The Construction Placement Pay Index reports the base salary construction professionals were actually hired at, from hundreds of construction placements Amundson Group made in the twelve months to September 2026. These are placements, not survey answers: heavy civil, site development, paving, data center, rail, tunnel, wastewater and utility work across the United States. Medians, not averages. Base only, before truck, per diem and bonus. Updated September 2026.
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Median base salary at placement, trailing twelve months
| Role | Placements | 25th pct | Median base | 75th pct | Prior 12 months (n) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimator | 32 | $85,750 | $118,750 | $131,250 | $100,000 (19) | up 19% |
| Project Manager | 33 | $100,000 | $110,000 | $130,000 | $125,000 (43) | down 12% |
| Superintendent | 39 | $104,500 | $110,000 | $125,000 | $105,000 (70) | up 5% |
| Safety Manager | 14 | $95,000 | $97,500 | $111,750 | $100,000 (9) | down 2% |
| Survey Party Chief | 12 | $75,675 | $93,750 | $110,580 | not enough prior data | |
| Pipe Crew Lead | 10 | $87,150 | $93,600 | $96,200 | $89,700 (12) | up 4% |
| Project Engineer | 17 | $75,000 | $90,000 | $96,200 | $85,000 (14) | up 6% |
| Survey CAD Technician | 9 | $85,000 | $90,000 | $110,000 | not enough prior data | |
| Surveyor | 9 | $75,000 | $89,992 | $110,000 | not enough prior data | |
| Assistant Project Manager | 9 | $80,000 | $89,960 | $100,000 | $95,160 (11) | down 5% |
| Foreman | 49 | $81,900 | $88,400 | $93,600 | $88,000 (67) | flat |
A role appears only with 9 or more placements in the window. The prior-year figure appears only when that window also had 9 or more.
What the numbers say
- Highest median base at placement: Estimator, $118,750 across 32 placements.
- Biggest move: Estimator up 19% in twelve months, $100,000 to $118,750.
- Estimators now earn more than superintendents at placement: $118,750 against $110,000.
- Foreman pay is flat year on year at $88,400.
State cuts with enough data
- Foreman in Georgia: 9 placements, median $93,000.
- Superintendent in North Carolina: 8 placements, median $112,200.
How this is built
Every figure comes from a placement record in Amundson Group’s own database: the base salary agreed at the moment of hire. No client is named and no individual figure is shown. Roles are grouped by title. The index refreshes automatically as new placements land, so the twelve-month window moves with the calendar. Quote it freely with a link to this page.
Amundson Group is a construction-only recruiter based in Houston, Texas, placing across the United States. 1,200+ construction placements to date, a 90,000+ professional network, 250+ construction companies served, first qualified resumes in 7 hours. Inc. 5000 honoree in 2024 and 2025.
Need this hire made? Send us the role. Amundson Group is a construction-only recruiter based in Houston, placing across the United States: heavy civil, site development, paving, data centers, rail, tunnels, wastewater, and underground utilities. 1,200+ construction placements to date, a 90,000+ professional network, first qualified resumes in 7 hours. Inc. 5000 in 2024 and 2025.
Prefer to talk? Call (832) 558-7982 or use the full form at amundsongroup.com/hire-talent.
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