Austin’s construction boom continues to reshape salary expectations for Assistant Project Managers. In 2026, the typical base salary range for this role in Austin is $105K to $147K, with total compensation often climbing 10-30% higher when bonuses, truck allowances, and per-diem are factored in.
Assistant Project Manager salary range in Austin: $105K to $147K base
The $105K to $147K range reflects Austin’s thriving construction sector and regional cost-of-living adjustments. Several factors drive where a candidate lands within this band:
Years of experience is the primary lever. An Assistant PM with 3-5 years under their belt typically sits at the lower end of the range, while someone with 10-15 years of field and office experience commands premium pay. Project scope and sector matter significantly too. An Assistant PM on a $50M+ commercial high-rise will earn more than someone managing smaller residential or maintenance projects. Employer size and stability also influence base, larger, well-capitalized firms with consistent workload tend to pay 5-10% higher than smaller operations.
Beyond base salary, performance bonuses typically add 10-20% annually, and truck allowances or per-diem can contribute another $300 to $800 per month depending on field time requirements. This means a competitive total compensation package can easily reach $145K to $190K+ for mid-career performers.
What drives Assistant Project Manager pay in Austin’s construction market
Austin has become one of the fastest-growing construction markets in the US, driven by sustained corporate relocation, multifamily development, and infrastructure investment. This growth has created intense competition for experienced Assistant PMs, pushing salaries upward.
Sector mix plays a key role in pay variation. Commercial and industrial projects, which dominate Austin’s market, tend to pay 8-15% more than residential or civil work, simply because project budgets and risk profiles are larger. Labor availability remains tight; the talent pipeline for mid-level construction management hasn’t kept pace with demand, which sustains salary pressure. Additionally, prevailing wage and union projects (common in heavy highway and certain public-sector work) push compensation higher, sometimes by 20%+ over non-prevailing equivalents.
The city’s cost of living, while rising, still sits 5-10% below major coastal metros. The salary range we quote already incorporates Austin’s living costs, making these figures competitive and realistic for local hiring.
Assistant Project Manager compensation by experience level
Here’s how Assistant PM base salaries typically break down in Austin by career stage (all figures Austin-adjusted):
- 3-5 years of experience: $89K to $110K
Entry-level Assistant PMs, often transitioning from foreman or superintendent roles, start here. Focus is on learning office operations and project controls.
- 5-10 years of experience: $105K to $126K
Mid-career performers with proven track records on multiple projects. These are the core candidates for most Austin construction firms.
- 10-15 years of experience: $126K to $147K
Senior Assistant PMs or those approaching full Project Manager promotion. Deep expertise in budgeting, scheduling, and stakeholder management commands premium pay.
- 15+ years of experience: $147K to $176K+
May include former PMs stepping back for lifestyle reasons, or specialists in complex delivery methods (design-build, CM@Risk). Often blur the line between Assistant PM and PM titles.
Benefits + total comp beyond base
Austin construction employers typically offer comprehensive benefits packages that add 15-25% to base salary value:
Retirement & health benefits are standard: 401(k) matching in the 3-6% range, health/dental/vision, and increasingly, wellness programs. Vehicle & per-diem allowances are nearly universal for field-based roles, expect $400 to $800/month depending on project locations and time spent in the office vs. field. Performance bonuses tie to project profitability and safety metrics, typically 10-20% of base, paid annually or semi-annually. Some firms also offer profit-sharing or stock options if they’re larger, established operations.
Safety incentives, tuition reimbursement, and professional development budgets are increasingly common as firms compete for talent. These non-cash benefits often influence total package perception as much as salary itself.
What Austin construction companies pay top performers
The $105K to $147K range represents the typical band, but top performers in high-value sectors regularly exceed it. Our recruiting data shows that exceptional Assistant PMs on major heavy civil, data center, or wastewater projects, particularly those with specialized expertise in project controls, scheduling software (Primavera, Touchplan), or union coordination, command $155K to $190K+ base.
Scarcity and specialization drive the premium. An Assistant PM with deep experience in healthcare, data center, or advanced manufacturing construction, for instance, can justify $160K to $180K at the right firm. Similarly, candidates with certifications (DBIA, PMI-CP, LEED) or proven track records on design-build and integrated delivery models often negotiate at or above the $147K ceiling.
Austin’s competitive landscape means top performers have options. Firms actively recruiting for growth are willing to pay 10-20% above market range to lock in experienced talent, especially if they have a strong safety record and can demonstrate job security.
See Amundson Group’s full Assistant Project Manager Salary Guide
This snapshot reflects Austin’s 2026 market, calibrated from real placement data. Amundson Group updates our full Salary Guide quarterly, covering Assistant PM roles across the construction sectors we serve, including heavy civil, site development, data center, rail, tunnels, and wastewater.
If you’re hiring or exploring construction careers in Austin, our custom AI-assisted screening and salary benchmarking help you stay competitive. Reach out to hire talent or explore current opportunities.
More from Amundson Group: construction recruiters in Austin and construction recruiters in Texas.