25 Best States for Construction Managers

These are 25 best states for construction managers, workers who are the highest paying among all occupation in the construction sector. On this list, you will find places where constructors earn as much as $140,000 per year. However compared to other management professions, which require BA degree, construction managers belong to the group of the lowest compensated. The median pay of $87,400 is $45,000 lower than how much architectural and engineering managers earn.

America’s construction industry, which is the second-largest in the world, has recovered from the hit it suffered during the economic crisis and it is expected to remain robust in following two years. The non-residential building sector is projected to record 5.6% growth which will be mainly driven by investments in hotel, office, and amusement construction projects. Also, the industry might further expand if announcements about large investments in infrastructure come true.

According to the Bureau Labor of Statistics, there are 239,640 Americans working as construction managers and the majority of them are employed in the non-residential building sector, which will continue to experience growth during 2017. The best paying sector for constructors is depository credit intermediation, but this is also an industry which employs less than 100 constructors.

Compared to some other workers in building industry, construction managers can count on moderate job growth. Projection Central estimates that 4.8% job increase for the occupation by 2024, while 7,000 new openings will be available per year. The state which will see the greatest increase in number of those is California, which is also the place where the highest number of construction managers currently work.

Since construction managers are responsible for planning, coordinating and supervising all phases of construction projects they need to possess manager and business skills as well as knowledge about construction regulations, methods, materials, etc. There are a few ways to become a construction manager.

One is to accumulate great experience as a construction laborer and then advance to the constructor position. Note though that large building firms, some of which are presented in our article 10 Biggest Construction Companies in the US, usually want that their employees have a solid educational background in relevant fields. So the other much common path includes obtaining BA degree in construction science or similar. And those who do not want to spend four years on schooling can combine the associate degree with experience in the building sector. Finally, although construction managers are not required to have a certificate, this piece of paper gives them a competitive advantage on the job market.

We created the list of best states for construction managers focusing on annual mean wage, the number of employed constructors per 1,000 residents and how much the demand for the occupation will increase by 2024. The data for first two criteria were obtained from BLS, while information about job prospects were found at Projections Central. We ranked states by these three criteria and then calculated average ranking to come up with this list.

25. Vermont

Annual mean wage: $91,430

Rank by annual mean wage: 24

Employment per 1,000: 1.579

Rank by employment per 1,000: 25

Job increase by 2024: 5.7%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 27

We start today’s list with Vermont, a state which is by all three indicators – annual mean wage, employment per 1,000 and job growth – in the middle. Constructors can count on a salary of $91,430 while projected 5.7% job growth is close to national average for the occupation.

24. Oklahoma

Annual mean wage: $78,690

Rank by annual mean wage: 45

Employment per 1,000: 2.092

Rank by employment per 1,000: 11

Job increase by 2024: 6.6%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 19

Average ranking: 25

Oklahoma offers the lowest wage among listed places. The state found its place in this ranking because of a high number of employed construction managers per 1,000. Currently, there are 6,060 people working in this profession, and their number will grow in the future at a faster rate than America’s average.

23. Georgia

Annual mean wage: $97,480

Rank by annual mean wage: 14

Employment per 1,000: 1.197

Rank by employment per 1,000: 41

Job increase by 2024: 7.4%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 18

Average ranking: 24.3

Georgia has a small number of construction managers per 1,000 residents which means that the demand for the occupation is not as high as in other listed places. The positive thing though is that the number of job openings will grow in the future. Also, mean wage of $97,480 per year is close to national average for the occupation.

22. Iowa

Annual mean wage: $74,390

Rank by annual mean wage: 47

Employment per 1,000: 2.134

Rank by employment per 1,000: 10

Job increase by 2024: 8.1%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 16

Average ranking: 24.3

Here is another state where construction managers earn far less compared to national average.  However, the demand for the occupation is high in Iowa and it will remain the case in the future.

21. Virginia

Annual mean wage: $107,570

Rank by annual mean wage: 8

Employment per 1,000: 1.512

Rank by employment per 1,000: 31

Job increase by 2024: 4.6%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 33

Average ranking: 24

Virginia is one of the best paying states for construction managers. The reason why it did not rank higher in our list of best states for construction managers is a small number of available jobs. In addition expected job growth for the occupation is 4.6% which is lower than the national average.

