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Construction Manager.

Houston.

$104,000

median salary, 3% below the national average

$81,000 to $135,000. Last updated August 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

If you are evaluating a Construction Manager offer in Houston, TX, here is the reality: $81,000 to $135,000, with $104,000 as the midpoint. 3% below the national average. Project size and sector determine the widest pay gaps. Do not accept the first number. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.

Salary range.

25th Percentile

$81,000

per year

Median

$104,000

per year

75th Percentile

$135,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$81,000$135,000

Orbyt estimate for Construction Manager in Houston, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.

Government benchmark for this occupation

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $103,530 for Construction Managers (SOC 11-9021) in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metropolitan area, based on 16,500 employed workers (May 2025 release).

10th percentile

$68,500

25th percentile

$81,780

Median

$103,530

75th percentile

$133,840

90th percentile

$170,590

Workers surveyed

16,500

BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Construction Managers (SOC 11-9021) rather than Construction Manager specifically. The Houston range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.

View the BLS source for SOC 11-9021

Salary by experience.

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $93,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$68,000

to $83,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$88,000

to $109,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$114,000

to $135,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$130,000

to $161,000

Total compensation.

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $31,000 to the total package.

Base

$104,000

Equity

$18,000

Bonus

$11,000

Signing

$2,000

Estimated total: $135,000

How Houston compares.

Houston, TX

$104,000

Cost of living: 3% below average

National Average

$107,000

Houston is $3,000 below

Construction Manager salary by city.

Construction Manager salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Jose, CA$151,000$117,000 to $196,0001.38x$109,000
Honolulu, HI$142,000$110,000 to $184,0001.30x$109,000
New York, NY$141,000$109,000 to $183,0001.28x$110,000
San Francisco, CA$140,000$109,000 to $182,0001.35x$104,000
Boston, MA$136,000$105,000 to $176,0001.22x$111,000
Seattle, WA$133,000$103,000 to $172,0001.24x$107,000
Washington DC, DC$132,000$103,000 to $172,0001.25x$106,000
Los Angeles, CA$131,000$102,000 to $171,0001.18x$111,000
Newark, NJ$126,000$98,000 to $164,0001.18x$107,000
Houston, TX$104,000$81,000 to $135,0000.97x$107,000

See all 81 cities for Construction Manager →

Salary by role in Houston.

Salary comparison by role in Houston
RoleMedianRange
CTO$285,000$222,000 to $371,000
CEO$269,000$196,000 to $372,000
General Counsel$263,000$205,000 to $342,000
Reinforcement Learning Engineer$105,000$73,000 to $151,000
Database Administrator$105,000$76,000 to $133,000
Construction Manager$104,000$81,000 to $135,000
Supply Chain Manager$102,000$78,000 to $136,000
Office Manager$102,000$79,000 to $138,000

What you should know.

The Construction Manager landscape in Houston is not what most salary sites will tell you. Houston's economy is deeply rooted in energy, with a growing presence in healthcare, aerospace, and technology. The Texas Medical Center is the world's largest, driving massive demand for clinical and research roles. Houston's low cost of living and no state income tax make it an attractive destination for professionals seeking strong purchasing power. Project size and sector determine the widest pay gaps. Managers overseeing $50M-plus commercial, healthcare, or data center projects earn 20 to 30% more than residential construction managers. PMP or CCM certifications add 10 to 15% to offers, and bilingual managers in diverse labor markets command additional premiums.

Assistant superintendents start at $55,000 to $68,000, moving to project manager at $78,000 to $110,000 within five to seven years. Senior construction managers earn $115,000 to $145,000, while directors of construction or VP roles at major general contractors reach $155,000 to $220,000. In Houston, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.

Base salary is not the full picture. Performance bonuses tied to project margins typically add 10 to 20% of base salary. Company vehicles or car allowances of $600 to $1,000 monthly are standard, and many firms offer profit-sharing plans that add $5,000 to $20,000 annually. And on the tax side: texas has no state income tax, giving Houston workers strong take home pay. The city's overall cost of living is below the national average, further stretching your salary. When someone quotes you $104,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Emphasize industry specialization in energy or healthcare. Houston employers pay significant premiums for domain expertise in these sectors over generalist candidates. The range for Construction Managers in Houston runs from $81,000 to $135,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology

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$

25th

$81,000

Median

$104,000

75th

$135,000

Considering a related role?

Common questions.

Strongly. Managers on projects under $10M earn $78,000 to $95,000, while those overseeing $50M-plus projects earn $110,000 to $145,000. The salary jump reflects the complexity of coordinating more subcontractors, managing larger budgets, and navigating more complex regulatory requirements.

Both matter, but experience typically wins. A degree provides a faster path to management at $65,000 to $80,000 starting, while field-promoted managers may start lower but catch up quickly. The highest earners combine formal education with 10-plus years of hands-on project leadership.

Texas has no state income tax, giving Houston workers strong take home pay. The city's overall cost of living is below the national average, further stretching your salary. When comparing offers across states, your take home pay matters more than the number on the offer letter. A lower salary in a no income tax state can net more than a higher one elsewhere.

Houston's economy is deeply rooted in energy, with a growing presence in healthcare, aerospace, and technology. The Texas Medical Center is the world's largest, driving massive demand for clinical and research roles. For Construction Managers specifically, the median salary of $104,000 reflects that demand.

Ask about equity structure, vesting schedule, annual bonus targets, 401(k) match, health insurance premiums, PTO policy, and remote flexibility. Performance bonuses tied to project margins typically add 10 to 20% of base salary. In Houston's market, these extras can add $26,000 or more on top of the base salary.

Houston's economy is driven by Energy & Oil/Gas, Healthcare, Aerospace & NASA, and Manufacturing. Construction Managers are hired across these sectors, though compensation can vary 15 to 25% between industries. Company size and funding stage also influence total packages significantly.

Construction Manager salary in other cities.

Other salaries in Houston.

Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Construction Managers in Houston.

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Cite this data

Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.

"Construction Manager Salary in Houston, TX." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/construction-manager/houston

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