Construction Manager Salary in California: $140,787 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 158 metropolitan areas, the average median construction manager pay sits at $140,787/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 11-9021. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $124,480 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Oakland ($169,809), Sunnyvale ($166,868), Fremont ($166,063).

Construction Manager Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California construction manager salary overview (2026)

$140,787

Avg Median Salary

$67.69

Avg Hourly Rate

36,269

Metro Employed

158

Cities

The landscape for construction manager salaries in California is significantly higher than the national average, with a 2026 average median salary of $140,787 compared to the national median of $118,923, reflecting a difference of +18.4%. Salary disparities exist between cities; for example, Oakland leads at $175,616, while Hanford is at the lower end with $107,422, creating a $68,194 gap. This variation is primarily driven by factors such as the cost of living, demand for skilled labor, and the scale of projects in different regions. California's construction managers are subject to specific state licensing requirements and practice laws, which can influence earning potential. The state's robust economy, urban development, and continuous infrastructure projects drive demand, contributing to a projected annual growth rate of 3.42% in employment. Top cities for construction manager employment are Oakland, Sunnyvale at $172,575, Fremont at $171,742, San Francisco at $171,708, and Santa Clara at $171,442. This concentration suggests a strong job market for professionals in this field, especially in metropolitan areas where construction activity is higher. With a total of 36,269 construction managers employed in the state, the outlook remains positive for individuals entering or advancing in this profession.

California Construction Manager Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$84,959

avg across 158 cities

Median

$140,787

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$214,676

avg across 158 cities

Overall salary range in California: $51,224 (lowest entry-level) to $272,206 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$140,787

National Median

$118,923

California construction managers earn 18.39% more than the national median (+$21,864/year difference).

California Construction Manager Salary Distribution (2026)

Construction Manager salaries in California range from $84,959 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $214,676 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $140,787. The California median is $21,864 above the US national median of $118,923. The average hourly rate is $67.69/hr. Approximately 36,269 construction managers are employed across 158 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$112,069

2025 BLS Actual

$136,131

2026 Current Est.

$140,787

2019–2027 Growth

+29.9%

Salary Trajectory for Construction Managers in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.42% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$112,069	Actual
2020	$118,460	Actual
2021	$109,922	Actual
2022	$116,780	Actual
2023	$121,835	Actual
2024	$133,280	Actual
2025	$136,131	Actual
2026(current)	$140,787	Estimated
2027	$145,602	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median construction manager salary grew 21.5% from $112,069 (2019) to $136,131 (2025). At a 3.42% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $145,602 by 2027 — a total increase of $33,533 (29.92%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.42% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Oakland

78 employed · $84.43/hr

$175,616

+24.74% vs avg

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $82.96/hr

$172,575

+22.58% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $82.57/hr

$171,742

+21.99% vs avg

San Francisco

5,160 employed · $82.55/hr

$171,708

+21.96% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $82.43/hr

$171,442

+21.77% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Hanford	$107,422	-23.70%	$51.65
Visalia	$107,815	-23.42%	$51.83
Redding	$115,313	-18.09%	$55.44
Fresno	$122,553	-12.95%	$58.92
Lodi	$122,605	-12.91%	$58.95

Best Value Cities for Construction Managers in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for construction managers.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Oakland	$175,616	113.1	$155,275
San Jose	$168,616	110.423	$152,700
Sunnyvale	$172,575	113.1	$152,586
Fremont	$171,742	113.1	$151,850
Santa Clara	$171,442	113.1	$151,584

