Construction salaries by state can swing more than $40,000 for the same job, depending on where the work sits. In 2026 pay still runs higher in states with stronger union markets, higher-cost metros, tighter labor pools, and more complex project pipelines.
This guide gives you two things: the leadership pay that TBG tracks (construction managers and field supervisors), and a full 50-state wage snapshot for construction and extraction work. Use both to set a band or judge a move without overpaying or losing the hire.
Construction Manager Salary by State in 2026
The strongest national benchmark for construction leadership pay is the construction manager role. It covers the people running the project: scheduling, budget, subcontractors, and delivery.
Nationally, in the May 2025 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction managers earn a median of $114,990 and a mean of $124,360. The middle of the market is wide.
Construction manager pay, national benchmark (2026)
| Measure | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $69,690 |
| 25th percentile | $88,550 |
| Median (50th) | $114,990 |
| 75th percentile | $151,640 |
| 90th percentile | $189,440 |
The spread from the 10th to the 90th percentile is more than $119,000 for the same job title. Experience, project size, and sector move a construction manager across that range. So does the state.
Highest-Paying States for Construction Managers in 2026
Five states set the top of the market for construction managers. These are median wages, so half the construction managers in the state earn more.
| State | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| New York | $155,360 |
| Washington | $155,070 |
| Massachusetts | $145,010 |
| Alaska | $139,190 |
| New Jersey | $138,230 |
Every one of these states pays a construction manager more at the median than the national 75th percentile. That is not a rounding difference. A contractor moving a search from a lower-paying state into New York or Washington is buying into a different pay market, not a slightly higher one.
Alaska on the list is a reminder that high pay is not only a big-metro story. Remote work, hard logistics, and a thin talent pool push a number up the same way a high cost-of-living market does.
Construction Supervisor Salary by State in 2026
The other number worth watching is the field leader: the first-line supervisor of construction trades. This is the person running the crews on site, and it is a role most contractors underprice when the labor market tightens.
Nationally, first-line construction supervisors earn a median of $79,920 and a mean of $86,450, based on the same BLS release. The top of that market is a real jump.
| State | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Washington | $109,570 |
| Illinois | $105,750 |
| New Jersey | $105,510 |
| Oregon | $103,070 |
| Hawaii | $102,630 |
A field supervisor at the median in Washington earns close to what a construction manager earns at the median in a lower-paying state. When a strong superintendent or field leader is worth six figures to run your crews, treating that seat as a trade-level cost is how you lose the person who keeps the schedule honest.
The demand backs up the pay. In the Associated General Contractors 2025 Workforce Survey, superintendents were the hardest salaried role to fill, cited by 81 percent of the firms looking for them, with estimators and project managers close behind. When the people who run the field are the scarcest hire on the board, the pay follows.
Average Construction Salaries by State in 2026 (All 50 States)
The tables above cover leadership pay. The table below is the broad view: average pay for all construction and extraction occupations by state, from field trades through equipment operators. Use it to see how your whole market compares, then price the specific role on top of it.
Note: This snapshot covers construction and extraction occupations (SOC 47-0000) as a group, not a single title. It is a starting point, not a final offer number. For official wage tables, review the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables, then compare against active postings, union scales, and project-specific requirements. National reference: 6.4 million construction and extraction jobs and an annual mean wage of $65,360 for May 2025.