20. Ohio

Annual mean wage: $96,300

Rank by annual mean wage: 19

Employment per 1,000: 1.735

Rank by employment per 1,000: 22

Job increase by 2024: 5.2%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 29

Average ranking: 23.3

Solid salary and employment opportunities are two positive things that construction managers can expect in Ohio. The job market for this occupation will moderately expand in the future as projections estimate that the number of available jobs will increase only by 5.2%, or in other words, 270 new jobs will be added yearly.

19. Massachusetts

Annual mean wage: $107,430

Rank by annual mean wage: 9

Employment per 1,000: 1.782

Rank by employment per 1,000: 20

Job increase by 2024: 0.7%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 41

Average ranking: 23.3

Massachusetts is another high paying state for construction managers. It ranked 19^th on this list of best states for construction managers only because there won’t be much demand for the occupation in the future. By 2024 the number of construction manager jobs will remain almost the same as it is now.

18. Utah

Annual mean wage: $80,910

Rank by annual mean wage: 43

Employment per 1,000: 1.687

Rank by employment per 1,000: 23

Job increase by 2024: 26.8%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 3

Average ranking: 23

Compared to Massachusetts, constructions manager can expect completely different landscape in Utah. The average salary is much lower, but the job offer will boom in the following years. By 2024 number of jobs will rise by 26.8% which is third largest growth in the US.

17. Delaware

Annual mean wage: $107,850

Rank by annual mean wage: 7

Employment per 1,000: 0.995

Rank by employment per 1,000: 47

Job increase by 2024: 11.3%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 13

Average ranking: 22.33

Delaware has the smallest number of construction managers per 1,000 residents among listed places. However, the sate offers one of the highest salaries for the occupation.

16. New Jersey

Annual mean wage: $140,000

Rank by annual mean wage: 1

Employment per 1,000: 1.257

Rank by employment per 1,000: 39

Job increase by 2024: 6.3%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 21

Average ranking: 20.33

With an annual mean wage of $140,000, New Jersey is the best-paying state for the construction managers in the US. It doesn’t occupy higher position because of a small number of these workers per 1,000 residents, and because of moderate job growth in the following years.

15. Connecticut

Annual mean wage: $106,780

Rank by annual mean wage: 10

Employment per 1,000: 1.742

Rank by employment per 1,000: 21

Job increase by 2024: 5.7%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 26

Average ranking: 19

In Connecticut constructors earn more compared to America’s average salary for the occupation, while 5.7% job increase is close to the national growth rate for the occupation.

14. Arizona

Annual mean wage: $88,640

Rank by annual mean wage: 35

Employment per 1,000: 1.847

Rank by employment per 1,000: 16

Job increase by 2024: 34.4%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 1

Average ranking: 17.33

Arizona is the state on our list of best states for construction managers which will experience the greatest growth in the number of construction manager’s jobs in America. New openings will increase by 34.4%, which means that around 1,700 jobs will be added in the following years. It should be emphasized though that Arizona falls into the category of states where the annual mean wage is lower compared to the national average for the occupation.

13. Nevada

Annual mean wage: $83,990

Rank by annual mean wage: 39

Employment per 1,000: 2.42

Rank by employment per 1,000: 5

Job increase by 2024: 18.8%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 7

Average ranking: 17

Solid chances of finding a job as a construction manager in the present as well as in the future, but relatively low salary, these are two things that constructors can expect in Nevada.

12. Nebraska

Annual mean wage: $90,650

Rank by annual mean wage: 27

Employment per 1,000: 2.227

Rank by employment per 1,000: 9

Job increase by 2024: 8.8%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 15

Average ranking: 17

Nebraska, which occupies 12^th place on the list 25 best states for construction managers in America, offers solid salary and employment opportunities. The number of available jobs for construction managers will rise by 8.8% which is 15^th largest growth in America.

11. Alaska

Annual mean wage: $122,250

Rank by annual mean wage: 2

Employment per 1,000: 3.436

Rank by employment per 1,000: 1

Job increase by 2024: 0.6%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 43

Average ranking: 15.3

Alaska is the second-best paying state for construction managers in America. It is also a place which has the highest number of constructors per 10,000 residents. Still, the fact that the job market for this occupation will expand only by 0.6% affected Alaska’s overall ranking on this list of best states for construction managers.

10. North Carolina

Annual mean wage: $95,090

Rank by annual mean wage: 20

Employment per 1,000: 1.933

Rank by employment per 1,000: 14

Job increase by 2024: 12.6%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 11

Average ranking: 15

In North Carolina, construction managers earn some $2,000 less per year compared to the national average. These professionals do not need to worry about finding a job in the future since around 1,400 new positions will be added in next few years.

