Placement-calibrated 2026 base salary bands from Amundson Group’s own recruiting data, updated quarterly. Quote freely with attribution. For role-by-role local detail see the city pages linked below or download the full 39-page Salary Guide.
Construction salaries in 2026: the short version
Construction pay keeps outrunning the broader economy: construction average hourly earnings rose 4.4 percent year over year through May 2026 against 3.5 percent for all private industry (BLS). At the salaried leadership level the pressure is sharpest exactly where hiring is hardest: superintendents, estimators, and project managers, the three roles most contractors report as their toughest fills (AGC/NCCER 2025 Workforce Survey). The bands below are what companies actually pay to land these people, calibrated against Amundson Group placements rather than self-reported survey data.
2026 base salary bands by role (national)
| Role | Typical base range (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| VP of Operations | $200,000 to $300,000 | Retained search territory; total comp adds bonus and sometimes equity |
| Director of Preconstruction | $170,000 to $230,000 | Scarcest office profile; see preconstruction executive search |
| Estimating Manager | $150,000 to $200,000 | Chief estimators at larger civil contractors sit at the top of band |
| Project Manager | $130,000 to $180,000 | Data center and heavy civil PMs press the top of band |
| Superintendent | $130,000 to $180,000 | Travelers add per-diem; hardest-to-fill role in the AGC survey (81%) |
| Estimator | $120,000 to $170,000 | Sector-specific bid history drives the premium |
| Assistant Project Manager | $100,000 to $140,000 | The feeder seat for PM benches |
| Project Engineer | $90,000 to $130,000 | Fastest-moving early-career band |
Bands are base salary only. Bonuses, truck allowances, and per-diem typically add 10 to 30 percent of base depending on role and company policy.
How pay varies by metro
High-cost coastal metros price 15 to 25 percent above these bands; most Sun Belt and Southeast metros track close to them, which is part of why construction talent keeps migrating there. Role-by-role local pages with 2026 figures: superintendent pay in Houston, PM pay in Atlanta, estimator pay in Dallas, and dozens more metro pages across Texas, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Florida, Arizona, and beyond.
What is driving 2026 construction pay
- The labor gap: the industry needs an estimated 349,000 net new workers in 2026 (Associated Builders and Contractors, January 2026).
- Data center demand: $58.1 billion in data center construction starts year to date by May 2026, four times the 2025 record pace (ConstructConnect), all drawing on the same field-leadership pool.
- Leadership scarcity: 81 percent of firms hiring superintendents report difficulty filling them; estimators 77 percent, project managers 76 percent (AGC/NCCER 2025).
Full market context with sources in the Q2 2026 Construction Labor Market Report.
Methodology
Bands are calibrated against Amundson Group’s own permanent placements (191 in the trailing 12 months across 86 client companies) and adjusted quarterly; they reflect what offers actually close at, not job-posting ranges or self-reported surveys. Market statistics carry their sources inline. Media and researchers may cite this page with attribution to Amundson Group.
FAQ
Are these bands base salary or total compensation?
Base only. Bonus, truck or vehicle allowance, and per-diem typically add 10 to 30 percent depending on role, sector, and company policy.
Why do these differ from Indeed or ZipRecruiter averages?
Job-board averages blend postings across every experience level and company size, and postings are asking prices. These bands reflect closed offers for hires with proven, role-specific track records, which is the market that actually clears.
How often are the bands updated?
Quarterly, alongside the Salary Guide and the Labor Market Report.
What should I offer for my specific role and metro?
Ask Amundson Group for a realistic band for your exact role, sector, and metro, quoted from live placement data.