| State | BLS Mean Annual Wage | BLS Mean Hourly Wage | Vs. U.S. Mean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $51,630 | $24.82 | Below by 21.0% |
| Alaska | $81,250 | $39.06 | Above by 24.3% |
| Arizona | $60,040 | $28.86 | Below by 8.1% |
| Arkansas | $48,650 | $23.39 | Below by 25.6% |
| California | $78,280 | $37.64 | Above by 19.8% |
| Colorado | $64,170 | $30.85 | Below by 1.8% |
| Connecticut | $72,940 | $35.07 | Above by 11.6% |
| Delaware | $59,440 | $28.58 | Below by 9.1% |
| District of Columbia | $65,510 | $31.50 | Above by 0.2% |
| Florida | $56,810 | $27.31 | Below by 13.1% |
| Georgia | $55,040 | $26.46 | Below by 15.8% |
| Hawaii | $84,200 | $40.48 | Above by 28.8% |
| Idaho | $56,490 | $27.16 | Below by 13.6% |
| Illinois | $81,670 | $39.27 | Above by 25.0% |
| Indiana | $61,480 | $29.56 | Below by 5.9% |
| Iowa | $62,310 | $29.96 | Below by 4.7% |
| Kansas | $57,280 | $27.54 | Below by 12.4% |
| Kentucky | $54,020 | $25.97 | Below by 17.3% |
| Louisiana | $60,900 | $29.28 | Below by 6.8% |
| Maine | $62,330 | $29.97 | Below by 4.6% |
| Maryland | $71,140 | $34.20 | Above by 8.8% |
| Massachusetts | $81,330 | $39.10 | Above by 24.4% |
| Michigan | $64,320 | $30.92 | Below by 1.6% |
| Minnesota | $75,150 | $36.13 | Above by 15.0% |
| Mississippi | $49,190 | $23.65 | Below by 24.7% |
| Missouri | $70,120 | $33.71 | Above by 7.3% |
| Montana | $62,140 | $29.88 | Below by 4.9% |
| Nebraska | $63,850 | $30.70 | Below by 2.3% |
| Nevada | $70,390 | $33.84 | Above by 7.7% |
| New Hampshire | $66,800 | $32.12 | Above by 2.2% |
| New Jersey | $80,460 | $38.69 | Above by 23.1% |
| New Mexico | $58,370 | $28.06 | Below by 10.7% |
| New York | $76,640 | $36.85 | Above by 17.3% |
| North Carolina | $56,420 | $27.13 | Below by 13.7% |
| North Dakota | $66,160 | $31.81 | Above by 1.2% |
| Ohio | $67,780 | $32.58 | Above by 3.7% |
| Oklahoma | $54,420 | $26.16 | Below by 16.7% |
| Oregon | $75,990 | $36.54 | Above by 16.3% |
| Pennsylvania | $68,180 | $32.78 | Above by 4.3% |
| Rhode Island | $63,810 | $30.68 | Below by 2.4% |
| South Carolina | $54,450 | $26.18 | Below by 16.7% |
| South Dakota | $57,490 | $27.64 | Below by 12.0% |
| Tennessee | $55,710 | $26.78 | Below by 14.8% |
| Texas | $57,860 | $27.82 | Below by 11.5% |
| Utah | $57,860 | $27.82 | Below by 11.5% |
| Vermont | $67,310 | $32.36 | Above by 3.0% |
| Virginia | $59,630 | $28.67 | Below by 8.8% |
| Washington | $82,360 | $39.60 | Above by 26.0% |
| West Virginia | $59,660 | $28.68 | Below by 8.7% |
| Wisconsin | $69,810 | $33.56 | Above by 6.8% |
| Wyoming | $64,200 | $30.86 | Below by 1.8% |
Why Some States Pay More for Construction Work
Construction pay is shaped by more than job title. Regional economics, labor supply, project type, regulation, and cost of living all move wages.
- Cost of living: states with higher housing, transportation, and daily expenses pay more to compete.
- Union strength: stronger union markets carry higher wages, better benefits, and more structured pay progression.
- Prevailing wage rules: public work and infrastructure programs lift baseline pay in certain markets.
- Labor demand: fast-growth metros and full project pipelines tighten the labor market and push wages up.
- Remote or difficult conditions: Alaska, Hawaii, and other hard-to-staff markets pay more to attract workers.
- Licensing barriers: stricter requirements shrink the labor pool and hold wages higher.
Two similar construction jobs can pay very different wages depending on the state. For employers and candidates alike, location matters almost as much as the role.
Why State Averages Do Not Set Your Salary Band
State medians tell you the market you are hiring in. They do not tell you what to pay the specific person. Here is the short version of how to turn a state number into a band:
- Start with the state median for the role, not the national average.
- Adjust up for project size, complexity, and owner exposure.
- Adjust up again if the role is hard to fill in that state right now.
- Add the full package (bonus, per diem, vehicle, retirement) before you compare offers.
Two contractors in the same state can post the same title and describe very different jobs. One needs a construction manager for a $12M tenant build. The other needs one to run a $120M hospital with a hard owner and a tight schedule. Same title, same state, very different risk. The number should follow the risk, not the title.
The expensive mistake is treating a salary survey as the answer instead of the starting point. When title, pay, and real responsibility do not line up, the field is the first place it shows, and the cost lands on your schedule and your margin, not on the spreadsheet.