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$84,959	$40.85	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$140,787	$67.69	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$214,676	$103.21	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 158 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Oakland	$175,616	$84.43	$101,857	$272,206	78
2	Sunnyvale	$172,575	$82.96	$102,745	$267,491	26
3	Fremont	$171,742	$82.57	$99,611	$266,201	43
4	San Francisco	$171,708	$82.55	$104,361	$232,819	5,160
5	Santa Clara	$171,442	$82.43	$100,263	$265,736	32
6	San Jose	$168,616	$81.07	$101,248	$258,540	1,850
7	Napa	$143,475	$68.98	$86,170	$225,207	180
8	Anaheim	$138,608	$66.63	$80,393	$214,842	51
9	Santa Ana	$138,286	$66.49	$80,206	$214,343	69
10	Chula Vista	$137,926	$66.31	$79,997	$213,786	51
11	San Diego	$137,766	$66.23	$85,104	$215,476	3,800
12	Santa Maria	$137,156	$65.94	$85,425	$221,164	290
13	Long Beach	$136,635	$65.69	$79,249	$211,785	89
14	Carlsbad	$136,614	$65.68	$84,677	$211,751	23
15	Los Angeles	$136,183	$65.48	$78,320	$219,592	10,120
16	Fontana	$135,727	$65.26	$78,722	$210,377	32
17	Irvine	$135,578	$65.19	$81,156	$210,146	72
18	Oxnard	$135,170	$64.99	$86,294	$199,084	580
19	El Centro	$135,098	$64.95	$85,425	$201,669	60
20	Pomona	$134,917	$64.87	$79,782	$209,120	36
21	Simi Valley	$134,842	$64.82	$80,026	$209,006	23
22	Escondido	$134,811	$64.81	$80,093	$208,957	31
23	Folsom	$134,772	$64.79	$78,168	$208,896	17
24	Thousand Oaks	$134,624	$64.72	$84,897	$208,667	32
25	Fairfield	$134,568	$64.70	$79,424	$208,581	25
26	Fullerton	$134,073	$64.46	$77,937	$207,812	25
27	Daly City	$133,957	$64.40	$77,695	$207,633	20
28	El Monte	$133,914	$64.38	$78,131	$207,567	20
29	Sacramento	$133,867	$64.36	$82,043	$205,475	2,760
30	Vista	$133,841	$64.35	$77,970	$207,453	24
31	Concord	$133,809	$64.33	$77,901	$207,404	29
32	Clovis	$133,608	$64.23	$77,493	$207,093	19
33	Garden Grove	$133,472	$64.17	$77,414	$206,881	37
34	Temecula	$133,440	$64.15	$77,395	$206,832	25
35	Santa Clarita	$133,351	$64.11	$80,358	$206,694	41
36	Roseville	$133,316	$64.09	$83,921	$206,639	35
37	Lancaster	$133,176	$64.03	$77,242	$206,423	40
38	Inglewood	$133,176	$64.03	$77,242	$206,423	21
39	Santa Cruz	$133,133	$64.01	$87,990	$180,851	150
40	Corona	$133,007	$63.94	$77,144	$206,162	24
41	Richmond	$132,987	$63.93	$77,133	$206,130	25
42	Rialto	$132,924	$63.90	$77,095	$206,031	17
43	Torrance	$132,754	$63.82	$76,997	$205,769	26
44	San Luis Obispo	$132,605	$63.75	$76,489	$195,536	370
45	Elk Grove	$132,502	$63.71	$76,851	$205,378	25
46	Oceanside	$132,470	$63.69	$76,833	$205,328	28
47	Whittier	$132,430	$63.67	$80,726	$205,267	22
48	San Rafael	$132,420	$63.67	$80,567	$205,251	11
49	Rancho Cucamonga	$132,301	$63.60	$76,735	$205,066	46
50	Bakersfield	$132,264	$63.59	$86,459	$211,153	720
51	Hayward	$132,228	$63.57	$76,692	$204,953	23
52	Woodland	$132,194	$63.55	$80,057	$204,900	15
53	Buena Park	$132,173	$63.54	$80,146	$204,868	20
54	Encinitas	$132,162	$63.54	$80,123	$204,852	16
55	Downey	$132,153	$63.53	$76,649	$204,838	22
56	Ontario	$132,108	$63.51	$76,623	$204,766	42
57	Dublin	$132,080	$63.50	$79,937	$204,724	14
58	Redlands	$132,038	$63.48	$79,844	$204,660	16
59	Chino	$131,966	$63.45	$79,548	$204,547	17
60	Westminster	$131,925	$63.43	$79,050	$204,483	21
61	Santa Monica	$131,914	$63.42	$79,432	$204,468	20
62	San Mateo	$131,900	$63.42	$76,502	$204,445	21
63	Tulare	$131,863	$63.40	$79,317	$204,387	17
64	San Buenaventura	$131,816	$63.38	$83,424	$204,314	19
65	Mission Viejo	$131,728	$63.33	$79,151	$204,179	23
66	Moreno Valley	$131,727	$63.33	$77,469	$204,177	53
67	Pleasanton	$131,707	$63.32	$79,105	$204,147	16
68	Pasadena	$131,520	$63.23	$79,540	$203,856	35
69	Santee	$131,428	$63.19	$78,483	$203,714	9
70	Glendale	$131,309	$63.13	$82,312	$203,530	36
71	Mountain View	$131,242	$63.10	$78,070	$203,425	13
72	Pittsburg	$131,232	$63.10	$77,509	$203,410	19
73	Novato	$131,190	$63.08	$77,820	$203,345	11
74	Costa Mesa	$131,141	$63.04	$78,718	$203,268	23
75	Berkeley	$131,004	$62.98	$81,645	$203,057	23
76	Huntington Beach	$130,972	$62.97	$81,970	$203,007	50
