Construction Manager Salary in Milwaukee, WI: $123,246 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time construction manager in Milwaukee, WI earns a median $123,246/year (≈ $59.25/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 11-9021). Once you factor in Milwaukee's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 96.9), that paycheck buys what $127,140 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the Wisconsin state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Amidst a booming mega-project sector characterized by expansive developments in data centers, semiconductor fabs, and electric vehicle battery plants, the projected median annual salary for construction managers in Milwaukee stands at $123,246 for 2026. This figure reflects a competitive salary landscape, with a range extending from $79,809 at the lower end (P10) to $174,780 at the top (P90). This data is based on 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, and represents a slight edge of 3.64% above the national median of $118,923. The growth trajectory suggests a robust demand for construction managers, driven by the influx of large-scale projects requiring skilled leadership and management.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $79,809 | $38.37 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $103,461 | $49.73 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $123,246 | $59.25 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $143,878 | $69.18 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $174,780 | $84.03 |
Median Salary Position
3.64% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Milwaukee
In Milwaukee, WI, the construction manager salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $94,971 (2026 est.). At $123,246, the local median is 3.64% above the national median of $118,923.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Milwaukee: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Milwaukee Construction Manager Pay Compares
Milwaukee median: $123,246/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Milwaukee Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $118,923 | +3.64% more |
Construction Managers in Milwaukee, WI earn a median of $123,246 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.64% higher than the national median of $118,923.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Milwaukee has a cost of living 3.06% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Milwaukee, WI has a cost-of-living index of 96.937 (below the national average of 100). A construction manager earning $123,246 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $127,140 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.16% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$113,880
2025 BLS Actual
$119,170
2026 Current Est.
$123,246
2019–2027 Growth
+11.9%
Salary Trajectory for Construction Managers in Milwaukee (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.42% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $113,880 | Actual |
| 2020 | $114,580 | Actual |
| 2021 | $99,030 | Actual |
| 2022 | $100,350 | Actual |
| 2023 | $110,810 | Actual |
| 2024 | $111,300 | Actual |
| 2025 | $119,170 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $123,246 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $127,461 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Milwaukee metropolitan area, the median construction manager salary grew 4.6% from $113,880 (2019) to $119,170 (2025). At a 3.42% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $127,461 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,581 (11.93%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Milwaukee 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) | $79,809 – $103,461 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $103,461 – $123,246 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $123,246 – $143,878 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $143,878 – $174,780 |
CM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual construction manager compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Construction Manager Job Market in Milwaukee
In Milwaukee, approximately 1,680 construction managers are currently employed, indicating a solid local job market. The cost-of-living index in the city rests at 96.937, suggesting a favorable environment for take-home purchasing power compared to the national average. Among potential employers, top general contractors like Bechtel, Skanska USA, and Turner Construction typically offer the highest salaries, alongside specialty contractors and program management firms such as AECOM. Notably, the salary variance within this sector is influenced by project size and complexity, with mega-project managers often commanding salaries exceeding $200,000 in base pay. To maximize earnings in Milwaukee's construction manager pay scale, strategizing for positions in established firms or seeking specialty roles in high-demand sectors like healthcare or industrial projects could prove advantageous.
More salary data for Milwaukee, WI:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do construction managers make in Milwaukee, WI in 2026?
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a construction manager?
Can construction managers make $100K in Milwaukee?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted construction manager salary in Milwaukee?
How much does a construction manager make per hour in Milwaukee?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Wisconsin
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 $119,170 for construction managersin the Milwaukee 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