Construction Managers Salary
Construction Managers in California make a median of $133,160 a year, or about $64.02 an hour. The range runs from $82K at the entry level to $212K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $125,457 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 31.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $133K get you in California?
About construction managers
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for construction managers, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $115K. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level construction managers (10th percentile) start around $82K. Mid-career wages sit at $133K. Top earners bring in $212K or more, a $130K spread from bottom to top.
Construction Managers salary by metro in California
25 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $166K | +25% | 5,160 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $163K | +22% | 1,850 |
| Napa | $139K | +4% | 180 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $133K | +0% | 3,800 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $133K | -0% | 290 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $132K | -1% | 10,120 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $131K | -2% | 580 |
| El Centro | $131K | -2% | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $129K | -3% | 2,760 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $129K | -3% | 150 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $128K | -4% | 370 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $128K | -4% | 720 |
| Yuba City | $126K | -5% | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $126K | -5% | 3,450 |
| Modesto | $126K | -6% | 380 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $125K | -6% | 560 |
| Vallejo | $123K | -8% | 400 |
| Salinas | $120K | -10% | 220 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $120K | -10% | 560 |
| Chico | $120K | -10% | 140 |
| Merced | $119K | -11% | 100 |
| Fresno | $119K | -11% | 910 |
| Redding | $112K | -16% | 150 |
| Visalia | $104K | -22% | 230 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $104K | -22% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 25 metros
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Track construction managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a construction manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $133K, rent takes 31.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for construction managers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new construction managers typically earn — is $82K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,926/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is construction manager a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $133K here vs. $115K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for construction managers?
California pays $133K median vs. the U.S. average of $115K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $125K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do construction managers make in California?
The median is $133,160 a year, that works out to about $64 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $82,100, and experienced construction managers can clear $211,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $133K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,771/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 31.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a construction managers salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median construction managers salary is worth about $125,457 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do construction managers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.