |
| Nonresidential building construction | 71,700 |
| Other specialty trade contractors | 68,110 |
| Residential building construction | 67,190 |
| Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors | 64,250 |
According to a July 2005 salary survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, candidates with a bachelor’s degree in construction science/management received job offers averaging $42,923 a year.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Construction Managers)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Construction managers | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Mining employment: 1,100 mean earnings: $88,630 (EC) (def) (IG) | $46,560 | $58,650 | $75,080 | $104,220 | >$145K |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: 310 mean earnings: $122,850 | $50,190 | $76,560 | $107,940 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) employment: 190 mean earnings: $83,690 | $54,170 | $65,470 | $80,140 | $95,370 | $115,580 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: 610 mean earnings: $72,770 | $42,550 | $54,040 | $66,720 | $83,840 | $113,820 |
| Utilities employment: 680 mean earnings: $89,490 (EC) (def) (IG) | $54,280 | $68,820 | $85,240 | $103,990 | $128,850 |
| Utilities employment: 680 mean earnings: $89,490 | $54,280 | $68,820 | $85,240 | $103,990 | $128,850 |
| Construction employment: 158,200 mean earnings: $82,120 (EC) (def) (IG) | $42,430 | $54,620 | $71,960 | $96,910 | $139,560 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 78,610 mean earnings: $80,160 | $40,880 | $53,740 | $70,690 | $95,290 | $133,020 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 22,050 mean earnings: $83,070 | $46,130 | $56,950 | $74,450 | $98,170 | $136,430 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 57,530 mean earnings: $84,440 | $43,430 | $54,840 | $72,930 | $98,770 | >$145K |
| Manufacturing employment: 860 mean earnings: $79,050 (EC) (def) (IG) | $48,380 | $58,760 | $74,250 | $91,430 | $113,900 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 30 mean earnings: $83,990 | $35,630 | $59,560 | $88,140 | $107,040 | $121,100 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing employment: 30 mean earnings: $67,640 | $43,570 | $54,500 | $66,860 | $79,300 | $92,890 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 60 mean earnings: $98,300 | $55,980 | $67,550 | $88,990 | $115,930 | >$145K |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 130 mean earnings: $80,570 | $46,470 | $53,980 | $67,940 | $92,140 | $135,760 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 230 mean earnings: $70,180 | $48,590 | $55,030 | $67,120 | $81,780 | $92,320 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 50 mean earnings: $86,520 | $61,300 | $75,780 | $86,060 | $101,310 | $113,990 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: n.a. mean earnings: $88,410 | $54,860 | $66,180 | $82,870 | $104,770 | $131,180 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 50 mean earnings: $65,510 | $32,440 | $50,110 | $69,530 | $82,940 | $91,450 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 320 mean earnings: $73,170 (EC) (def) (IG) | $39,560 | $48,630 | $65,280 | $86,030 | $124,240 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 250 mean earnings: $74,060 | $40,670 | $49,660 | $64,600 | $86,220 | $128,340 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: n.a. mean earnings: $78,250 | $41,400 | $54,910 | $76,640 | $89,280 | $120,210 |
| Retail Trade employment: 140 mean earnings: $75,020 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,060 | $49,560 | $67,000 | $95,340 | $115,980 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 40 mean earnings: $83,030 | $27,400 | $46,430 | $95,520 | $109,740 | $118,270 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 460 mean earnings: $88,330 (EC) (def) (IG) | $61,980 | $74,850 | $85,550 | $100,250 | $115,170 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 270 mean earnings: $86,900 | $59,270 | $73,580 | $83,220 | $93,020 | $117,030 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: n.a. mean earnings: $89,710 | $73,860 | $79,710 | $89,850 | $103,070 | $111,270 |
| Information employment: 530 mean earnings: $84,150 (EC) (def) (IG) | $49,050 | $61,660 | $80,620 | $103,170 | $121,560 |
| Telecommunications employment: 470 mean earnings: $84,090 | $48,940 | $61,720 | $80,930 | $103,130 | $119,980 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 150 mean earnings: $82,930 (EC) (def) (IG) | $41,110 | $56,990 | $78,630 | $98,540 | $135,240 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 60 mean earnings: $70,680 | $32,890 | $45,620 | $57,120 | $87,270 | $130,390 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 60 mean earnings: $82,400 | $55,350 | $66,510 | $80,920 | $94,880 | $114,590 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 3,730 mean earnings: $89,750 (EC) (def) (IG) | $46,770 | $61,540 | $81,370 | $108,600 | >$145K |
| Real Estate employment: 3,690 mean earnings: $89,750 | $46,620 | $61,510 | $81,340 | $108,500 | >$145K |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 30 mean earnings: $91,620 | $51,820 | $62,330 | $83,530 | $129,770 | $144,500 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 9,490 mean earnings: $82,610 (EC) (def) (IG) | $46,090 | $58,810 | $76,460 | $97,610 | $129,470 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 9,490 mean earnings: $82,610 | $46,090 | $58,810 | $76,460 | $97,610 | $129,470 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 2,360 mean earnings: $94,620 (EC) (def) (IG) | $52,300 | $64,520 | $83,570 | $113,580 | >$145K |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 2,360 mean earnings: $94,620 | $52,300 | $64,520 | $83,570 | $113,580 | >$145K |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 3,140 mean earnings: $82,870 (EC) (def) (IG) | $46,550 | $58,260 | $74,410 | $98,810 | $129,480 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 1,860 mean earnings: $83,390 | $48,370 | $59,960 | $74,710 | $98,620 | $126,500 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 1,290 mean earnings: $82,130 | $43,440 | $55,210 | $74,010 | $99,140 | $132,620 |
| Educational Services employment: 750 mean earnings: $74,580 (EC) (def) (IG) | $46,690 | $57,990 | $71,820 | $88,970 | $109,140 |
| Educational Services employment: 750 mean earnings: $74,580 | $46,690 | $57,990 | $71,820 | $88,970 | $109,140 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 820 mean earnings: $78,850 (EC) (def) (IG) | $47,360 | $59,260 | $77,540 | $93,290 | $115,240 |
| Hospitals employment: 620 mean earnings: $82,870 | $51,950 | $64,900 | $80,720 | $97,440 | $117,490 |
| Social Assistance employment: 120 mean earnings: $62,180 | $29,480 | $43,300 | $54,290 | $79,520 | $102,540 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 120 mean earnings: $84,540 (EC) (def) (IG) | $47,530 | $55,430 | $75,010 | $94,640 | $142,500 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 90 mean earnings: $83,030 | $49,090 | $56,220 | $75,220 | $96,080 | $134,510 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 170 mean earnings: $104,050 (EC) (def) (IG) | $55,340 | $77,390 | $92,780 | $132,340 | >$145K |
| Accommodation employment: 90 mean earnings: $105,050 | $49,690 | $76,620 | $95,710 | $129,540 | >$145K |
| Food Services and Drinking Places employment: 80 mean earnings: n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 140 mean earnings: $69,300 (EC) (def) (IG) | $36,770 | $47,960 | $66,550 | $83,740 | $100,710 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 120 mean earnings: $67,460 | $37,690 | $48,120 | $66,610 | $84,080 | $98,050 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 9,430 mean earnings: $67,510 (def) (IG) | $41,750 | $51,320 | $64,300 | $81,510 | $99,550 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 9,430 mean earnings: $67,510 | $41,750 | $51,320 | $64,300 | $81,510 | $99,550 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.