What the numbers say
Kentucky's median Construction Manager earned $99,620 in 2024, about 10% below the US median of $110,156. The gap is real, but the state's lower cost of living closes most of it. Kentucky's cost-of-living index sits at 90.6, meaning a dollar goes about 10% further here than the national baseline. On that basis, the in-state median translates to roughly $110,000 in purchasing terms, nearly even with the national figure.
The spread across earners is wide. The bottom 10% of Construction Managers in Kentucky earned $56,480, while the top 10% earned $185,660. That's a ratio of about 3.3 to 1. In practical terms, experience, project scale, and whether someone manages residential builds or large commercial or infrastructure work drives most of that distance. The average wage of $112,290 runs above the median, which tells us a smaller group of senior managers at the top end pulls the mean up.
About 2,330 Construction Managers work in Kentucky. BLS projects the occupation grows 8.7% nationally between 2024 and 2034, which puts it in the faster-than-average category. Kentucky has a meaningful infrastructure and industrial construction base, and demand tied to those sectors tends to track that national growth direction.
The headline pay gap versus the US looks less significant once you factor in what the money actually buys in the state. For someone choosing between a Kentucky role and a higher-nominal-wage position elsewhere, the cost-of-living comparison is the more useful starting point than the raw dollar difference.
Salary distribution
Where Kentucky construction managers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $75,410 and $139,810, with a median of $99,620.
Construction Managers in Kentucky: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 6 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $116,250. 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 | 1 | $65,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 1 | $69,243 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $120,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $130,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Construction Managers in Kentucky. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currie & Brown, Inc. | Senior Project Manager | 1 | $130,000 |
| MPE Solutions LLC | Sr. Project Manager | 1 | $112,500 |
| OLYMPIC CONSTRUCTION LLC | Project Manager “ Advanced Polymers & Materials | 1 | $125,000 |
| Willow Creek Sells LLC | Project Engineer | 1 | $65,000 |
| Strong Tower Construction, LLC | Project Manager | 1 | $120,000 |
| D.H. GRIFFIN WRECKING COMPANY | PROJECT ENGINEER | 1 | $69,243 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Senior Project Manager at Currie & Brown, Inc.$130,000FlorenceWage Level IVDecided Aug 5, 2025I-200-25210-206216
- Sr. Project Manager at MPE Solutions LLC$112,500LouisvilleWage Level IIIDecided Aug 4, 2025I-200-25209-204822
- Project Manager “ Advanced Polymers & Materials at OLYMPIC CONSTRUCTION LLC$125,000NICHOLASVILLEWage Level IIIDecided May 30, 2025I-200-25142-010436
- Project Engineer at Willow Creek Sells LLC$65,000CovingtonWage Level IDecided May 29, 2025I-200-25141-001634
- Project Manager at Strong Tower Construction, LLC$120,000LouisvilleWage Level IIIDecided May 21, 2025I-200-25134-975328
- PROJECT ENGINEER at D.H. GRIFFIN WRECKING COMPANY$69,243DRAKESBOROWage Level IIDecided Oct 1, 2024I-200-24268-360363
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 Kentucky
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 in Kentucky, by industry
Median offered wage across 2 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $130,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Currie & Brown, Inc. | 1 | $130,000 |
| Manufacturing | MPE Solutions LLC | 1 | $112,500 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Kentucky 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 Kentucky metropolitan areas.
- Louisville$99,110
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Construction Managers in Kentucky?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Construction Managers in Kentucky is $99,620.
- How does Kentucky compare to the national median for Construction Managers?
- The Kentucky median is -9.6% versus the BLS national figure of $110,156.
- What is the salary range for Construction Managers in Kentucky?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $56,480 and the 90th-percentile at $185,660, 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.