Construction Managers Salary
Construction Managers in Kentucky make a median of $97,020 a year, or about $46.64 an hour. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $196K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $107,525 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 18.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $97K get you in Kentucky?
About construction managers
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for construction managers in Kentucky runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $115K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 18.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Kentucky can be a reasonable trade-off for construction managerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level construction managers (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $196K or more, a $142K spread from bottom to top.
Construction Managers salary by metro in Kentucky
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $102K | +5% | 970 |
| Bowling Green | $101K | +5% | 140 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $101K | +4% | 590 |
| Paducah | $98K | +1% | 90 |
| Elizabethtown | $92K | -5% | 60 |
| Owensboro | $92K | -6% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track construction managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a construction manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 18.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for construction managers in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new construction managers typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,231/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Kentucky?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $97K here vs. $115K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for construction managers?
Kentucky pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $115K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — below the national median.
How much do construction managers make in Kentucky?
The median is $97,020 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,850, and experienced construction managers can clear $195,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,063/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 18.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a construction managers salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median construction managers salary is worth about $107,525 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.