Construction Salary by Role
State matters, but the role still drives earnings. A laborer, carpenter, electrician, equipment operator, superintendent, project manager, and estimator should not be compared with one flat number.
- General labor: sits below licensed trades and leadership roles.
- Carpenters and equipment operators: swing widely by union status, project type, and metro.
- Electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, and HVAC: command stronger pay where licensing and demand are tight.
- Superintendents and project managers: track with sector, project size, travel, and leadership scope.
- Estimators and preconstruction leaders: earn more when they support complex commercial, industrial, or infrastructure work.
For leadership pay bands, review TBG’s Construction Salary Guide. For a deeper look at construction project manager salary by experience and state, see TBG’s dedicated PM pay guide.
What Hiring Managers Should Take From the 2026 Data
Use state data to price the market. Use the role to price the person.
Before you set the band, answer the questions the number cannot: How large and how complex is the work? How much owner exposure comes with it? How thin is the talent pool for this role in this state right now? And the one that matters most, what does it cost you if this hire is wrong or slow. A delayed or mis-set senior hire costs schedule, margin, and client trust long after you have saved a few thousand on base.
If you are hiring across state lines, do not carry one state’s band into another. A competitive offer in one market can be ten to twenty percent light in another for the same role. That gap is exactly where good candidates go quiet and take the counteroffer.
Employers who want help pressure-testing compensation before outreach can work with TBG’s construction recruiting team.
What Candidates Should Take From State Pay Differences
If you are comparing markets, the state number is the easy part. The number on the page is not the offer.
A higher state median can come with a higher cost of living, more travel, or a market where the work is harder to hold. A lower median can come with a lower tax burden, a shorter commute, and a company that treats the role well. Read the full package: base, bonus, per diem, vehicle, retirement, and the quality of the backlog you would be working.
Judge your value by what you control and what happens when you are not there, not by the title alone. If your company would feel your absence across more than one project, you are probably being paid for a smaller job than the one you are doing. Comparing opportunities now? Review current construction job openings.
What the Base Salary Number Leaves Out
Every figure on this page is base salary. In construction leadership, base is rarely the whole offer, and the gap is where good candidates make their decision.
A real package for a construction manager or senior field leader usually adds a bonus tied to project or company performance, a vehicle allowance or truck, per diem on travel jobs, a retirement match, and sometimes a stake in the work through profit sharing. Two offers with the same base can sit twenty percent apart once the rest is counted.
It also explains why a state’s mean runs above its median. For construction managers, the national mean is $124,360 against a $114,990 median. A smaller group of high earners on large, complex work pulls the average up. If your project belongs in that group, the median is not your number.
Construction Salary by State 2026: FAQ
What is the average construction salary by state in 2026?
It varies widely. For all construction and extraction occupations, the 2026 national mean is $65,360, with state means running from about $48,650 in Arkansas to $84,200 in Hawaii. For construction managers specifically, the national median is $114,990, and the top states run past $155,000.
Which state pays construction workers the most in 2026?
For construction and extraction occupations overall, Hawaii ($84,200 mean), Washington ($82,360), Illinois ($81,670), Massachusetts ($81,330), and Alaska ($81,250) lead. For construction managers, New York ($155,360) and Washington ($155,070) top the list. Rankings shift by occupation, metro, and union scale.
How much do construction supervisors make by state in 2026?
First-line construction supervisors earn a national median of $79,920. They clear six figures at the median in Washington ($109,570), Illinois ($105,750), New Jersey ($105,510), Oregon ($103,070), and Hawaii ($102,630).
Do these construction salary figures include bonuses?
No. Every figure is base salary from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Real packages add bonus, per diem, vehicle, and retirement, which can move two offers 20 percent apart on the same base.
Is it worth moving to another state for higher construction pay?
It depends on housing costs, taxes, benefits, and long-term growth. A higher-paying state can leave less in your pocket once cost of living is counted, so compare total compensation, not just base salary, before you move.
Final Takeaway
Construction salaries by state in 2026 are a map of where the risk and the demand are, not a price tag you can copy.
The national median for a construction manager is $114,990, but the top states run past $155,000, and field supervisors clear six figures at the median in several markets. Use the state numbers to understand the market you are hiring in or moving into. Then price the actual role, in the actual state, for the actual work.
The contractors who win talent in 2026 will not be the ones chasing a national average. They will be the ones who read the market by state and pay for the risk the person is taking off the company.
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