Construction Superintendent Salary in 2026: Real Pay, Range, and What Increases It
A construction superintendent earns a median base salary of $126,900 to $156,900 in 2026, depending on region, for a Superintendent I running $5 million to $49 million jobs, based on the TBG 2026 Construction Salary Survey. The full range runs from $87,000 for an assistant superintendent to $272,000 for a general superintendent on complex commercial, industrial, or mission-critical projects. Region moves pay almost as much as level: the median general superintendent earns $199,950 in the Midwest and $234,740 in the Northeast. Bonuses, truck allowances, per diem, and travel pay come on top of base salary and can add meaningfully to the total package.
That is why superintendent pay cannot be judged by title alone. A local site superintendent and a superintendent leading a phased hospital renovation or fast-track data center project may both carry the same job title, but they are not carrying the same risk, schedule pressure, coordination load, or hiring value.
| Source | 2026 Pay Benchmark | How to Read It |
|---|---|---|
| TBG 2026 Construction Salary Survey | $110,340 to $182,040 (Superintendent I) | 20th to 80th percentile base pay from active searches, national. |
| BLS first-line construction supervisors | $79,920 median annual wage (May 2025) | Includes foremen, so it runs below superintendent pay. |
| BLS construction manager benchmark | $114,990 median annual wage (May 2025) | Public benchmark, but not superintendent-specific. |
These are benchmarks for one role. The 2026 Construction Salary Survey covers 22 construction leadership roles across six U.S. regions.
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Average Construction Superintendent Salary in 2026
An experienced Superintendent I earns $110,340 to $182,040 in base pay nationally in the TBG 2026 Construction Salary Survey. Public BLS data runs lower because it groups superintendents with foremen and other first-line supervisors: that group earned a $79,920 median in May 2025, per BLS wage data.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not separate superintendent pay from the broader construction manager category. It reports a $114,990 median annual wage for construction managers as of May 2025, plus a 9 percent projected employment increase from 2025 to 2035. That makes BLS a useful public benchmark, not the full superintendent market. TBG’s 2026 Construction Salary Survey, built from active searches, runs higher:
- Superintendent I: $110,000 to $182,000
- Superintendent II: $107,000 to $215,000
- Superintendent III: $145,000 to $213,000
- Superintendent IV / General Superintendent: $174,000 to $272,000
For a broader view of management, superintendent, and estimating roles, compare this article with The Birmingham Group 2026 Construction Salary Survey.
Why Superintendent Pay Swings So Much
Superintendent pay swings when the job carries more risk. A title alone does not tell the full story. The market pays for scope, judgment, schedule control, trade coordination, safety leadership, and the ability to keep problems from becoming expensive.
Here is the real field difference. One superintendent may run a local commercial build with a steady schedule and known subcontractor base. Another may run a phased hospital renovation with occupied spaces, night work, infection control, owner pressure, and zero room for sloppy coordination. The second role should pay more. It carries more exposure.
That is where hiring teams get into trouble. They price the title instead of the assignment. Strong candidates know the difference.
Pay usually moves higher when the superintendent owns:
- larger project size or multiple active phases
- technical work in healthcare, industrial, infrastructure, or data centers
- compressed schedules with major liquidated-damage risk
- travel, per diem, or remote-site assignments
- direct subcontractor control and owner-facing pressure
Hiring managers using old ranges will lose people. Candidates using one national average will underprice themselves. The smarter move is to compare base pay, bonus, vehicle allowance, benefits, project risk, and long-term path together.
Construction Superintendent Salary by Experience Level
| Level | Typical Base Salary | What Employers Are Paying For |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Superintendent | $87,000 to $134,000 | Field support, documentation, punch work, and early trade coordination. |
| Superintendent I | $110,000 to $182,000 | Smaller projects, defined scopes, and growing schedule ownership. |
| Superintendent II | $107,000 to $215,000 | Full site control, subcontractor leadership, sequencing, and client pressure. |
| Superintendent III | $145,000 to $213,000 | Large projects, difficult phases, field teams, and higher schedule risk. |
| General Superintendent | $174,000 to $272,000 | Multi-project field leadership, standards, staffing, and operations support. |
The biggest jump often comes when a superintendent moves from helping the job to owning the job. That is the point where compensation starts following accountability.
Active superintendent openings at general contractors nationwide are listed on TBG’s construction jobs board.
