Construction manager salary in Washington
Median $74.55 an hour for 6,010 construction managers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Construction manager pay in Washington: the full range
Washington ranks 2nd of 51 states for median construction manager pay, and 1st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $69.67). 6,010 construction managers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $50.85 – $62.51 | $105,770 – $130,010 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $62.51 – $85.57 | $130,010 – $177,990 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $85.57 – $104.77 | $177,990 – $217,920 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Construction manager pay by metro in Washington
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon | $61.24 | $76.86 | $75.06 | $107.32 | 110 | 3% above |
| Seattle | $52.79 | $76.65 | $68.99 | $106.43 | 4,010 | 3% above |
| Bellingham | $48.94 | $75.28 | $72.88 | $101.46 | 210 | 1% above |
| Longview | $47.95 | $74.18 | $76.08 | $102.24 | 60 | about the same as |
| Wenatchee | $46.20 | $72.49 | $69.77 | $98.23 | 60 | 3% below |
| Kennewick | $47.13 | $72.07 | $72.00 | $98.49 | 320 | 3% below |
| Portland | $42.55 | $70.55 | $66.94 | $104.60 | 2,690 | 5% below |
| Olympia | $47.50 | $68.51 | $66.07 | $102.63 | 160 | 8% below |
| Bremerton | $48.30 | $68.30 | $64.68 | $92.00 | 100 | 8% below |
| Yakima | $49.04 | $67.06 | $70.22 | $99.58 | 60 | 10% below |
| Spokane | $40.78 | $63.32 | $63.13 | $94.73 | 340 | 15% below |
| Lewiston | $24.82 | $52.50 | $57.57 | $72.51 | 40 | 30% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Construction manager wages in Washington over time
Table
| Year | Washington $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $31.09 | $60.08 | $26.75 | 3,520 |
| 2000 | $29.79 | $55.70 | $28.00 | 5,480 |
| 2001 | $30.99 | $56.34 | $29.35 | 4,950 |
| 2002 | $34.32 | $61.42 | $30.53 | 4,150 |
| 2003 | $36.22 | $63.37 | $31.96 | 4,200 |
| 2004 | $40.36 | $68.79 | $33.59 | 3,260 |
| 2005 | $45.14 | $74.41 | $34.74 | 2,770 |
| 2006 | $46.28 | $73.91 | $35.43 | 3,360 |
| 2007 | $46.68 | $72.48 | $36.65 | 3,860 |
| 2008 | $47.76 | $71.42 | $38.39 | 4,390 |
| 2009 | $48.74 | $73.14 | $39.58 | 4,000 |
| 2010 | $47.35 | $69.91 | $40.32 | 3,980 |
| 2011 | $46.65 | $66.77 | $40.50 | 4,120 |
| 2012 | $44.59 | $62.53 | $39.80 | 4,330 |
| 2013 | $46.29 | $63.97 | $40.58 | 4,440 |
| 2014 | $44.57 | $60.61 | $41.17 | 5,090 |
| 2015 | $44.76 | $60.80 | $42.02 | 5,960 |
| 2016 | $44.71 | $59.97 | $42.93 | 6,950 |
| 2017 | $45.34 | $59.55 | $43.93 | 8,220 |
| 2018 | $46.08 | $59.08 | $44.89 | 8,560 |
| 2019 | $46.53 | $58.59 | $45.80 | 8,430 |
| 2020 | $49.51 | $61.59 | $46.72 | 8,130 |
| 2021 | $49.38 | $58.67 | $47.55 | 10,490 |
| 2022 | $58.17 | $63.99 | $48.79 | 8,830 |
| 2023 | $62.35 | $65.88 | $50.43 | 7,460 |
| 2024 | $65.47 | $67.19 | $51.43 | 6,550 |
| 2025 | $74.55 | $74.55 | $55.28 | 6,010 |
In today's dollars, the median construction manager wage in Washington changed by +22.6% over the last ten years of data and by +27.2% since 2019.
Are there more construction manager jobs in Washington?
Since 1999, the number of construction managers counted in Washington has changed by +70.7%, against +58.2% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -28.7%.
