What the numbers say
Colorado's median for Construction Managers came in at $113,520 in 2024, about 3% above the national median of $110,156. That is a narrower gap than many people expect given the volume of construction activity along the Front Range over the past decade.
The spread between top and bottom earners is wide. The 10th percentile sits at $69,030, the 90th at $175,730. Top earners make roughly 2.5 times what entry-level peers do, which reflects real differences in project scale, specialty, and how much responsibility a manager carries. Someone overseeing a single-family residential build and someone running a large commercial or infrastructure project both carry the same job title here.
Colorado's cost-of-living index lands at 103, just above the national baseline of 100. That trims the nominal premium over the national median to almost nothing in real terms. The $3,364 headline advantage effectively disappears once you account for what the money buys in Denver or Boulder versus a lower-cost metro.
BLS projects employment for Construction Managers to grow 8.7% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as faster than average. Colorado's sustained residential and infrastructure build-out gives that national projection local weight, though the state-level breakdown of where those openings concentrate is not yet published for this cycle.
Salary distribution
Where Colorado construction managers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $91,530 and $139,990, with a median of $113,520.
Construction Managers in Colorado: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 27 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $120,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 5 | $75,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 12 | $109,300 |
| Level III — experienced | 5 | $126,485 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 3 | $142,979 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Construction Managers in Colorado. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. A. Mortenson Company | Project Manager I | 4 | $123,386 |
| Turner Construction Company | Sustainability Manager | 3 | $120,430 |
| Brinkman Construction, Inc | Project Manager | 2 | $106,050 |
| Denver Construction Management LLC | Architectural Project Manager | 1 | $124,992 |
| Dynamic Compaction Solutions Inc | Vice President - Operations | 1 | $137,946 |
| Lu-Tek, Inc. | Director of Operations | 1 | $107,500 |
| Flintco, LLC | Project Manager | 1 | $120,000 |
| Mark Young Construction, LLC | Project Manager | 1 | $140,005 |
| Unbridled Contractors, LLC | Company Programs Manager | 1 | $74,922 |
| Saunders Construction, Inc. | Superintendent | 1 | $95,738 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Architectural Project Manager at Denver Construction Management LLC$124,992DenverDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25351-490868
- Vice President - Operations at Dynamic Compaction Solutions Inc$137,946LovelandDecided Nov 19, 2025I-203-25316-402869
- Sustainability Manager at Turner Construction Company$120,430DenverWage Level IIDecided Sep 18, 2025I-200-25254-302139
- Director of Operations at Lu-Tek, Inc.$107,500ArvadaWage Level IIDecided Sep 17, 2025I-203-25253-300727
- Project Manager I at M. A. Mortenson Company$126,485DenverWage Level IIIDecided Sep 9, 2025I-200-25245-281805
- Project Manager at Flintco, LLC$120,000Lone TreeWage Level IIDecided Aug 26, 2025I-200-25231-253025
- Project Manager at Mark Young Construction, LLC$140,005FrederickWage Level IIIDecided Aug 21, 2025I-200-25226-242685
- Project Manager at Brinkman Construction, Inc$111,100DenverWage Level IIDecided Jul 29, 2025I-200-25203-191203
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Construction Managers pay by experience level in Colorado
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Construction Managers specialties in Colorado
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 18 certified offers. The most common variant is Project Manager at a median of $120,286.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Manager | M. A. Mortenson Company | 15 | $120,286 |
| Superintendent | Saunders Construction, Inc. | 3 | $97,614 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Construction Managers in Colorado, by industry
Median offered wage across 5 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $107,500.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Lu-Tek, Inc. | 3 | $107,500 |
| Real estate | Dynamic Compaction Solutions Inc | 1 | $137,946 |
| Professional services | WSP USA Inc. | 1 | $127,504 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Colorado over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
5 years or more
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Building and Construction
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Administration and Management
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Information Ordering
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Coordination
Technical
- 4.0 / 5
Management of Personnel Resources
Technical
- 4.0 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Plan, schedule, or coordinate construction project activities to meet deadlines.
- 02
Prepare and submit budget estimates, progress reports, or cost tracking reports.
- 03
Interpret and explain plans and contract terms to representatives of the owner or developer, including administrative staff, workers, or clients.
- 04
Direct and supervise construction or related workers.
- 05
Prepare contracts or negotiate revisions to contractual agreements with architects, consultants, clients, suppliers, or subcontractors.
- 06
Confer with supervisory personnel, owners, contractors, or design professionals to discuss and resolve matters, such as work procedures, complaints, or construction problems.
- 07
Plan, organize, or direct activities concerned with the construction or maintenance of structures, facilities, or systems.
- 08
Study job specifications to determine appropriate construction methods.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+8.7%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for construction managers in major Colorado metropolitan areas.
- Denver$124,850
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Construction Managers in Colorado?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Construction Managers in Colorado is $113,520.
- How does Colorado compare to the national median for Construction Managers?
- The Colorado median is +3.1% versus the BLS national figure of $110,156.
- What is the salary range for Construction Managers in Colorado?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $69,030 and the 90th-percentile at $175,730, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Construction Managers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 8.7% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Construction Managers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.