Location, Project Type, and Total Compensation
Location still matters. High-cost states and metros can pay more, but higher pay does not always mean higher buying power. The BEA Regional Price Parities show that California, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. had some of the highest 2024 price levels. Salary reviews should account for cost of living, not just the offer number. Our guide to construction salary by region shows how much more Northeast contractors pay field leaders than the other five regions. Contractors hiring superintendents in these high-cost markets often use specialized help. Our Southern California construction recruiters place field leaders across Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, and San Diego.
Project type matters just as much. Commercial work may sit near the national range. Healthcare, infrastructure, industrial, and data center work often command more. These projects carry harder sequencing, tighter documentation, more safety exposure, and more owner pressure.
The 2026 survey reports superintendent pay by level and region, not by sector, so there is no reliable sector premium to quote. Use the level ranges above and expect complex projects to price toward the top of them.
Total compensation can change the real value of the offer. A $118,000 base with a strong bonus plan, truck allowance, per diem, and paid benefits may beat a $128,000 base with weak support. That is why salary benchmarking should include the full package.
Union exposure can shape market expectations too. BLS reported that full-time construction workers who were union members earned median weekly pay of $1,585 in 2025, compared with $1,132 for nonunion construction workers. That data is broad and not superintendent-specific, but it still affects local wage pressure in union-heavy markets.
Skills raise pay only when they reduce jobsite risk. OSHA 30, strong plan reading, daily reporting, look-ahead scheduling, trade sequencing, RFI awareness, and clean closeout habits all matter. Digital field tools matter too, but only when the superintendent uses them to improve control. A Procore daily log does not create value by itself. A superintendent who uses field data to spot delays early creates value.
The best-paid superintendents tend to share one trait. They make the job feel controlled. They keep owners informed, push subcontractors without losing trust, and make decisions before small problems reach the pay application or the punch list.
Construction Superintendent Salary by State in 2026
State location is one of the strongest factors in superintendent pay. High-cost states with active project pipelines consistently pay above the national median of $114,990. The table below shows BLS wage data for construction managers (SOC 11-9021), the federal category covering most superintendent roles, in 15 of the most active states, May 2025.
| State | Median (May 2025) | 90th Percentile | Primary Market Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $155,360 | $244,590 | Strong union market, large commercial and infrastructure |
| Washington | $155,070 | $217,920 | Data center concentration, tech campus builds |
| California | $133,160 | $211,970 | High COL, data center and commercial pipeline |
| Colorado | $124,830 | $191,450 | Denver metro growth, industrial and data centers |
| Virginia | $119,110 | $183,980 | Federal, defense, and data center corridor |
| Nevada | $115,250 | $175,640 | Las Vegas hospitality, industrial and data center surge |
| Arizona | $114,680 | $168,560 | Phoenix semiconductor and data center build boom |
| Florida | $113,130 | $209,450 | Healthcare, hospitality, and multi-family statewide |
| Georgia | $110,810 | $180,750 | Atlanta commercial growth, manufacturing and industrial |
| Illinois | $109,160 | $172,410 | Chicago union market, healthcare and commercial |
| Pennsylvania | $108,250 | $173,160 | Philadelphia and Pittsburgh commercial and healthcare |
| North Carolina | $106,640 | $176,690 | Research Triangle, data centers and life sciences |
| Michigan | $103,230 | $171,340 | EV, semiconductor, and manufacturing facility projects |
| Ohio | $101,980 | $161,410 | Intel campus, Columbus and Cleveland industrial |
| Texas | $101,470 | $166,800 | Houston, DFW, and Austin volume and project scale |
Source: BLS OEWS, Construction Managers (11-9021), May 2025. Figures cover all construction managers in each state. Experienced superintendents typically price between the median and the 90th percentile, with complex-sector roles at and above the 90th.
For a full breakdown across all 50 states and 30+ construction roles, download the 2026 TBG Construction Salary Survey.
To look up superintendent pay for one level in one region, or compare it with other field and office roles, use our construction salary calculator.
