The Construction Placement Pay Index reports the base salary construction professionals were actually hired at, from the construction placements Amundson Group made in the twelve months to November 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.
Hiring for heavy civil, site development, paving, data center, rail, or wastewater work? Amundson Group is a construction-only recruiter. First qualified resumes in 7 hours. Send us the role or call (832) 558-7982.
Two sets of figures live on this page. The Construction Pay Index, October 2026: Estimators Up 19% and Now Out-Earn Superintendents is the fixed set to quote: published on the 15th and never changed. The live index further down refreshes as new placements land, so it moves a little inside a month, and was read on 9 November 2026.
As released, October 2026
| Role | 25th pct | Median base | 75th pct | Prior 12 months | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimator | $85,750 | $118,750 | $131,250 | $100,000 | up 19% |
| Project Manager | $100,075 | $112,500 | $145,000 | $122,270 | down 8% |
| Superintendent | $104,750 | $112,200 | $126,250 | $105,000 | up 7% |
| Safety Manager | $95,000 | $100,000 | $116,500 | not enough prior data | |
| Survey Party Chief | $75,675 | $93,750 | $110,580 | not enough prior data | |
| Pipe Crew Lead | $87,150 | $93,600 | $96,200 | $92,300 | up 1% |
| Project Engineer | $77,500 | $93,340 | $99,050 | $85,000 | up 10% |
| Survey CAD Technician | $85,000 | $90,000 | $110,000 | not enough prior data | |
| Surveyor | $75,000 | $89,992 | $110,000 | not enough prior data | |
| Assistant Project Manager | $80,000 | $89,960 | $100,000 | $95,290 | down 6% |
| Foreman | $81,900 | $87,200 | $93,950 | $88,200 | down 1% |
Quote these figures with the release link. They stay fixed until the next monthly release.
Live index as of 9 November 2026: median base salary at placement, trailing twelve months
| Role | 25th pct | Median base | 75th pct | Prior 12 months | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project Manager | $104,750 | $125,000 | $145,000 | $121,143 | up 3% |
| Estimator | $85,750 | $118,750 | $131,250 | $100,000 | up 19% |
| Superintendent | $104,000 | $110,000 | $130,000 | $108,350 | up 2% |
| Safety Manager | $95,000 | $105,000 | $111,500 | not enough prior data | |
| Survey Party Chief | $79,300 | $95,000 | $111,160 | not enough prior data | |
| Pipe Crew Lead | $87,150 | $93,600 | $96,200 | $93,600 | flat |
| Project Engineer | $77,500 | $93,340 | $103,000 | $85,800 | up 9% |
| Survey CAD Technician | $85,000 | $90,000 | $110,000 | not enough prior data | |
| Surveyor | $75,000 | $89,992 | $110,000 | not enough prior data | |
| Foreman | $81,900 | $88,400 | $93,600 | $85,900 | up 3% |
| Assistant Project Manager | $80,000 | $85,280 | $97,500 | $95,420 | down 11% |
A role appears only when its window holds enough placements for a steady median, and the prior-year figure only when that window did too.
What the numbers say
- Highest median base at placement: Project Manager, $125,000.
- 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.
- Pipe Crew Lead pay is flat year on year at $93,600.
State cuts with enough data
- Survey CAD Technician in Colorado: median $90,000 over twelve months.
- Estimator in Florida: median $122,500 over twelve months.
- Foreman in Florida: median $81,900 over twelve months.
- Pipe Crew Lead in Florida: median $93,600 over twelve months.
- Foreman in Georgia: median $93,300 over twelve months.
- Estimator in North Carolina: median $90,000 over twelve months.
- Foreman in North Carolina: median $93,600 over twelve months.
- Superintendent in North Carolina: median $105,000 over twelve months.
State and metro cuts over 24 months
A longer window so that smaller markets can still be read. Each cut needs enough placements in the same role; the two windows overlap and are not comparable to each other.
- Foreman in Atlanta: median $93,000 over 24 months.
- Project Manager in Atlanta: median $115,000 over 24 months.
- Superintendent in Atlanta: median $114,220 over 24 months.
- Foreman in Charlotte: median $93,600 over 24 months.
- Survey CAD Technician in Colorado: median $90,000 over 24 months.
- Survey CAD Technician in Denver: median $90,000 over 24 months.
- Estimator in Florida: median $95,000 over 24 months.
- Foreman in Florida: median $83,070 over 24 months.
- Pipe Crew Lead in Florida: median $93,600 over 24 months.
- Project Engineer in Florida: median $85,000 over 24 months.
- Project Manager in Florida: median $120,000 over 24 months.
- Superintendent in Florida: median $107,500 over 24 months.
- Foreman in Georgia: median $93,000 over 24 months.
- Project Manager in Georgia: median $125,000 over 24 months.
- Superintendent in Georgia: median $114,220 over 24 months.
- Estimator in North Carolina: median $95,000 over 24 months.
- Foreman in North Carolina: median $88,400 over 24 months.
- Project Manager in North Carolina: median $107,500 over 24 months.
- Superintendent in North Carolina: median $108,350 over 24 months.
- Foreman in Raleigh-Durham: median $90,000 over 24 months.
- Foreman in South Carolina: median $83,200 over 24 months.
- Superintendent in South Florida: median $120,000 over 24 months.
- Estimator in Tampa Bay: median $87,500 over 24 months.
- Foreman in Tampa Bay: median $83,200 over 24 months.
- Pipe Crew Lead in Tampa Bay: median $92,300 over 24 months.
- Project Manager in Tampa Bay: median $127,500 over 24 months.
- Superintendent in Tampa Bay: median $94,300 over 24 months.
- Estimator in Texas: median $120,000 over 24 months.
- Project Manager in Texas: median $130,000 over 24 months.
Dated releases
A fixed copy of the index is published each month so a figure can be quoted as of a date.
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 job title. The index refreshes automatically as new placements land, so the twelve month window moves with the calendar, and a dated release is published each month so a figure can be quoted as of a fixed date.
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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