Construction Manager salary in California
Construction Managers in California earn a median of $133,160 a year ($64.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 34,750 workers.
Pay ranges from $82,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $211,970 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $114,990. California ranks 6th of 51 states for construction managers pay. There are 1.9 construction managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $141,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for construction managers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,100 | $39.47 |
| 25th percentile | $102,780 | $49.41 |
| Median | $133,160 | $64.02 |
| 75th percentile | $168,070 | $80.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $211,970 | $101.91 |
| Average (mean) | $141,670 | $68.11 |
Half of construction managers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,096.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,548.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,121.54 |
| Weekly | $2,560.77 |
| Hourly | $64.02 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Construction Manager salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $166,030 | 5,160 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $163,040 | 1,850 |
| Napa, CA | $138,730 | 180 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $133,210 | 3,800 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $132,620 | 290 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $131,680 | 10,120 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $130,700 | 580 |
| El Centro, CA | $130,630 | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $129,440 | 2,760 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $128,730 | 150 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $128,220 | 370 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $127,890 | 720 |
| Yuba City, CA | $126,200 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $126,040 | 3,450 |
| Modesto, CA | $125,800 | 380 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $124,700 | 560 |
| Vallejo, CA | $122,630 | 400 |
| Salinas, CA | $120,430 | 220 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $120,210 | 560 |
| Chico, CA | $119,660 | 140 |
| Merced, CA | $119,150 | 100 |
| Fresno, CA | $118,500 | 910 |
| Redding, CA | $111,500 | 150 |
| Visalia, CA | $104,250 | 230 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $103,870 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for construction managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $155,360 |
| Washington | $155,070 |
| Massachusetts | $145,010 |
| Alaska | $139,190 |
| New Jersey | $138,230 |
| California | $133,160 |
| Delaware | $132,150 |
| Oregon | $131,420 |
| New Hampshire | $129,260 |
| Hawaii | $128,910 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $174,560 | $83.92 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $141,480 | $68.02 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $77,030 | $37.04 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $83,210 | $40.01 |
| Food Service Manager | $78,260 | $37.63 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $159,950 | — |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $210,280 | $101.10 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $210,230 | $101.07 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $125,460 | $60.32 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $99,650 | $47.91 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $67,100 | $32.26 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $79,550 | $38.25 |
| Lodging Manager | $76,950 | $37.00 |
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | $77,840 | $37.42 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-9021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction manager make in California?
The median salary for construction managers in California is $133,160 a year, or $64.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $82,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $211,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid construction managers make in California?
The top 10% of construction managers in California earn at least $211,970 a year. The top 25% earn $168,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for construction managers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $82,100 a year, and a quarter of construction managers earn $102,780 or less.
How many construction managers work in California?
About 34,750 construction managers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.