Construction Design & Project Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Construction Design & Project Manager make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Construction Design & Project Manager in the United States is $131,026 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $63.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $152,872
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $119,090 to $142,461
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $108,223

Key Factors That Influence Construction Design & Project Manager Salaries

A Construction Design & Project Manager'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 Design & Project Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Construction Design & Project Manager'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $91,560
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $117,194
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $130,186
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $174,599
  • Expert (over 8 years): $215,498
Levels Salary
CAE Desig... Level Construction Design & Project Manager$91,560
CAE Desig... Level Construction Design & Project Manager$117,194
Construct... Level Construction Design & Project Manager$130,186
CAE Desig... Level Construction Design & Project Manager$174,599
CAE Desig... Level Construction Design & Project Manager$215,498

Top Paying Cities for Construction Design & Project Managers

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: $165,263
  • San Francisco: $163,454
  • Oakland: $160,009

What Skills Can Increase a Construction Design & Project Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Written Communication (Mentioned in 11.11% Job Postings): Communicating information through written media to educate, inform and influence the target audience.
  • CAD (Mentioned in 2.88% Job Postings): Computer-aided design is the use of computers to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer
  • Construction Management (Mentioned in 0.82% Job Postings): Construction management (CM) is a professional service that uses specialized, project management techniques to oversee the planning, design, and construction of a project, from its beginning to its end. The purpose of CM is to control a project's time / delivery, cost and quality—sometimes referred to as a project management triangle or "triple constraints." CM is compatible with all project delivery systems, including design-bid-build, design-build, CM At-Risk and Public Private Partnerships. Professional construction managers may be reserved for lengthy, large-scale, high budget undertakings (commercial real estate, transportation infrastructure, industrial facilities, and military infrastructure), called capital projects.
Skills Demand Percentage
Written Communication 11.11%
CAD 2.88%
Construction Management 0.82%

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 Design & Project Manager's salary.

  • Interviewing: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • 3D Rendering: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • 3D Scanning: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Interviewing $145,439
11%
3D Rendering $144,129
10%
3D Scanning $141,508
8%

Construction Design & Project Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Construction Design & Project Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Construction Design & Project Manager positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Construction Design & Project Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Construction Design & Project Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$163,782$79.025%
Financial Services$157,231$76.020%
Aerospace & Defense$150,680$72.015%
Healthcare$150,680$72.015%
Biotechnology$144,129$69.010%

How Education impacts a Construction Design & Project Manager's Salary?

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

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Construction Design & Project Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $133,664 and $143,905).

Construction Design & Project Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Construction Design & Project Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 10.3%
Associates 14.7%
Bachelors 51.6%
Masters 19.4%
Doctorate 3.6%

Construction Design & Project Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Construction Design & Project Manager'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
$119,090
Average $131,026/year
$142,461
$9,924
Average $10,919/month
$11,872
$2,290
Average $2,520/week
$2,740
$57
Average $63/hour
$68
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $142,461 $11,872 $2,740 $68
Average $131,026 $10,919 $2,520 $63
25th Percentile $119,090 $9,924 $2,290 $57

Most common benefits for Construction Design & Project Manager

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

Common company salaries for Construction Design & Project Manager

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

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FAQ about Construction Design & Project Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Construction Design & Project Manager?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Construction Design & Project Manager roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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.

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