Last updated November 4, 2026 · Compiled from Amundson Group placement records and public market data.
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Short answer: Electrical contractors pay first-line supervisors and cost estimators more than the all-industry median. In the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates for electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors, the median annual wage was $114,450 for construction managers, $93,500 for first-line supervisors and $92,900 for cost estimators. Amundson Group, a veteran-owned, construction-only recruiting firm headquartered in Houston, recruits these electrical field and estimating leaders nationwide, and on travel jobs per diem comes on top of every figure here.
Electrical construction pay by role (BLS, May 2025)
- Electrical project manager (BLS construction managers): median $114,450, middle half $91,490 to $144,780
- General foreman and foreman (BLS first-line supervisors): median $93,500, middle half $76,550 to $118,230
- Electrical estimator (BLS cost estimators): median $92,900, middle half $74,390 to $110,610
- Electrical engineer (BLS electrical engineers): median $98,550, middle half $79,820 to $124,120
The middle half runs from the 25th to the 75th percentile. At the top, 1 in 10 construction managers at electrical contractors earned more than $186,150, 1 in 10 first-line supervisors more than $140,980 and 1 in 10 cost estimators more than $134,110. At the bottom, 1 in 10 earned less than $73,110, $61,980 and $58,970.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national estimates for electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors (NAICS 238210), annual wages.
Where electrical superintendents sit
BLS has no separate superintendent occupation. In the federal O*NET occupation database, superintendent titles appear under both first-line supervisors and construction managers, so read both lines: at electrical contractors the supervisor median is $93,500 and the construction manager median is $114,450, and the middle half of each line shows the spread.
How electrical contractor pay compares with all industries
Across all industries, the BLS May 2025 national medians were $79,920 for first-line supervisors of construction trades, $78,740 for cost estimators, $114,990 for construction managers and $120,630 for electrical engineers. Against those, electrical contractors paid supervisors about 17% more and estimators about 18% more, paid construction managers about the same, and paid electrical engineers about 18% less.
Electrical leader pay by state
BLS publishes its electrical contractor estimates for the nation only, so the state medians below cover every industry. Nationally, electrical contractors paid supervisors and estimators more than these all-industry figures.
| State | Construction managers | Supervisors | Estimators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $101,470 | $74,520 | $76,980 |
| Florida | $113,130 | $75,790 | $74,990 |
| Georgia | $110,810 | $78,430 | $76,800 |
| North Carolina | $106,640 | $75,270 | $74,730 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state medians across all industries.
Per diem comes on top
Electrical leaders on travel jobs are paid per diem on top of base. The federal standard per diem for fiscal 2027, effective October 1, 2026, is $113 a night for lodging plus $68 a day for meals and incidentals, $181 a day in all, and GSA sets higher rates for many metros. We negotiate per diem and travel terms as part of the offer.
Contractors are hiring
In the 2026 AGC and NCCER Workforce Survey, more than 8 in 10 firms had open salaried positions and open hourly craft positions, and 73% expected to add employees in the next 12 months. Electricians were the craft most often named as hard to fill: 81% of the firms struggling to fill craft positions listed them.
How to use these figures
Use these numbers as the starting point, then price the job: voltage, schedule, travel, per diem and how hard the role is to fill all move an offer. When you are ready to hire, Amundson Group sends the first qualified resumes in about 7 hours on average, with a vetted shortlist in 7 days. Searches run on a retained or engaged basis, with the fee quoted in writing before the search starts.
Related pages
Hiring now? See our electrical construction recruiters hub and the electrical superintendent recruiter guide. For data center roles, see data center electrical superintendent recruiter and data center electrical project manager recruiter. For other construction roles, see the Construction Placement Pay Index and our construction salary guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does an electrical project manager make in 2026?
BLS counts construction project management under construction managers. In its May 2025 estimates for electrical contractors, the median annual wage for construction managers was $114,450, with the 75th percentile at $144,780 and the 90th at $186,150.
What does an electrical superintendent make?
Read two lines: superintendent titles appear under both first-line supervisors and construction managers. In the BLS May 2025 estimates for electrical contractors, the supervisor median was $93,500 and the construction manager median $114,450.
What does an electrical foreman make?
BLS counts general foremen and foremen as first-line supervisors. In its May 2025 estimates for electrical contractors, their median annual wage was $93,500, and the 75th percentile was $118,230.
What does an electrical estimator make?
In the BLS May 2025 estimates for electrical contractors, cost estimators had a median annual wage of $92,900, about 18% above the $78,740 median for cost estimators across all industries.
Is per diem included in these salaries?
No. These BLS figures are wages, and per diem for travel jobs comes on top. The federal standard rate for fiscal 2027 is $113 a night for lodging plus $68 a day for meals and incidentals, and GSA sets higher rates for many metros.
Where do these electrical salary figures come from?
From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: national estimates for electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors, and state estimates across all industries.
Can Amundson Group help me hire electrical leaders?
Yes. Amundson Group recruits electrical superintendents, general foremen, project managers and estimators for electrical contractors, with the first qualified resumes in about 7 hours on average. Searches run on a retained or engaged basis.
Start a search with Amundson Group. Average 7 hours from job intake to first qualified resume.
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