Construction Manager Salary in Durham, NC
Construction Managers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $119,980 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $88,957 take-home, or $7,413 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction manager salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,566
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,740
- North Carolina income tax$4,278
- Take-home pay$88,957
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.99% state
Construction Manager pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,550 | $37.28 | $60,801 | $5,067 |
| 25th percentile | $99,390 | $47.78 | $75,294 | $6,274 |
| Median (50th) | $119,980 | $57.68 | $88,957 | $7,413 |
| 75th percentile | $156,020 | $75.01 | $112,189 | $9,349 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $200,870 | $96.57 | $142,062 | $11,838 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $119,980 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction manager's $88,957 take-home pay has the buying power of $91,171 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 Durham, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for construction managers, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #20 of 126 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 | Anchorage, AK | $137,980 | $105,575 | $100,147 |
| 4 | Rochester, NY | $134,940 | $96,576 | $99,527 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $163,040 | $109,651 | $99,301 |
| 6 | New Orleans, LA | $122,050 | $91,412 | $98,720 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $158,000 | $110,977 | $98,591 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $122,190 | $94,783 | $98,386 |
| 20 | Durham, NC | $119,980 | $88,957 | $91,171 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 126 metros →
Construction Manager salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Raleigh, NC — $119,700
- Greensboro, NC — $105,450
- Winston, NC — $103,750
- Charlotte, NC — $107,200
- Asheville, NC — $105,040
- Wilmington, NC — $103,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction manager make in Durham, NC?
The median construction manager salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $119,980 a year, or about $57.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $99,390 and $156,020.
What is a construction manager’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $119,980 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $88,957 a year ($7,413 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,278 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a construction manager?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $114,990. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $91,171 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #20 of 126 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction manager afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median construction manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- Sales Manager — $190,370
- Natural Sciences Manager — $183,540
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $176,190
- Marketing Manager — $175,160
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $172,480
- Financial Manager — $165,470
- Human Resources Manager — $160,580
- Managers, All Other — $152,090
- Industrial Production Manager — $137,950
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $133,970
- Facilities Manager — $118,990
- General and Operations Manager — $113,930