Are North Carolina’s construction salaries keeping pace with its growth?
With record investment in infrastructure, healthcare, and mixed-use projects, the state’s building activity has rarely been higher. But as projects multiply, so does competition for talent.
That’s why we created the Amundson Group Salary Guide: a role-by-role look at real compensation in construction, built to help employers stay competitive and professionals understand their true market value.
This is the third blog in our regional salary guide series, following our Texas and Florida insights.
North Carolina Construction Market Trends 2025
North Carolina’s construction scene is shaped by three forces: population growth, university-led innovation, and steady infrastructure funding. Together, they’ve made Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, and the Research Triangle magnets for both employers and skilled workers.
Commercial & Multifamily Construction
Across the state, commercial projects are getting bigger and more ambitious. The proposed $1 billion entertainment district near the Carolina Hurricanes’ Lenovo Center and NC State’s Carter-Finley Stadium will blend offices, apartments, and retail with a 4,300-seat music venue — a clear sign of investor confidence and urban renewal.
Healthcare construction is also expanding fast. UNC and Duke Health plan to build North Carolina’s first standalone children’s hospital, a $2 billion project due to break ground in 2027. It will add thousands of jobs and strengthen the state’s position as a national hub for medical innovation.
And beyond the big cities, revitalisation and mixed-use projects are picking up in Wilmington and Greenville, proving that construction demand stretches far beyond the Triangle.
Commercial growth is spreading opportunity across the state but it’s also pushing firms to compete harder for top estimators, project managers, and superintendents who can deliver complex builds on tight timelines.
Heavy Civil & Site Development
Infrastructure work remains the backbone of the state’s growth. The NCDOT continues major efforts from Hurricane Helene recovery in the west to multi-million-dollar upgrades along the U.S. 70 corridor on the coast.
Projects like the Havelock Bypass ($259 million), James City ($322 million), and Wilson’s Mills ($91 million) are connecting ports to the Triangle and improving long-term mobility statewide.
Meanwhile, Raleigh-Durham ranks among the fastest-growing U.S. metros (WRAL, 2024), driving new residential developments and heavy-civil demand. Charlotte mirrors that pace with large infrastructure and site-expansion work changing the city’s shape.
Long-term infrastructure commitments provide job security and consistency but they also heighten demand for experienced foremen and civil leaders who can manage complex, multi-year programs.
North Carolina Construction Salaries 2025: By Role and Experience
Here’s a snapshot of compensation from the 2025 data set:
- Chief Estimator: $120k–$130k (4–6 yrs) | $150k (7 + yrs)
- Senior Estimator: $100k–$120k (4–6 yrs) | $140k (7 + yrs)
- Lead Superintendent: $105k–$120k (4–6 yrs) | $140k (7 + yrs)
Pay here is steady and balanced; less spiked by mega-projects than Texas, but supported by a broader spread of commercial and public work. For employers, that stability can make planning easier; for professionals, it offers reliable growth and fewer market swings.
Looking Ahead
North Carolina is building for longevity. Its mix of research, education, healthcare, and infrastructure investment points to a decade of consistent opportunity, but only for firms and professionals who understand what the market is paying.
The 2025 Amundson Group Salary Guide goes deeper into those numbers, helping you budget smarter, hire sharper, and make confident career moves in a market where skilled leadership makes all the difference.
Download the latest Salary Guide or Get in touch to find your next great hire.
