--- title: "Construction VP of Operations Salary San Diego, CA 2026" description: "VP of Operations salary in San Diego: $230K–$345K base + 10-30% bonus. Real data from top construction recruiter Amundson Group. 2026 salary guide." url: https://amundsongroup.com/construction-vp-of-operations-salary-san-diego/ published: 2026-06-08 modified: 2026-10-25 publisher: Amundson Group markdown_of: https://amundsongroup.com/construction-vp-of-operations-salary-san-diego/ --- # Construction VP of Operations Salary San Diego, CA 2026 VPs of Operations leading construction teams in San Diego command base salaries between **$230K and $345K** in 2026, a range that reflects the region’s competitive talent market, sector diversity, and strong demand for experienced operations leaders. When bonuses, truck allowances, and per-diem are factored in, total compensation often reaches $253K to $448K. **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](https://amundsongroup.com/hire-talent/) or call [(832) 558-7982](tel:+18325587982). ## VP of Operations salary range in San Diego: $230K to $345K base The $230K to $345K spread reflects real placement data from Amundson Group’s San Diego construction network. The difference between bottom and top of range isn’t arbitrary, it tracks directly to four key variables: years in operations leadership, project portfolio scale (annual revenue managed), construction sector, and employer size. A VP of Operations with 5-7 years in role, managing $50-150M in annual project volume for a mid-sized commercial GC, typically lands in the $230K to $265K range. Jump to 12+ years with a track record scaling operations across $200M+ portfolios, or leadership in high-margin industrial/energy verticals, and you’re looking at $310K to $345K base. Bonus structures in San Diego construction are standard and material. Most VP roles include annual bonuses tied to EBITDA, project margins, or operational KPIs, expect 10-20% of base, sometimes higher for top performers. Truck allowance ($800 to $1,500/month), per-diem, and phone/equipment stipends add another $10K to $15K annually. All-in, total compensation often lands 10-30% above base. ## What drives VP of Operations pay in San Diego’s construction market San Diego’s construction market is split fairly evenly between commercial, multifamily, civil/heavy highway, and industrial sectors. That diversity matters: industrial and energy projects typically pay 8-15% more than straight commercial, because margins are higher and operational complexity demands deeper expertise. A VP who’s managed both commercial and industrial will command top-of-range pay. Labor demand in San Diego remains tight. The region has experienced consistent growth in commercial real estate, multifamily development (especially near downtown and UTC), and infrastructure work tied to regional water and transportation projects. That sustained demand keeps salaries elevated. Construction unemployment in California hovers below 5%, and VP-level talent with proven P&L ownership is scarce. One more driver: cost of living. San Diego’s COA is roughly 35-40% above the US median. The salary range above is *already adjusted* for San Diego’s real estate, taxes, and living costs, so these numbers reflect what top employers actually pay to retain operations leaders here, not a national average inflated by a multiplier. ## VP of Operations compensation by experience level Experience tier breakdowns (all San Diego-adjusted, 2026): - **3-5 years VP-level operations experience:** $196K to $242K base - Typically managing $50-100M in annual project volume; smaller GCs or division-level roles. - **5-10 years:** $230K to $288K base - $100-200M portfolio; multi-project P&L ownership; proven cost control and staffing leadership. - **10-15 years:** $288K to $345K base - $200M to $400M+ portfolio; multi-division or regional leadership; track record in 2+ sectors. - **15+ years:** $345K to $414K+ base - Enterprise-level operations; $400M+ responsibility; C-suite trajectory or owner-operator status. These ranges assume on-target bonus (10-20% base) is *not* included. Add it, and a 10-year VP in the $230K to $288K range is realistically earning $253K to $345K total comp. ## Benefits + total comp beyond base Standard benefits packages for VP-level construction roles in San Diego include: - **401(k) match:** 3-6% (some top-tier firms go 6-8%) - **Health/dental/vision:** employer covers 80-90% of premium - **Truck allowance or company vehicle:** $800 to $1,500/month, or full vehicle - **Per-diem/meal allowance:** $50 to $100/day on job sites - **Annual bonus:** 10-20% of base, tied to EBITDA, margin, or schedule targets - **Profit-sharing/equity:** offered at some larger or privately-held firms Top-tier employers also offer wellness stipends, cell/tech allowances, and continuing education budgets. These non-cash benefits add another 5-10% to true cost-of-hire. ## What San Diego construction companies pay top performers The $230K to $345K range captures the middle 80% of VP placements Amundson Group sees in San Diego. Top performers, those with rare combinations of P&L mastery, multi-sector experience, and leadership in fast-growth firms, regularly exceed that ceiling. A VP who’s scaled operations in a rapidly-growing commercial or industrial firm, built repeatable processes, and contributed to EBITDA growth >20% annually, can command $380K to $440K+ base, especially in private equity-backed platforms. Add bonus and benefits, and total comp pushes $450K to $540K. These top-tier roles typically require: - Proven ability to manage $300M+ in concurrent project work - Track record in 2+ construction verticals (e.g., commercial + industrial) - Leadership in cost reduction, field productivity, or safety culture - Demonstrated ability to build and retain senior field and office teams ## See Amundson Group’s full VP of Operations Salary Guide This guide reflects Q1 2026 placement data from Amundson Group’s San Diego construction network. We update our [Salary Guide](https://amundsongroup.com/salary-guide/) quarterly as market conditions, demand, and placement data shift. For custom salary benchmarking, or to discuss VP of Operations roles open in San Diego, [connect with our team](https://amundsongroup.com/hire-talent/). *Related searches: [Construction Assistant Project Manager Salary San Diego 2026](https://amundsongroup.com/construction-assistant-project-manager-salary-san-diego/) · [Construction Director of Preconstruction Salary San Diego 2026](https://amundsongroup.com/construction-director-of-preconstruction-salary-san-diego/)* **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](tel:+18325587982) or use the full form at [amundsongroup.com/hire-talent](https://amundsongroup.com/hire-talent/). Looking for your next role? [See open construction jobs](https://amundsongroup.com/jobs/). --- About Amundson Group: a Houston-headquartered construction recruiting firm placing superintendents, project managers, estimators, foremen and skilled trades with contractors across the United States in heavy civil, site development, paving, data center, rail, tunnels, wastewater and underground utilities. 1,200+ construction placements to date, a network of 90,000+ construction professionals, 250+ companies served, the first qualified resume in about 7 hours and a shortlist in 7 days. Veteran owned, founded in January 2020 by Alex Mowbray, Inc. 5000 honoree in 2024 and 2025, SIA Best Staffing Firms to Work For 2023 and 2024, rated 4.9 on Google. 1336 Brittmoore Rd, Houston, TX 77043. 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