What the numbers say
The median Construction Manager in Illinois earned $108,570 in 2024, about 1.4% below the national median of $110,156. That gap is narrow enough to be unremarkable on its own. What makes it worth a closer look is the cost-of-living picture: Illinois sits at 99.5 on our overall index, essentially at the national baseline. A dollar of pay here buys roughly the same as a dollar of pay in an average US market, so the nominal gap is the real gap, with almost no adjustment needed.
The spread across earners is the more interesting number. At the 10th percentile, a Construction Manager in Illinois earned $61,850. At the 90th, the figure reaches $166,830. Top earners make about 2.7 times what bottom earners make. That range reflects how much this role varies by project scale, employer type, and years of experience. A site supervisor managing residential builds and a senior PM overseeing a hospital expansion both carry the same occupational title. The BLS data does not separate them.
The mean wage of $115,250 runs about $6,700 above the median. That gap tells us a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, which is consistent with the wide spread at the top.
BLS projects employment for Construction Managers to grow faster than average nationally through 2034, with an 8.7% increase over the decade from the 2024 baseline. Illinois employment currently stands at 16,740, one of the larger state totals in this occupation.
Salary distribution
Where Illinois construction managers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $83,730 and $134,870, with a median of $108,570.
Construction Managers in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 51 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $99,070. 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 | 18 | $85,250 |
| Level II — qualified | 17 | $100,260 |
| Level III — experienced | 4 | $120,412 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 8 | $143,063 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Construction Managers in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. A. Mortenson Company | Assistant Project Manager | 6 | $112,882 |
| Ujamaa Construction, Inc. | Project Manager | 3 | $92,550 |
| Milhouse Engineering & Construction, Inc. | Project Manager | 2 | $109,512 |
| University of Illinois | Construction Project Manager | 2 | $95,059 |
| CBRE, INC. | Project Manager | 2 | $98,624 |
| Mechanical Inc. | Project Engineer | 2 | $77,500 |
| ML Group Design & Development, LLC | Construction Project Manager | 2 | $98,750 |
| JSM Living LLC | Director of Capital Projects | 2 | $122,000 |
| Graycor Industrial Constructors, Inc. | Senior Project Manager | 1 | $140,000 |
| Keeley Construction, Inc. | Vice President, Data Centers | 1 | $143,291 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Senior Project Manager at Graycor Industrial Constructors, Inc.$140,000Oakbrook TerraceDecided Dec 3, 2025I-200-25329-436926
- Project Manager at Milhouse Engineering & Construction, Inc.$119,954LombardDecided Nov 24, 2025I-200-25321-413778
- Vice President, Data Centers at Keeley Construction, Inc.$143,291Villa ParkDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25308-370489
- Assistant Project Manager at M. A. Mortenson Company$104,400DeKalbWage Level IIDecided Sep 29, 2025I-200-25265-324186
- Construction Project Manager at University of Illinois$98,910ChampaignWage Level IDecided Sep 29, 2025I-200-25265-324495
- Project Manager II at M. A. Mortenson Company$143,291ItascaWage Level IVDecided Sep 29, 2025I-200-25265-325042
- Scheduler II at Gilbane Building Company$119,954ChicagoWage Level IIIDecided Sep 19, 2025I-200-25255-304898
- Project Manager at CBRE, INC.$119,954ChicagoWage Level IIIDecided Aug 11, 2025I-200-25216-218913
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 Illinois
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 Illinois
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 32 certified offers. The most common variant is Project Manager at a median of $104,400.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Manager | M. A. Mortenson Company | 22 | $104,400 |
| Construction Project Manager | University of Illinois | 5 | $98,910 |
| Project Engineer | Mechanical Inc. | 5 | $80,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Construction Managers in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 22 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $99,070.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Milhouse Engineering & Construction, Inc. | 11 | $99,070 |
| Real estate | CBRE, INC. | 5 | $119,954 |
| Education | University of Illinois | 2 | $95,059 |
| Manufacturing | Chicago Ornamental Iron, Inc. | 2 | $120,952 |
| Transportation and logistics | Reyes Holdings, LLC | 1 | $87,145 |
| Finance and insurance | Prologis Management LLC | 1 | $142,646 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois 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 Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$118,830
Compare Construction Managers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Construction Managers in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Construction Managers in Illinois is $108,570.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Construction Managers?
- The Illinois median is -1.4% versus the BLS national figure of $110,156.
- What is the salary range for Construction Managers in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $61,850 and the 90th-percentile at $166,830, 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.