77	Jurupa Valley	$130,856	$62.91	$81,716	$202,827	24
78	Hemet	$130,818	$62.89	$77,131	$202,768	14
79	Union City	$130,808	$62.89	$77,108	$202,752	11
80	West Covina	$130,793	$62.88	$81,579	$202,729	25
81	Chino Hills	$130,756	$62.86	$76,860	$202,672	21
82	Gilroy	$130,570	$62.78	$76,584	$202,384	10
83	Yuba City	$130,516	$62.74	$79,602	$189,197	70
84	San Bernardino	$130,512	$62.74	$75,697	$202,294	33
85	San Marcos	$130,497	$62.73	$75,890	$202,271	17
86	Tustin	$130,384	$62.68	$75,639	$202,095	18
87	San Ramon	$130,373	$62.68	$76,151	$202,079	19
88	Riverside	$130,351	$62.67	$83,357	$193,602	3,450
89	Eastvale	$130,250	$62.62	$75,879	$201,888	10
90	Murrieta	$130,245	$62.62	$80,518	$201,880	25
91	Vacaville	$130,245	$62.62	$80,518	$201,880	15
92	Brentwood	$130,188	$62.59	$75,743	$201,792	13
93	Hesperia	$130,126	$62.56	$75,607	$201,696	14
94	Lake Elsinore	$130,116	$62.56	$75,585	$201,679	18
95	Modesto	$130,102	$62.55	$85,590	$204,379	380
96	Citrus Heights	$129,950	$62.48	$75,371	$201,423	19
97	El Cajon	$129,833	$62.42	$75,391	$201,242	18
98	San Clemente	$129,795	$62.40	$75,281	$201,183	10
99	Bellflower	$129,743	$62.37	$75,251	$201,102	11
100	Palmdale	$129,686	$62.35	$79,179	$201,012	29
101	La Mirada	$129,685	$62.35	$81,241	$201,011	10
102	Apple Valley	$129,661	$62.34	$75,203	$200,974	19
103	Menifee	$129,622	$62.32	$79,173	$200,915	20
104	Yucaipa	$129,568	$62.29	$75,149	$200,830	14
105	Norwalk	$129,559	$62.29	$78,906	$200,817	22
106	Rancho Cordova	$129,444	$62.23	$75,078	$200,638	20
107	Montebello	$129,319	$62.18	$75,005	$200,446	16
108	Compton	$129,268	$62.15	$74,975	$200,365	25
109	Porterville	$129,175	$62.10	$74,922	$200,221	11
110	Lompoc	$129,158	$62.09	$80,161	$200,195	8
111	Santa Rosa	$128,965	$62.00	$76,500	$203,799	560
112	Hawthorne	$128,958	$62.00	$74,795	$199,884	13
113	Antioch	$128,916	$61.98	$77,528	$199,820	17
114	Burbank	$128,906	$61.97	$74,765	$199,804	22
115	Alhambra	$128,606	$61.83	$82,592	$199,339	13
116	Livermore	$128,606	$61.83	$78,313	$199,339	21
117	Orange	$128,568	$61.81	$76,916	$199,280	21
118	South Gate	$128,565	$61.81	$81,974	$199,275	25
119	Victorville	$128,537	$61.79	$76,848	$199,231	30
120	West Sacramento	$128,492	$61.77	$81,812	$199,163	9
121	Poway	$128,459	$61.76	$78,557	$199,111	8
122	San Leandro	$128,285	$61.68	$81,746	$198,843	23
123	Indio	$128,142	$61.61	$81,032	$198,619	23
124	Lake Forest	$128,142	$61.61	$81,032	$198,619	14
125	Carson	$127,914	$61.49	$81,051	$198,266	21
126	Rocklin	$127,893	$61.48	$81,005	$198,234	10
127	Petaluma	$127,732	$61.41	$81,034	$197,984	12
128	Newport Beach	$127,676	$61.38	$80,525	$197,898	12
129	Redwood City	$127,666	$61.38	$80,371	$197,882	13
130	Turlock	$127,635	$61.36	$80,303	$197,834	17
131	Manteca	$127,593	$61.34	$80,342	$197,770	13
132	Perris	$127,583	$61.34	$79,796	$197,754	12
133	Madera	$127,480	$61.29	$80,091	$197,593	8
134	Baldwin Park	$127,252	$61.18	$79,459	$197,241	19
135	Palo Alto	$127,252	$61.18	$79,589	$197,241	15
136	Lakewood	$127,200	$61.15	$79,475	$197,161	19
137	Beaumont	$126,828	$60.98	$78,139	$196,584	9
138	Vallejo	$126,824	$60.98	$60,315	$209,291	400
139	Tracy	$126,797	$60.96	$78,591	$196,535	14
140	Alameda	$126,756	$60.95	$78,500	$196,471	12
141	Laguna Niguel	$126,725	$60.92	$77,912	$196,424	16
142	Milpitas	$126,663	$60.89	$78,296	$196,327	16
143	Camarillo	$126,394	$60.77	$77,710	$195,911	13
144	Oakley	$126,342	$60.74	$73,778	$195,830	8
145	Davis	$126,311	$60.73	$77,400	$195,782	14
146	Upland	$126,218	$60.69	$76,810	$195,638	18
147	La Habra	$126,033	$60.59	$76,793	$195,351	16
148	Lynwood	$125,981	$60.56	$76,811	$195,270	16
149	Salinas	$124,549	$59.88	$87,193	$187,438	220
150	Stockton	$124,321	$59.78	$75,672	$187,563	560
151	Brea	$123,831	$59.54	$78,342	$191,938	10
152	Chico	$123,752	$59.50	$82,229	$182,867	140
153	Merced	$123,225	$59.24	$85,911	$173,725	100
154	Lodi	$122,605	$58.95	$76,825	$190,038	14
155	Fresno	$122,553	$58.92	$77,596	$182,040	910
156	Redding	$115,313	$55.44	$51,224	$186,156	150
157	Visalia	$107,815	$51.83	$70,512	$178,244	230
158	Hanford	$107,422	$51.65	$80,719	$161,821	50

