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Construction manager salary in California

Updated October 31, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$133,160median pay per year in California, or $64.02 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $82,100lowest 10% earn less
  2. $102,78025th percentile
  3. $133,160median
  4. $168,07075th percentile
  5. $211,970top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $114,990[3]

The median pay for construction managers in California was $133,160 a year[1]. That was 15.8% higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
34,750[4]
Rank by median pay
6 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+15.8%[6]

How much do construction managers make in California?

The median wage for construction managers in California was $133,160 a year, or $64.02 an hour[1]. Half of these workers earned more than that and half earned less. The average was a bit higher, at $141,670 a year[7].

Across the US, the median for construction managers was $114,990[3]. California's figure was $18,170 (15.8%) higher[6]. California also had the 6th highest median annual wage among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. For all jobs in the state, the median was $58,240[8]. Construction managers in California had a median $74,920 higher than that[9].

The lowest-paid 10% of construction managers in California earned less than $82,100, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $211,970[2]. By metro area, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median at $166,030[10]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had a median of $163,040[11]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for construction managers in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$133,160[1]$114,990[3]
Median per hour$64.02[1]$55.28[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$82,100[2]$69,690[13]
Top 10% earn more than$211,970[2]$189,440[13]
Jobs34,750[4]380,360[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for construction managers, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$131,68010,120
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$166,0305,160
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$133,2103,800
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$126,0403,450
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$129,4402,760
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$163,0401,850
Fresno, CA$118,500910
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$127,890720

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for construction managers in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$131,4204,300
Nevada$115,2504,460
Arizona$114,6809,910

Median pay for construction managers in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for construction managers are projected to grow 9.1% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a construction manager make in California?
The median pay for construction managers in California was $133,160 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $141,670 a year[7].
How much does a construction manager make an hour in California?
The median hourly wage for construction managers in California was $64.02[1]. The 10th percentile hourly wage was $39.47 and the 90th percentile was $101.91[17].
Which city in California pays construction managers the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median annual wage for construction managers in California, at $166,030[10]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara was next among the largest metros, at $163,040[11].
Is California a good state for construction managers?
California had the 6th highest median annual wage for construction managers among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median of $133,160 was $18,170 (15.8%) higher than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a construction manager in California?
Across the US, the typical path into this job is a bachelor's degree, no work experience in a related occupation and moderate-term on-the-job training[16]. This is a US figure, not one for California.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Construction Managers in California was $133,160 per year and $64.02 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Construction Managers in California: 10th percentile $82,100, 25th percentile $102,780, 75th percentile $168,070, 90th percentile $211,970. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Construction Managers in the US as a whole was $114,990 per year and $55.28 per hour, with about 380,360 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 34,750 people worked as Construction Managers in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 6th highest median annual wage for Construction Managers out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Construction Managers in California ($133,160) was $18,170 (15.8%) higher than the US median ($114,990). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Construction Managers in California was $141,670 per year and $68.11 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Construction Managers in California was $74,920 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 25 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Construction Managers, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median annual wage, $166,030. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Construction Managers in the US: 10th percentile $69,690, 25th percentile $88,550, 75th percentile $151,640, 90th percentile $189,440. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Construction Managers in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $131,420; Nevada $115,250; Arizona $114,680. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Construction Managers is projected to grow 9.1% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 49,700 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Construction Managers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Construction Managers in California: 10th percentile $39.47, 25th percentile $49.41, 75th percentile $80.80, 90th percentile $101.91. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.