Table
| Year | Washington jobs | Washington index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 3,520 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 5,480 | 156 | 95 |
| 2001 | 4,950 | 141 | 89 |
| 2002 | 4,150 | 118 | 87 |
| 2003 | 4,200 | 119 | 82 |
| 2004 | 3,260 | 93 | 77 |
| 2005 | 2,770 | 79 | 80 |
| 2006 | 3,360 | 96 | 86 |
| 2007 | 3,860 | 110 | 90 |
| 2008 | 4,390 | 125 | 92 |
| 2009 | 4,000 | 114 | 85 |
| 2010 | 3,980 | 113 | 80 |
| 2011 | 4,120 | 117 | 81 |
| 2012 | 4,330 | 123 | 86 |
| 2013 | 4,440 | 126 | 89 |
| 2014 | 5,090 | 145 | 95 |
| 2015 | 5,960 | 169 | 100 |
| 2016 | 6,950 | 197 | 104 |
| 2017 | 8,220 | 234 | 110 |
| 2018 | 8,560 | 243 | 116 |
| 2019 | 8,430 | 240 | 122 |
| 2020 | 8,130 | 231 | 119 |
| 2021 | 10,490 | 298 | 118 |
| 2022 | 8,830 | 251 | 126 |
| 2023 | 7,460 | 212 | 137 |
| 2024 | 6,550 | 186 | 145 |
| 2025 | 6,010 | 171 | 158 |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Outlook for construction managers in Washington
Washington's labor market agency projects the number of construction managers in the state to change by +9.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 16,460 to 17,970, with about 1,560 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +9.1% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 6,010 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Is construction work growing in Washington?
Contractor pay by county
Average pay at construction establishments by county (all employees, not just construction managers), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages. Across the 34 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 103,575 in 2015 to 131,891 in 2025, +27.3%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King County | 6,532 | 68,276 | $103,955 | $1,999 |
| Cowlitz County | 395 | 3,305 | $95,463 | $1,836 |
| Whatcom County | 873 | 7,930 | $94,992 | $1,827 |
| Skagit County | 564 | 4,374 | $92,855 | $1,786 |
| Benton County | 748 | 8,202 | $91,142 | $1,753 |
| Thurston County | 1,035 | 6,232 | $89,316 | $1,718 |
| Pierce County | 2,947 | 23,815 | $87,733 | $1,687 |
| Chelan County | 464 | 2,551 | $86,753 | $1,668 |
| Grant County | 329 | 1,668 | $83,836 | $1,612 |
| Clark County | 2,068 | 17,166 | $83,409 | $1,604 |
| Snohomish County | 3,434 | 23,711 | $81,693 | $1,571 |
| Grays Harbor County | 226 | 1,486 | $78,565 | $1,511 |
| Asotin County | 72 | 440 | $76,834 | $1,478 |
| Kittitas County | 236 | 1,442 | $76,062 | $1,463 |
| Kitsap County | 865 | 4,243 | $74,701 | $1,437 |
| Spokane County | 2,082 | 13,535 | $74,306 | $1,429 |
| Franklin County | 423 | 2,800 | $72,681 | $1,398 |
| Walla Walla County | 207 | 1,132 | $69,560 | $1,338 |
| Lewis County | 304 | 1,417 | $69,032 | $1,328 |
| Lincoln County | 51 | 307 | $67,625 | $1,300 |
| Clallam County | 353 | 1,177 | $66,590 | $1,281 |
| Jefferson County | 152 | 652 | $65,828 | $1,266 |
| Island County | 330 | 1,218 | $65,166 | $1,253 |
| Douglas County | 210 | 796 | $64,907 | $1,248 |
| Whitman County | 95 | 477 | $64,522 | $1,241 |
| Yakima County | 812 | 3,880 | $62,143 | $1,195 |
| San Juan County | 218 | 708 | $60,233 | $1,158 |
| Klickitat County | 112 | 227 | $59,114 | $1,137 |
| Stevens County | 144 | 493 | $57,233 | $1,101 |
| Pacific County | 74 | 269 | $54,555 | $1,049 |
| Okanogan County | 213 | 561 | $54,084 | $1,040 |
| Pend Oreille County | 67 | 138 | $53,681 | $1,032 |
| Mason County | 196 | 637 | $52,161 | $1,003 |
| Ferry County | 40 | 96 | $47,604 | $915 |
Keep comparing
Construction manager pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Washington
More on Washington
Questions this page answers
How much do construction managers make in Washington?
The median construction manager in Washington earned $74.55 an hour ($155,070 a year) in May 2025, 35% above the national median of $55.28. The middle half earn $62.51–$85.57; the top 10% earn more than $104.77.
Where does Washington rank for construction manager pay?
Washington ranks 2nd of 51 states for construction manager pay, with a median of $74.55 an hour, and 1st after adjusting for Washington's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.0, US = 100).
What is the union construction manager rate in Washington?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a construction manager classification for most Washington counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many construction managers work in Washington?
BLS counted 6,010 construction managers in Washington in May 2025, 1.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.69; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is construction manager work growing in Washington?
The BLS employer survey count of construction managers in Washington went from 5,960 in 2015 to 6,010 in 2025, +0.8%, and -28.7% since 2019. Washington's labor market agency projects +9.2% growth for construction managers between 2024 and 2034, from 16,460 to 17,970 jobs.
How many construction manager openings a year are there in Washington?
Washington projects about 1,560 openings a year for construction managers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 49,700 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Washington and metro areas, SOC 11-9021. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.