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Construction superintendents play a vital role across America, ensuring construction projects are completed on time, according to applicable standards, and within budget. Keep reading as we explore the average construction superintendent’s salary by U.S. state, .

Average construction superintendent salary by U.S. state

The average construction superintendent salary is highest in Massachusetts, where professionals are paid $81,223 annually ($6,769 monthly, $39.05 hourly) for this work.

The average construction project superintendent salary is lowest in North Carolina, where workers receive $59,322 annually ($4,943 monthly, $28.52 hourly).

State	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Hourly Wage
Alabama	$61,454	$5,121	29.55
Alaska	$75,651	$6,304	36.37
Arizona	$65,230	$5,436	31.36
Arkansas	$65,357	$5,446	31.42
California	$70,316	$5,860	33.81
Colorado	$69,485	$5,790	33.41
Connecticut	$78,779	$6,565	37.87
Delaware	$69,099	$5,758	33.22
Florida	$59,309	$4,942	28.51
Georgia	$62,926	$5,244	30.25
Hawaii	$79,821	$6,652	38.38
Idaho	$65,860	$5,488	31.66
Illinois	$65,003	$5,417	31.25
Indiana	$64,812	$5,401	31.16
Iowa	$72,312	$6,026	34.77
Kansas	$71,488	$5,957	34.37
Kentucky	$71,423	$5,952	34.34
Louisiana	$74,118	$6,177	35.63
Maine	$65,531	$5,461	31.51
Maryland	$73,907	$6,159	35.53
Massachusetts	$81,223	$6,769	39.05
Michigan	$65,179	$5,432	31.34
Minnesota	$76,428	$6,369	36.74
Mississippi	$66,994	$5,583	32.21
Missouri	$63,673	$5,306	30.61
Montana	$65,908	$5,492	31.69
Nebraska	$72,639	$6,053	34.92
Nevada	$75,055	$6,255	36.08
New Hampshire	$74,533	$6,211	35.83
New Jersey	$80,361	$6,697	38.64
New Mexico	$73,259	$6,105	35.22
New York	$77,225	$6,435	37.13
North Carolina	$59,322	$4,943	28.52
North Dakota	$75,523	$6,294	36.31
Ohio	$76,103	$6,342	36.59
Oklahoma	$67,512	$5,626	32.46
Oregon	$72,340	$6,028	34.78
Pennsylvania	$66,803	$5,567	32.12
Rhode Island	$76,764	$6,397	36.91
South Carolina	$69,614	$5,801	33.47
South Dakota	$73,318	$6,110	35.25
Tennessee	$76,664	$6,389	36.86
Texas	$63,598	$5,300	30.58
Utah	$74,628	$6,219	35.88
Vermont	$70,089	$5,841	33.7
Virginia	$71,687	$5,974	34.46
Washington	$77,641	$6,470	37.33
West Virginia	$67,127	$5,594	32.27
Wisconsin	$77,030	$6,419	37.03
Wyoming	$69,248	$5,771	33.29

How to become a construction superintendent

Now that you know the average construction site superintendent salary by U.S. state, let’s discuss what it takes to become a construction superintendent. Salary is one lever, but tenure is where retention shows up. . The gap between those numbers is the retention cliff, and the supers earning more aren’t just better paid, they’ve crossed it.

We’ll also discuss the qualifications that allow some construction superintendents to earn significantly more than others.

Educational requirements

(which classifies construction superintendents under “construction managers”), construction superintendents typically need a bachelor’s degree in construction or a related field (i.e. architecture or engineering).

Candidates with high school diplomas typically aren’t excluded outright but even with several years of experience, they’re more likely to be given contractor roles than hired for full-time construction superintendent positions.

Keep this in mind when evaluating the average construction project superintendent salaries we’ve mentioned above; the best positions with the highest salaries typically go to those with bachelor’s degrees.

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Work experience requirements

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, entry-level construction superintendents are often granted the opportunity to learn management skills on the job.

However, prior work experience is typically especially important for construction superintendents that do not have bachelor’s degrees. If a candidate’s prior work experience is significant enough, some employers may even be willing to overlook the lack of a degree.

Licensing requirements

Some states mandate standardized licensing for construction superintendents. Lacking this licensing would preclude a contractor not only from receiving the most competitive construction site superintendent salaries but also any position at all.

Be sure to review your state licensing board’s requirements with this in mind.

In states where certification is not mandatory, it can still be useful when applying for the most competitive construction superintendent positions.

For example, the offers Certified Construction Manager credentials that confirm a worker has significant experience and knowledge.

Skills required to succeed as a construction superintendent

Next, let’s discuss the skills required to succeed and receive a construction superintendent salary at the higher end.

Technical expertise

To thrive and qualify for a high construction general superintendent salary, you’ll need significant technical expertise. The exact domains of expertise will vary from company to company (i.e. a plumbing firm would likely prioritize construction superintendent candidates that have significant plumbing experience and knowledge whereas a general contractor might have broader expectations).

This requirement is important not only for completing tasks successfully but also for maintaining the team’s confidence in their construction superintendent. This is a crucial consideration since construction superintendents are in a leadership role; if the team lacks confidence in their superintendent, this may cause conflicts.

Communication

Construction superintendents need great written and verbal communication skills. They’re often called upon to explain and manage complex processes to various stakeholders, which has a direct impact on their employer’s bottom line. Consequently, construction superintendents who can manage those relationships in a way that maximizes their employer’s profitability naturally earn more.

Business acumen

Construction superintendents are very closely involved in crucial business decisions related to staffing, managing budgets, and coordinating personnel. Those who earn the highest salaries have a demonstrated ability to take charge of these conversations and look out for their employers’ best interests.

Leadership

As mentioned earlier, construction superintendents are leaders. As such, they need to be capable of managing subordinates (and conflicts that might arise with them) confidently.

�����Թ� Bench is the resource management tool of choice for construction superintendents

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• conduct pursuit tracking sessions
• Request labor remotely
• forecast demand for resources 
• maintain human resource and project databases

Learn more about �����Թ� Bench and how it can help your company. If you’d like, schedule a demonstration of �����Թ� Bench.

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