How much does a construction boss make?
Answer: A typical construction boss in the United States makes $79,920 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 812,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Construction boss pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $53,280 | $79,920 | $128,260 | about 812,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $109,570 | about 20,000 |
| Illinois | $105,750 | about 19,000 |
| New Jersey | $105,510 | about 16,000 |
| Oregon | $103,070 | about 8,000 |
| Hawaii | $102,630 | about 3,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience, useful trade skills or credentials, the employer or industry, and the job’s responsibility can all affect pay. Location and hours matter too, and schedules may change with weather or project demands.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a construction boss do?
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.
What's a typical day like?
They check blueprints, assign jobs, and walk the site to see whether crews are working safely and on schedule. They solve problems, coordinate materials or equipment, and record progress for managers.
How to get this job
Learn a trade through vocational school or apprenticeship, then gain experience; this is usually a move-up job after years in the workforce. Licensing varies by state and project; Massachusetts requires licensed oversight on some jobs.
Vocational school or a few years' experience (preparation level 3 of 5)
Good for people who like leading and selling and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
O*NET reports that 59% of U.S. construction supervisors work outdoors in all kinds of weather every day.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Construction and Extraction jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-1011.00
- www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/47-1011.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes471011.htm
- www.mass.gov/info-details/when-is-a-construction-supervisor-license-required
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY