In 2026, expect to budget $95,000 to $165,000 base salary for a construction project manager, with urban markets and larger commercial scopes pushing toward $120,000 to $180,000. The market is genuinely tight: 80% of U.S. construction firms report difficulty filling salaried roles, and PMs remain among the hardest seats to fill. You'll see the strongest demand and premium pay in data centers, infrastructure, industrial, and heavy civil work. Geographically, Texas, Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Denver, Phoenix, and the Northern Virginia corridor are experiencing especially acute shortages, often commanding 5-10% above national averages. The shortage is structural: the industry needs roughly 349,000 net new workers in 2026, with replacement demand alone driving ~46,800 PM openings annually. If you're hiring, act fast and be prepared to be competitive on both salary and scope. If you're a PM, this is a candidate's market.