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Construction foreman: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$79,920median pay per year, or $38.42 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $53,280lowest 10% earn less
  2. $63,40025th percentile
  3. $79,920median
  4. $101,46075th percentile
  5. $128,260top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers, the official category that includes the construction foreman, earned a median of $79,920 a year, compared with $50,980 for all occupations[1][2]. BLS projects job growth from 2025 to 2035, a bit faster than the all-occupations rate[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5%[3]
Openings per year
67,000[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do construction foremen make?

The median pay in this BLS category was $79,920 a year, or $38.42 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $86,450 a year, or $41.56 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[2].

Annual and hourly wage percentiles looked like this:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[5][9] $53,280 $25.62
25th[5][9] $63,400 $30.48
Median[1] $79,920 $38.42
75th[5][9] $101,460 $48.78
90th[5][9] $128,260 $61.66

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $53,280[5]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not count bonuses or benefits[11]. About 812,210 people held these wage and salary jobs[12]. In 2025, 11.2% of workers in this category were self-employed[13].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest state median at $109,570, followed by Illinois at $105,750 and New Jersey at $105,510[14]. Arkansas had the lowest median among the 50 states and DC with published data, at $61,230[14].

The most jobs were in Texas (90,010), California (71,750), Florida (69,830), North Carolina (32,460) and New York (29,600)[15]. The Texas median was $74,520 and the California median was $97,680[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA had the highest median at $130,790, followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $129,700[16]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, 28,220, with a median of $103,990[17].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[14]$109,57019,550
Illinois$105,75019,340
New Jersey$105,51016,230
Oregon$103,0707,890
Hawaii$102,6302,890
Alaska$102,1402,690
Rhode Island$98,5902,060
Massachusetts$97,85018,330
California$97,68071,750
Minnesota$97,61013,580
New York$95,70029,600
Connecticut$92,2606,980
Missouri$87,52013,330
District of Columbia$86,5201,420
Wisconsin$85,35015,150
Indiana$82,53016,450
Vermont$82,4901,010
Nevada$81,9909,680
Pennsylvania$81,54026,860
North Dakota$81,3704,350
Colorado$81,23021,380
New Hampshire$81,2203,590
Delaware$81,1002,590
West Virginia$80,0605,380
Ohio$79,58023,640
Maryland$78,76015,400
Virginia$78,64024,970
Arizona$78,55021,550
Iowa$78,5109,660
Georgia$78,43026,770
Wyoming$78,2503,270
Michigan$78,18016,660
South Dakota$77,6902,360
Maine$77,2903,130
Utah$77,28014,270
Montana$76,9104,350
Kansas$76,7808,940
Florida$75,79069,830
Nebraska$75,5706,020
Idaho$75,5506,730
Louisiana$75,36014,070
South Carolina$75,35013,150
North Carolina$75,27032,460
New Mexico$75,1306,790
Texas$74,52090,010
Tennessee$74,47017,770
Kentucky$73,4909,620
Oklahoma$73,04011,520
Mississippi$66,9107,040
Alabama$64,12013,580
Arkansas$61,2306,590

How to become a construction foreman

The facts for this category are short on detail, but BLS projections describe the typical path[7]:

In an O*NET survey of 36 workers, 27% said a post-secondary certificate was required, 22% said less than a high school diploma, and 21% said a high school diploma or equivalent[18]. Because the survey is small, treat these shares as a rough picture only.

O*NET sample job titles include construction foreman, construction supervisor, electrical supervisor and insulation foreman[19].

What construction foremen do

They directly supervise and coordinate the work of construction or extraction crews[20]. Common tasks include[21]:

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 913,300 to 959,400 jobs[3]. That is a gain of about 46,100 jobs[3]. For all occupations the projected growth is 3.5%[4].

About 67,000 openings are projected each year on average[6]. Openings count both new jobs and spots left by workers who retire or switch occupations[6]. Each year, 2.9% of workers leave the labor force and 3.8% move to a different occupation[22].

The projection counts 913,300 jobs[3]. The wage data count 812,210 wage and salary jobs[12]. The projection counts include self-employed workers, and the wage data do not[3][12].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is well above the all-occupations median, and growth is a bit faster than average[1][2][3][4]. The main hurdle is experience, since BLS lists 5 years or more in a related occupation and only a high school diploma or equivalent for education[7]. The facts suggest it suits people who already have years of related work behind them and want to move into supervising crews[7][20]. It is also a large field with many openings each year[6].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[23].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a construction foreman make an hour?
The median was $38.42 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $41.56[1][8].
What is the highest paying state for construction foremen?
Washington, with a median of $109,570, followed by Illinois at $105,750[14].
What education do you need to be a construction foreman?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent for entry, plus 5 years or more of related work experience[7].
Is construction foreman in demand?
BLS projects 5% growth from 2025 to 2035 and about 67,000 openings a year[3][6].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers in the US was $79,920 per year and $38.42 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 913,300 to 959,400 jobs (a change of +46,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: 10th percentile $53,280, 25th percentile $63,400, 75th percentile $101,460, 90th percentile $128,260. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 67,000 openings for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: 5 years or more; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers was $86,450 per year and $41.56 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: 10th percentile $25.62, 25th percentile $30.48, 75th percentile $48.78, 90th percentile $61.66. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. 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
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 812,210 people were employed as First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS Employment Projections: 11.2% of First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  14. Median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers jobs: Texas 90,010; California 71,750; Florida 69,830; North Carolina 32,460; New York 29,600. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $130,790; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $129,700; Kennewick-Richland, WA $126,630; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $121,130; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $120,810; Vineland, NJ $116,390; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $115,340; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $112,480. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 28,220 (median $103,990); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 24,570 (median $76,020); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 21,530 (median $76,230); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 19,690 (median $97,600); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 16,920 (median $80,500); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 16,770 (median $79,840). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. O*NET 47-1011.00 survey of workers (36 respondents), education level they say is required: Post-Secondary Certificate 27%, Less than a High School Diploma 22%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 21%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 12%, Bachelor's Degree 10%, Some College Courses 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET 47-1011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Coal Mine Production Foreman, Construction Foreman, Construction Supervisor, Electrical Supervisor, Field Operations Supervisor, Field Supervisor, Insulation Foreman, Roustabout Field Supervisor. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET description of First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers. O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET task list for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers. O*NET OnLine
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: 2.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.