Construction Manager.
Washington DC.
$132,000
median salary, 23% above the national average
$103,000 to $172,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Orbyt estimates Construction Manager pay in Washington DC at $132,000, within a range of $103,000 to $172,000. That is 23% above the national average. Washington DC's job market is shaped by the federal government, defense contractors, and a growing commercial tech sector. 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 Washington DC, 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 $129,650 for Construction Managers (SOC 11-9021) in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area, based on 6,630 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$86,530
25th percentile
$104,010
Median
$129,650
75th percentile
$162,410
90th percentile
$207,160
Workers surveyed
6,630
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 Washington DC 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 $119,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$86,000
to $106,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$112,000
to $139,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$145,000
to $172,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$165,000
to $205,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $39,000 to the total package.
Base
$132,000
Equity
$22,000
Bonus
$14,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $171,000
How Washington DC compares.
Washington DC, DC
$132,000
Cost of living: 25% above average
National Average
$107,000
Washington DC is $25,000 above
Construction Manager salary by city.
Salary by role in Washington DC.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate a Construction Manager offer in Washington DC, understand the terrain. Washington DC's job market is shaped by the federal government, defense contractors, and a growing commercial tech sector. Cybersecurity, cloud computing, and consulting firms drive demand for cleared professionals. The region's stability, combined with high government pay scales, creates a salary floor that pulls private sector compensation upward. 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 Washington DC, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 25% 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: dC income tax rates reach 10.75% for high earners. Maryland and Virginia residents working in DC face their own state taxes. Choose your residence jurisdiction carefully to optimize net pay. When someone quotes you $132,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: A security clearance is your strongest negotiation asset. Cleared professionals in DC command 20 to 30% premiums, and transferring your clearance to a new employer saves them significant time and cost. The range for Construction Managers in Washington DC runs from $103,000 to $172,000. 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 Physical Therapist in Washington DC earns $130,000 (2% less)
- The highest-paying role in Washington DC is CTO at $379,000
Common questions.
Construction Manager salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Washington DC.
Related salary pages
Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Construction Managers in Washington DC.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Construction Manager Salary in Washington DC, DC." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/construction-manager/washington-dc
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