Construction Manager salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Construction Managers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $128,730 a year ($61.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $85,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $174,870 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $114,990. Pay here is 3% lower than the California statewide median of $133,160. There are 1.5 construction managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $129,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for construction managers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,080 | $40.90 |
| 25th percentile | $99,430 | $47.80 |
| Median | $128,730 | $61.89 |
| 75th percentile | $153,660 | $73.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $174,870 | $84.07 |
| Average (mean) | $129,570 | $62.30 |
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 | $10,727.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,363.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,951.15 |
| Weekly | $2,475.58 |
| Hourly | $61.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Construction Manager salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Construction Manager pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $138,640 | $66.66 |
| Managers, All Other | $170,650 | $82.04 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $81,130 | $39.00 |
| Food Service Manager | $77,470 | $37.25 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $157,630 | — |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $71,070 | $34.17 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $206,880 | $99.46 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $109,890 | $52.83 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $202,380 | $97.30 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $77,610 | $37.31 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $60,210 | $28.95 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $172,410 | $82.89 |
| General and Operations Managers | $105,360 | $50.65 |
| Sales Manager | $117,090 | $56.30 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for construction managers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $128,730 a year, or $61.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $85,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $174,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid construction managers make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of construction managers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $174,870 a year. The top 25% earn $153,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for construction managers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $85,080 a year, and a quarter of construction managers earn $99,430 or less.
How many construction managers work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 150 construction managers are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.