upper level job

Construction Manager, Sr. Salary in the United States

How much does a Construction Manager, Sr. make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Construction Manager, Sr. in the United States is $171,075 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $82.

However, a Construction Manager, Sr.'s salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $191,395
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $157,937 to $181,711
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $145,976

Key Factors That Influence Construction Manager, Sr. Salaries

A Construction Manager, Sr.'s salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Construction Manager, Sr. Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Construction Manager, Sr.'s salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Construction Coordinator V (7-10 years): $119,834
  • Construction Manager (10+ years): $141,289
  • Construction Manager, Sr. (10+ years): $171,075
  • Construction Director (10+ years): $202,281
  • SVP of Construction (10+ years): $255,892
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Construction Coordinator V7-10 years$119,834
Construction Manager10+ years$141,289
Construction Manager, Sr.10+ years$171,075
Construction Director10+ years$202,281
SVP of Construction10+ years$255,892

Top Paying Cities for Construction Manager, Sr.

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $215,777
  • San Francisco: $213,414
  • Oakland: $208,917

What Skills Can Increase a Construction Manager, Sr.'s Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 10.27% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Quality Control (Mentioned in 1.62% Job Postings): Developing and implementing a set of procedures intended to maintain the quality of a product and reduce any risks or errors.
  • Purchasing (Mentioned in 1.3% Job Postings): Purchasing refers to a business or organization attempting to acquire goods or services to accomplish its goals. Although there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly between organizations. Typically the word “purchasing” is not used interchangeably with the word “procurement”, since procurement typically includes expediting, supplier quality, and transportation and logistics (T&L) in addition to purchasing.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 10.27%
Quality Control 1.62%
Purchasing 1.3%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Construction Manager, Sr.'s salary.

  • Sense Of Urgency: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Team Management: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Value Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Sense Of Urgency $179,629
5%
Team Management $176,207
3%
Value Engineering $176,207
3%

Construction Manager, Sr. Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Construction Manager, Sr. salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $191,183. While startup companies pay approximate $161,722.

Construction Manager, Sr. Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $161,722
Growth Stage 51~500 $171,037
Established 501~5000 $184,612
Enterprise 5000+ $191,183

Construction Manager, Sr. Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Construction Manager, Sr. roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 33% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 18% above the average. In contrast, Construction Manager, Sr. positions in Aerospace & Defense or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Construction Manager, Sr. as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Construction Manager, Sr.

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$201,868$97.018%
Internet$191,604$92.012%
Construction$188,183$90.010%
Insurance$184,761$89.08%
Financial Services$183,050$88.07%

How Education impacts an Construction Manager, Sr.'s Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Construction Manager, Sr. enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Construction Manager, Sr. with a Bachelor's Degree is between $168,575 and $181,410.

Construction Manager, Sr. Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Construction Manager, Sr.
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 16.3%
Associates 13.2%
Bachelors 50.0%
Masters 17.5%
Doctorate 1.4%

Construction Manager, Sr. Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Construction Manager, Sr.'s annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$157,937
Average $171,075/year
$181,711
$13,161
Average $14,256/month
$15,143
$3,037
Average $3,290/week
$3,494
$76
Average $82/hour
$87
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $181,711 $15,143 $3,494 $87
Average $171,075 $14,256 $3,290 $82
25th Percentile $157,937 $13,161 $3,037 $76

Construction Manager, Sr. Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Construction Manager, Sr., the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Construction Director role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $202,281 - a projected growth of 18% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Construction Manager, Sr.

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Construction Manager, Sr.

Here are companies hiring for Construction Manager, Sr. and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Construction Manager, Sr. Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Construction Manager, Sr. job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Construction Manager, Sr.

1. Where can a Construction Manager, Sr. earn the most?

A Construction Manager, Sr.'s earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Construction Manager, Sr. earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Construction Manager, Sr. is $215,777.

2. What is the highest pay for Construction Manager, Sr.?

The highest pay for Construction Manager, Sr. is $191,395.

3. What is the lowest pay for Construction Manager, Sr.?

The lowest pay for Construction Manager, Sr. is $145,976.

4. What are the responsibilities of Construction Manager, Sr.?

Oversees construction projects and operations to meet the organization's financial and growth objectives and fulfill client contractual requirements. Develops and implements quality, performance, and safety standards and procedures for operations. Reviews and approves procurement of required material, equipment, subcontractors, and worker resources. Provides project updates and communicates with clients, contractors, governmental or regulatory officials, and other stakeholders. Builds effective team capacity to plan and implement construction projects. Ensures all permits, licenses, or certifications required by regulatory authorities are obtained. Establishes and enforces safety protocols and procedures to provide safe job sites and minimize risk. Monitors costs and timelines and submits required progress reports to deliver projects on time and within budget. Implements best practice construction methods to improve efficiency, productivity, and project outcomes. Requires a bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, or related field. Typically reports to senior management. Typically manages through subordinate managers and professionals in larger groups of moderate complexity. Provides input to strategic decisions that affect the functional area of responsibility. May give input into developing the budget. Typically requires 3+ years of managerial experience. Capable of resolving escalated issues arising from operations and requiring coordination with other departments.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Construction Manager, Sr.?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Construction Manager, Sr. roles, with salaries approximately 18% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job