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Project Manager vs Construction Manager Salary

National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data

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Project Managers earn a national median of $98,580/year vs Construction Managers at $104,900/year. Construction Managers earn 6% more nationally. The gap is $6,320 per year — or $527 per month.

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Project Manager
$98,580
national median/year
$8,215/mo • $47/hr
VS
Construction Manager
$104,900
national median/year
$8,742/mo • $50/hr

Annual salary gap

$6,320

Construction Managers earn 6% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $71,639.

Best states for Construction Managers

vs Project Managers

Hawaii+$34,580
Alaska+$26,580
New York+$16,580
Nevada+$14,580
Oregon+$14,580

Best states for Project Managers

vs Construction Managers

Alabama+$-4,580
Connecticut+$-4,580
Delaware+$-4,580
Mississippi+$-4,580
West Virginia+$-4,580

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Frequently Asked Questions

Construction Managers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Project Managers is $98,580 versus $104,900 for Construction Managers — a difference of $6,320 per year or $527 per month.

The national median salary gap between Project Managers and Construction Managers is $6,320 per year. Construction Managers earn 6% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $71,639.

Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Project Managers the highest median salary at $122,320 per year.

Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Construction Managers the highest median salary at $134,900 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. Project Management Specialists and Construction Managers 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, Project Managers earn approximately $47 per hour nationally and Construction Managers earn approximately $50 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.

Last updated: June 2026

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.