Construction Manager Salary in Burlington, NC: $108,043 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time construction manager in Burlington, NC earns a median $108,043/year (≈ $51.95/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 11-9021). Once you factor in Burlington's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 93.2), that paycheck buys what $115,931 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.9% below the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Burlington, NC, is seeing significant growth in the construction sector driven by a surge in mega-projects, particularly in data centers, semiconductor fabrication, and electric vehicle battery plants. As of 2026, the projected median annual salary for a construction manager in the area stands at $108,043, with a salary range from $74,183 at the 10th percentile to $167,365 at the 90th percentile. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, reflect the robust opportunities available to skilled professionals in this rapidly evolving market. Burlington's job market is strong, positioning construction managers to benefit from ongoing investment in the local economy.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $74,183 | $35.67 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $89,148 | $42.86 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $108,043 | $51.95 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $135,594 | $65.20 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $167,365 | $80.46 |
Median Salary Position
9.15% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Burlington
In Burlington, NC, the construction manager salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $93,182 (2026 est.). At $108,043, the local median is 9.15% below the national median of $118,923.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Burlington: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Burlington Construction Manager Pay Compares
Burlington median: $108,043/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Burlington Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $109,024 | -0.90% less |
| National Average | $118,923 | -9.15% less |
Construction Managers in Burlington, NC earn a median of $108,043 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.15% lower than the national median of $118,923 and 0.90% below the North Carolina state average of $109,024.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Burlington has a cost of living 6.80% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Burlington, NC has a cost-of-living index of 93.196 (below the national average of 100). A construction manager earning $108,043 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $115,931 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.3% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$90,110
2025 BLS Actual
$104,470
2026 Current Est.
$108,043
2019–2027 Growth
+24.0%
Salary Trajectory for Construction Managers in Burlington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.42% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $90,110 | Actual |
| 2020 | $93,450 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,660 | Actual |
| 2022 | $82,470 | Actual |
| 2023 | $99,580 | Actual |
| 2024 | $101,020 | Actual |
| 2025 | $104,470 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $108,043 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $111,738 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Burlington metropolitan area, the median construction manager salary grew 15.9% from $90,110 (2019) to $104,470 (2025). At a 3.42% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $111,738 by 2027 — a total increase of $21,628 (24.00%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Burlington 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $74,183 – $89,148 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $89,148 – $108,043 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $108,043 – $135,594 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $135,594 – $167,365 |
CM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual construction manager compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Construction Manager Job Market in Burlington
With 180 construction managers currently employed in Burlington, the job market for this role remains vibrant. The area's cost of living index, at 93.196, is lower than the national average, enhancing the purchasing power of construction manager pay in Burlington, NC. Top employers, including major general contractors like Bechtel and Skanska USA, typically offer higher salaries due to large-scale project requirements, while real estate developers may provide alternative roles with competitive compensation. The disparity in salaries often arises from factors such as project size, complexity, and the tier of the general contractor, as well as potential travel requirements tied to lucrative assignments. To maximize pay, construction managers should consider diversifying their experience by engaging in both general contractor and owner's representative roles, honing specialization in high-demand projects like healthcare or industrial developments, which tend to command premium compensation.
More salary data for Burlington, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $104,470 for construction managersin the Burlington metropolitan area. A 3.42% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). 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