Construction Superintendent Hourly Rate in 2026
Superintendent pay is structured as annual salary, not hourly. But converting to an hourly equivalent helps candidates compare offers against contract roles, evaluate per diem structures, and assess the real value of compressed schedules. Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year:
| Role Level | Annual Salary Range | Hourly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Superintendent | $87,000 to $134,000 | $42 to $64 per hour |
| Superintendent I to II | $107,000 to $215,000 | $51 to $103 per hour |
| Superintendent III | $145,000 to $213,000 | $70 to $102 per hour |
| General Superintendent | $174,000 to $272,000 | $84 to $131 per hour |
Most salaried superintendents do not receive overtime pay. Field hours on active projects regularly exceed 50 per week, which compresses the effective hourly rate. That is one more reason total compensation including per diem, truck allowance, and bonus structure matters more than base salary alone for superintendents on travel or compressed-schedule assignments.
Superintendents targeting the next career step will see those hourly equivalents move. A senior superintendent salary typically starts around $145,000 in base pay at the Superintendent III level, pushing the hourly equivalent past $70, a jump that reflects the move from running a single project to carrying harder phases, larger field teams, and more owner-facing pressure. Field leaders still working as a general foreman typically sit in the $34 to $57 per hour equivalent range ($70,560 to $118,670 base in the 2026 survey), making the step to full superintendent one of the bigger compensation moves in field leadership.
What Candidates and Hiring Teams Should Do With the Numbers
Candidates should not walk into a salary talk with only one national average. Bring the project facts. Know your sector, project size, schedule pressure, travel load, safety record, closeout history, and owner-facing experience. Those details make the salary case stronger. Put the same facts on paper first: our construction resume guide shows how to lead with the numbers recruiters screen for.
Construction professionals who need a wider market read can use TBG’s construction career resources to compare roles, timing, and compensation before making a move. Weighing the step up? See how the construction site supervisor role compares with the superintendent job.
Hiring teams should do the same work from the other side. A flat superintendent range will not work across every market. The right number depends on the job you need done. If the role protects schedule, margin, safety, and owner trust, price it like a business-critical hire.
Companies reviewing compensation should compare their ranges against the construction salary guide, then use those numbers to tighten offers before strong candidates walk.
If superintendent hiring is slowing projects down, The Birmingham Group supports contractors through construction recruiting built around field leadership, project scope, and real market pay. GCs opening a superintendent search will find compensation benchmarks and process guides in TBG’s hiring manager resources.
Setting the band is one problem. Filling the seat is another, because the strongest supers are running jobs and are not applying anywhere, which is why contractors bring in a construction superintendent recruiter instead of posting the role.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do construction superintendents make?
Construction superintendents make between $87,000 for assistant superintendents and $272,000 for general superintendents in 2026. TBG’s 2026 Construction Salary Survey puts Superintendent I at $110,000 to $182,000 and Superintendent II at $107,000 to $215,000. General superintendents earn $174,000 to $272,000. Bonus, per diem, and truck allowance add meaningful dollars on top of base.
How much does a construction superintendent make in 2026?
TBG’s 2026 Construction Salary Survey puts Superintendent I to II roles at $107,000 to $215,000. Assistant superintendents start around $87,000. Senior and general superintendents on large or complex projects earn $174,000 to $272,000 in base pay at the general superintendent level.
What is the average construction superintendent salary in 2026?
TBG’s 2026 Construction Salary Survey, built from active searches, shows Superintendent I to II roles at $107,000 to $215,000 and general superintendents at $174,000 to $272,000.
Why do superintendent salaries vary so much?
Pay changes with project size, location, sector, schedule pressure, safety risk, travel, and the level of field ownership required.
Which superintendent roles pay the most?
General superintendents (Superintendent IV) pay the most: $174,000 to $272,000 in base pay in the 2026 survey, with the highest regional median in the Northeast at $234,740.
Should candidates compare base salary or total compensation?
Total compensation matters more. Bonus, truck allowance, per diem, benefits, PTO, and travel terms can change the real value of an offer.
How should employers set superintendent pay?
Employers should price the assignment, not the title. A role with higher risk, larger scope, or tighter schedule pressure needs stronger compensation.
MEP superintendents in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing specialties carry different pay bands than commercial field leaders. The MEP superintendent salary guide breaks down what those specialty roles command in 2026 by market.
In the 2026 survey, project managers and Superintendent I roles price almost the same: Northeast medians are $157,210 and $156,900, and Southwest medians are $133,810 and $126,900. Current construction project manager salary data shows where those ranges land by market and project type in 2026.
Get the Full 2026 Construction Salary Data
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