Average Construction Manager Salary in District of Columbia

Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from groundbreaking through occupancy. They are responsible for delivering projects on time, on budget, and to specification — managing the complex interplay of subcontractors, labor, materials, equipment, permits, and client expectations. The median annual salary is approximately $98,890, with experienced project managers at major general contractors, real estate developers, and construction management firms earning $120,000–$180,000+. Senior program managers overseeing large commercial or infrastructure portfolios often exceed $200,000 in total compensation. The combination of field expertise and business management skills required makes construction management one of the highest-earning blue-collar-to-management career paths in the trades.

In District of Columbia, construction managers earn an average of $128,187 per year as of 2026, with salaries ranging from $82,490 for entry-level roles to $187,339 for the most experienced professionals — +16.1% above the national average. Pay is influenced most by project type and scale — commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects pay more than residential, ccm or pmp certification typically adds $10,000–$20,000 to annual compensation, and the specific metro area within District of Columbia.