Construction Superintendent Salary in Texas 2026: Pay Ranges, Top Markets, and What Drives the Number Up
Construction superintendent salary in Texas centers on a median of $101,470 for construction managers statewide, per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data (May 2025), with the top 10 percent earning above $166,800. Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Austin all run a step above the state median. For superintendent-specific bands, TBG’s 2026 Construction Salary Survey benchmarks the Southwest region at $111,100 to $141,900 base for a working superintendent and $174,740 to $245,240 for a general superintendent.
Neither figure tells the full story because Texas is not one market. A superintendent in Dallas, Houston, or Austin operates in a different competitive environment than one in a smaller secondary market, and that difference shows up in the offer.
Total compensation in Texas regularly runs 10 to 20 percent above base salary when you factor in truck allowances, per diem, bonuses, and profit-sharing structures tied to project performance.
Construction Superintendent Salary in Texas by Market
Texas has several major construction markets, and the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program tracks construction managers (SOC 11-9021), the category covering most superintendent roles, in each of them. May 2025 data:
| Market | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $103,530 | $133,840 | $170,590 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $103,550 | $133,030 | $166,770 |
| Austin | $102,980 | $134,400 | $169,110 |
| Texas Statewide | $101,470 | $131,570 | $166,800 |
Source: BLS OEWS, Construction Managers (11-9021), May 2025. Base wages only.
The three big metros sit within a few hundred dollars of each other at the median. The separation happens at the top of the distribution, where project type and scope decide the number.
Dallas-Fort Worth has sustained high construction volume across data centers, logistics, commercial mixed-use, healthcare, and corporate campuses. Competition for experienced superintendents is real, and contractors who are slow to move on qualified candidates feel it.
Houston competes with DFW for top talent. Industrial, petrochemical, and energy sector work drives demand for superintendents with self-perform experience and the ability to manage complex mechanical and process-tied schedules.
Austin and San Antonio are growing markets with strong multifamily, commercial, and public-sector pipelines. San Antonio pay tends to run below the big three but has been climbing as volume increases and the labor pool tightens.
Construction Superintendent Salary in Texas by Role Level
Title alone does not determine pay in Texas. What matters is the scope of work the superintendent is actually carrying. TBG’s 2026 Construction Salary Survey benchmarks superintendent base pay across six U.S. regions. These are the Southwest ranges, 20th to 80th percentile.
| Role Level | Typical Project Size | Southwest Base Range |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Superintendent | $5M to $15M | $92,660 to $114,580 |
| Superintendent I | $5M to $49M | $111,100 to $141,900 |
| Superintendent II | $10M to $100M | $116,640 to $157,270 |
| Superintendent III | $50M to $250M | $151,180 to $196,690 |
| General Superintendent | $250M+ | $174,740 to $245,240 |
Source: 2026 TBG Construction Salary Survey, Southwest region, 20th to 80th percentile base salary. Figures exclude bonuses, per diem, vehicle allowances, and long-term incentives.
What Drives a Higher Superintendent Salary in Texas
Project type is the clearest driver. Superintendents with experience on data centers, healthcare facilities, industrial plants, or ground-up complex commercial work command more than those with only standard commercial or multifamily experience. Texas has a growing number of large data center and manufacturing projects that require superintendents who can manage technical coordination, tight sequencing, and compressed schedules.
Self-perform capability matters in industrial and heavy civil markets, particularly Houston. Contractors running their own concrete, steel, or mechanical work pay more for superintendents who can manage that work from the field.
Schedule accountability is priced into the offer at senior levels. A superintendent who has a track record of delivering on time across multiple project types carries a different market value than one who has only worked in a single sector.
Project volume drives up pay in DFW more than anywhere else in the state right now. Contractors competing for the same pool of qualified superintendents in a hot backlog environment are not offering average salaries.
Texas Construction Market Outlook and What It Means for Superintendent Pay
Texas is one of the most active construction states in the country. The Associated General Contractors of America consistently ranks Texas among the top states for construction employment and dollar volume. Data center development in the DFW corridor, semiconductor and manufacturing facilities in central Texas, healthcare expansion statewide, and ongoing infrastructure work are all running simultaneously.
That volume creates sustained pressure on the superintendent labor pool. Experienced superintendents in Texas are not sitting around waiting for calls. The best ones are usually working, usually valued by their current employer, and not actively applying. That is a recruiting reality that contractors in every Texas market are dealing with.
For hiring managers, this means salary benchmarks matter more now than they did two or three years ago. Offering the midpoint does not guarantee you close a strong candidate when that candidate has current options and knows what the market is paying. Contractors who want to pressure-test their offer before going to a candidate can use TBG’s 2026 Construction Salary Survey to see where their number sits against current Southwest regional ranges.
What Texas Superintendents Should Know About Their Market Value
If you are a superintendent in Texas and you have not checked the market in the last 18 months, there is a reasonable chance you are behind. Superintendents who want to see what is actively being recruited in Texas can browse current construction jobs or connect with TBG directly to have a confidential conversation about the market.
Base salary is only part of the picture. Truck allowances, per diem, phone and tool allowances, bonus structures tied to schedule and cost performance, and retirement contributions add meaningful dollars to the total package. Superintendents evaluating an offer or a raise conversation should be looking at the full picture, not just the base number.
Experience on high-demand project types, particularly data centers, healthcare, industrial, and mission-critical work, can move your market value well above the statewide median. If that is your background and you are earning at or below the $101,470 statewide median, the gap is worth understanding.
Construction Superintendent Salary Texas FAQs
What is the average construction superintendent salary in Texas?
The BLS reports a $101,470 median and $112,680 mean for construction managers in Texas (May 2025), the category covering most superintendent roles. TBG’s 2026 survey benchmarks Southwest superintendents at $111,100 to $141,900 base at the working level. Total compensation typically runs 10 to 20 percent higher.
Which Texas city pays the most for construction superintendents?
Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Austin sit within a few hundred dollars of each other at the median, from $102,980 to $103,550 per BLS May 2025 data. Houston edges the others at the 90th percentile at $170,590, driven by industrial and energy sector premiums.
What does a general superintendent earn in Texas?
TBG’s 2026 survey benchmarks Southwest general superintendents at $174,740 to $245,240 base for programs exceeding $250M. Superintendents running $50M to $250M work benchmark at $151,180 to $196,690. At firms with profit-sharing or performance bonus structures, total compensation exceeds those figures.
Does Texas pay more or less than the national average for superintendents?
Texas runs below the national benchmark at the median. BLS May 2025 data puts Texas construction managers at $101,470 against $114,990 nationally, reflecting the state’s lower cost structure. The gap narrows at the top of the market, where complex data center, industrial, and healthcare work prices competitively with national rates.
What types of projects pay the most for superintendents in Texas?
Data centers, healthcare, industrial, and mission-critical projects pay the most. Texas has a growing number of large-scale data center and manufacturing projects requiring superintendents with technical coordination experience and the ability to manage complex, schedule-sensitive builds.
