Construction Manager Salary in San Diego, CA
Construction Managers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $133,210 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $92,424 take-home, or $7,702 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction manager salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,704
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,259
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,932
- California income tax$8,159
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,732
- Take-home pay$92,424
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Construction Manager pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,290 | $39.56 | $62,228 | $5,186 |
| 25th percentile | $102,510 | $49.28 | $74,309 | $6,192 |
| Median (50th) | $133,210 | $64.04 | $92,424 | $7,702 |
| 75th percentile | $163,270 | $78.50 | $109,784 | $9,149 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $208,350 | $100.17 | $137,221 | $11,435 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $133,210 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction manager's $92,424 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,605 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Construction Manager jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for construction managers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #31 of 35 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $159,430 | $120,236 | $108,191 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $156,470 | $110,610 | $102,165 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $158,000 | $110,977 | $98,591 |
| 4 | Nashville, TN | $122,190 | $94,783 | $98,386 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $166,030 | $111,378 | $96,337 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $146,740 | $99,336 | $94,228 |
| 7 | Tampa, FL | $120,800 | $93,813 | $92,985 |
| 8 | St. Louis, MO | $116,680 | $86,368 | $90,829 |
| 31 | San Diego, CA | $133,210 | $92,424 | $82,605 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 35 metros →
About the job: construction managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +9.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Construction Manager salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $166,030
- Sacramento, CA — $129,440
- Riverside, CA — $126,040
- Los Angeles, CA — $131,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction manager make in San Diego, CA?
The median construction manager salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $133,210 a year, or about $64.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $102,510 and $163,270.
What is a construction manager’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $133,210 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $92,424 a year ($7,702 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,891 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a construction manager?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $114,990. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,605 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #31 of 35 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction manager afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median construction manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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