National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Construction Managers earn a national median of $104,900/year vs Paralegals at $59,200/year. Construction Managers earn 44% more nationally. The gap is $45,700 per year — or $3,808 per month.
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Construction Manager
$104,900
national median/year
$8,742/mo • $50/hr
VS
Paralegal
$59,200
national median/year
$4,933/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$45,700
Construction Managers earn 44% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $518,023.
Best states for Paralegals
vs Construction Managers
Mississippi+$-36,700
West Virginia+$-36,700
Alabama+$-38,700
Arkansas+$-38,700
Iowa+$-40,700
Best states for Construction Managers
vs Paralegals
Alaska+$62,700
Hawaii+$60,700
New York+$60,700
California+$58,700
Massachusetts+$58,700
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Construction Managers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Construction Managers is $104,900 versus $59,200 for Paralegals — a difference of $45,700 per year or $3,808 per month.
The national median salary gap between Construction Managers and Paralegals is $45,700 per year. Construction Managers earn 44% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $518,023.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Construction Managers the highest median salary at $134,900 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Paralegals the highest median salary at $76,200 per year.
Salary is one factor — Construction Managers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Construction Managers and Paralegals and Legal Assistants both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Construction Managers earn approximately $50 per hour nationally and Paralegals earn approximately $28 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