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore construction manager hourly pay in California cities.

Oakland →Sunnyvale →Fremont →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new construction managers.

Oakland →Sunnyvale →Fremont →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced construction managers.

Oakland →Sunnyvale →Fremont →

Compare Cities in California

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Explore More Construction Manager Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do construction managers make in California in 2026?

The average median construction manager salary in California is $140,787/year across 158 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $107,422 in Hanford to $175,616 in Oakland. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 18.39% above the national median of $118,923. The state employs approximately 36,269 construction managers.

What is the highest paying city for construction managers in California?

Oakland offers the highest construction manager salary in California at $175,616/year ($84.43/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Oakland ($175,616), Sunnyvale ($172,575), Fremont ($171,742). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for construction management services, and competition among employers for licensed construction managers.

How does California construction manager pay compare to the national average?

California's average construction manager salary of $140,787 is 18.39% above the national median of $118,923 in 2026. The state employs approximately 36,269 construction managers across 158 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level construction manager salary in California?

Entry-level construction managers (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $84,959/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $51,224 in lower-paying areas to $104,361 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many construction managers are employed in California?

California employs approximately 36,269 construction managers across 158 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of construction managers nationally. Demand continues to grow as the construction management field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for construction managers?

When adjusted for cost of living, Oakland offers the highest purchasing power for construction managers in California, with an adjusted salary of $155,275 (nominal: $175,616, CoL index: 113.1). This means your dollar goes 12% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

Written by Michael Johnson, MS, CCM

Career Analyst

Michael has 10 years of experience in construction management. He specializes in project scheduling and cost control. He works with a mid-sized general contracting firm.

Clinically reviewed by Sofia Patel, BS, PMPData verified by Rajesh Kumar, BS, CCM

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.42% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 construction manager compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 158 metro areas — larger metro areas with more construction managerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.42%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for construction managers (SOC 11-9021).

Compiled and verified by Michael Johnson, MS, CCM, a licensed construction manager with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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