9. New York

Annual mean wage: $114,330

Rank by annual mean wage: 5

Employment per 1,000: 1.547

Rank by employment per 1,000: 28

Job increase by 2024: 12%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 12

Average ranking: 15

New York has the same average ranking as previously mentioned North Carolina but it occupies a higher place on the list  of best states for construction managers because construction managers are better compensated. The annual mean wage of $114,330 is fifth highest in America. Also, New York will see 12% job growth for the occupation, which means that 540 new jobs will be open annually during following years.

8. Oregon

Annual mean wage: $90,170

Rank by annual mean wage: 30

Employment per 1,000: 2.444

Rank by employment per 1,000: 4

Job increase by 2024: 14.5%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 9

Average ranking: 14.33

Oregon ranks 8th in our list of best states for construction managers and has the fourth highest number of construction managers per 1,000 residents in America. Moreover, the state will experience 14.5% increase in the number of jobs in the future, so the employment prospects are pretty good in Oregon. We should emphasize though that annual mean wage in Oregon for constructors is some $2,000 lower than national average.

7. Florida

Annual mean wage: $90,310

Rank by annual mean wage: 29

Employment per 1,000: 2.273

Rank by employment per 1,000: 8

Job increase by 2024: 24.8%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 4

Average ranking: 13.6

Florida ranks 7th in our lsit of best states for construction managers and offers similar landscape as Oregon to constructors – an annual salary that is below national average accompanied by solid chances of finding the job quickly.

6. Hawaii

Annual mean wage: $96,810

Rank by annual mean wage: 17

Employment per 1,000: 2.63

Rank by employment per 1,000: 2

Job increase by 2024: 6.3%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 20

Average ranking: 13

Hawaii ranks 6th in our list of best states for construction managers and has the second highest number of construction managers per 10,000 residents. By 2024 the number of jobs will increase by 6.3% or in other words there will be 170 additional openings for construction managers. The annual mean wage of $96,810 is higher than the national average.

5. Washington

Annual mean wage: $96,980

Rank by annual mean wage: 15

Employment per 1,000: 1.999

Rank by employment per 1,000: 13

Job increase by 2024: 15.6%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 8

Average ranking: 12

Up next in our list of best states for construction managers is Washington that will see eight-highest job growth for construction managers. There will be around 360 new job openings per year until 2024. Salary offered to constructors in Washington is close to the national average, and the state has the 13th highest number of people employed in this occupation per 1,000 residents.

4. Texas

Annual mean wage: $93,610

Rank by annual mean wage: 21

Employment per 1,000: 2.316

Rank by employment per 1,000: 6

Job increase by 2024: 19%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 6

Average ranking: 11

Compared to some previously mentioned states, Texas that ranks 4th in our list of best states for construction managers, offers a lower wage to construction managers, but because of solid employment opportunities, it ranks high on this list. With 2.316 constructors per 1,000 residents and projected employment growth of 19%, Washington occupies the fourth position in this ranking.

3. Maryland

Annual mean wage: $103,190

Rank by annual mean wage: 11

Employment per 1,000: 2.287

Rank by employment per 1,000: 7

Job increase by 2024: 12.8%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 10

Average ranking: 9.33

Everything looks well for construction managers working in Maryland – salary higher than the national average coupled with excellent chances to find the job in the present and in the future, makes this state a good bargain for constructors.

2. Colorado

Annual mean wage: $92,670

Rank by annual mean wage: 22

Employment per 1,000: 2.602

Rank by employment per 1,000: 3

Job increase by 2024: 28.1%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 2

Average ranking: 9

The construction workers whose main concern is high salary should not choose Colorado, the number two in our list of best states for construction managers, since the wage is around the national average. The state is ranked high on this list because it has the third highest number of constructors per 1,000 residents and it will see second largest job growth for the occupation by 2024. For these two reasons Colorado offers the best employment opportunities.

1. California

Annual mean wage: $108,240

Rank by annual mean wage: 6

Employment per 1,000: 1.932

Rank by employment per 1,000: 15

Job increase by 2024: 19.2%

Rank by job increase by 2024: 5

Average ranking: 8.6

With annual mean wage of $108,204 and 19.2% future job increase California occupies first place on the list of 25 best states for construction managers. California also hires the highest number of constructors in America, but in terms of the number of construction managers per 1,000 residents, it ranks as the 15th state.