Construction Manager.
San Diego.
$123,000
median salary, 15% above the national average
$95,000 to $159,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Construction Manager pay in San Diego ranges from $95,000 to $159,000 in 2026. The median is $123,000, 15% above the national average. San Diego's economy thrives on defense, biotech, and a growing tech startup scene. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared. 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.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Construction Manager in San Diego, 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 $133,210 for Construction Managers (SOC 11-9021) in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan area, based on 3,800 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$82,290
25th percentile
$102,510
Median
$133,210
75th percentile
$163,270
90th percentile
$208,350
Workers surveyed
3,800
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 San Diego 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 11-9021Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $111,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$80,000
to $98,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$105,000
to $129,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$135,000
to $160,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$154,000
to $191,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $36,000 to the total package.
Base
$123,000
Equity
$21,000
Bonus
$13,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $159,000
How San Diego compares.
San Diego, CA
$123,000
Cost of living: 17% above average
National Average
$107,000
San Diego is $16,000 above
Construction Manager salary by city.
Salary by role in San Diego.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate a Construction Manager offer in San Diego, understand the terrain. San Diego's economy thrives on defense, biotech, and a growing tech startup scene. The city's proximity to major military installations drives strong aerospace and cybersecurity demand. Biotech companies along the Torrey Pines corridor compete aggressively for scientific and engineering talent, pushing specialized salaries close to Bay Area levels. 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 San Diego, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 17% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
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: california's top 13.3% state tax applies here. While San Diego has no city income tax, the state burden means you should negotiate gross pay higher than you might expect for the cost of living. When someone quotes you $123,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage defense and biotech sector demand. Candidates with security clearances or specialized science backgrounds can command 15 to 20% premiums in San Diego. The range for Construction Managers in San Diego runs from $95,000 to $159,000. 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
Considering a related role?
- A Mechanical Engineer in San Diego earns $122,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in San Diego is CTO at $347,000
Common questions.
Construction Manager salary in other cities.
Other salaries in San Diego.
Related salary pages
Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Construction Managers in San Diego.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Construction Manager Salary in San Diego, CA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/construction-manager/san-diego
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