What is the best state to be a construction managers?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Washington is the best state for a construction managers: a BLS median of $155,070 is worth $144,908 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 107.0), an index of 128.2 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. New York has the highest headline BLS median for a construction managers at $155,360, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 51 on real pay (index 120.6). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

Where does a construction managers salary go least far?

Arkansas ranks last of 51 states for a construction managers: a $86,310 BLS median is worth only $95,647 after tax and cost of living (index 84.6). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Construction Managers

Best States to Be a Construction Managers

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a construction managers salary goes furthest in Washington — a $155,070 BLS median worth $144,908 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 128.2).

Which US states are best for a construction managers after cost of living and tax?

For a construction managers, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Washington #1: a $155,070 BLS median becomes $144,908 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 128.2). Arkansas ranks last ($95,647, index 84.6). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Washington ranks #1 of 51 states for a construction managers. Index 100 = the average state; 128.2 means pay goes 28.2% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

128.2

Construction Managers — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Washington	$155,070	—	107.0	$144,908	128.2
2	New York	$155,360	$8,273	107.9	$136,291	120.6
3	Alaska	$139,190	—	102.4	$135,982	120.3
4	South Dakota	$118,380	—	88.6	$133,633	118.2
5	Massachusetts	$145,010	$7,031	105.8	$130,468	115.4
6	Kansas	$120,810	$5,942	90.1	$127,535	112.8
7	Delaware	$132,150	$7,381	99.8	$125,009	110.6
8	New Hampshire	$129,260	—	104.2	$124,092	109.8
9	Louisiana	$110,010	$2,925	88.2	$121,402	107.4
10	New Jersey	$138,230	$6,615	108.8	$120,964	107.0
11	Tennessee	$110,200	—	91.9	$119,952	106.1
12	Missouri	$112,230	$4,394	90.8	$118,740	105.0
13	Minnesota	$123,400	$6,918	98.6	$118,111	104.5
14	Oregon	$131,420	$10,737	103.4	$116,759	103.3
15	Maryland	$128,330	$5,819	105.0	$116,723	103.2
16	Colorado	$124,830	$4,833	103.1	$116,444	103.0
17	Wisconsin	$114,190	$4,900	94.1	$116,149	102.7
18	Connecticut	$125,190	$5,361	103.6	$115,654	102.3
19	Nevada	$115,250	—	100.0	$115,274	102.0
20	North Dakota	$102,070	$753	89.0	$113,892	100.7
21	California	$133,160	$8,262	110.7	$112,805	99.8
22	Virginia	$119,110	$6,049	101.1	$111,826	98.9
23	Arizona	$114,680	$2,392	100.7	$111,533	98.7
24	Indiana	$106,390	$3,162	93.3	$110,607	97.8
25	Mississippi	$99,520	$3,574	87.0	$110,343	97.6
26	South Carolina	$108,110	$5,095	93.7	$109,883	97.2
27	Oklahoma	$100,690	$4,245	87.8	$109,792	97.1
28	Hawaii	$128,910	$8,267	110.0	$109,724	97.1
29	Georgia	$110,810	$5,326	96.3	$109,545	96.9
30	Florida	$113,130	—	103.4	$109,395	96.8
31	New Mexico	$104,550	$3,846	92.2	$109,209	96.6
32	Iowa	$99,280	$3,733	87.8	$108,871	96.3
33	North Carolina	$106,640	$3,990	94.3	$108,824	96.3
34	District of Columbia	$126,430	$7,872	109.9	$107,877	95.4
35	Ohio	$101,980	$2,022	92.8	$107,743	95.3
36	Pennsylvania	$108,250	$3,323	97.6	$107,538	95.1
37	Maine	$110,070	$5,921	97.0	$107,315	94.9
38	Nebraska	$100,820	$4,146	90.1	$107,292	94.9
39	Montana	$104,480	$5,026	94.6	$105,081	92.9
40	Texas	$101,470	—	97.1	$104,547	92.5
41	Idaho	$104,600	$4,837	95.5	$104,471	92.4
42	Alabama	$96,960	$4,583	88.8	$104,001	92.0
43	Illinois	$109,160	$5,262	100.0	$103,941	91.9
44	Kentucky	$97,020	$3,750	90.2	$103,451	91.5
45	Michigan	$103,230	$4,141	96.2	$102,985	91.1
46	West Virginia	$95,740	$3,680	89.5	$102,864	91.0
47	Utah	$105,200	$4,787	98.9	$101,567	89.8
48	Vermont	$103,450	$4,446	98.0	$101,068	89.4
49	Wyoming	$92,320	—	92.7	$99,600	88.1
50	Rhode Island	$103,990	$3,381	102.3	$98,367	87.0
51	Arkansas	$86,310	$3,158	86.9	$95,647	84.6

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Washington, a $155,070 salary is worth about $144,908 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $155,070 · BEA cost of living 107.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $175,050, a $30,143 gain over Washington.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$175,050	88.6
2	Arkansas	$171,414	86.9
3	Louisiana	$170,528	88.2
4	Mississippi	$170,491	87.0
5	Iowa	$169,979	87.8
6	North Dakota	$169,958	89.0
7	Tennessee	$168,793	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$168,146	87.8
9	Wyoming	$167,298	92.7
10	Alabama	$165,854	88.8
11	Kentucky	$165,116	90.2
12	West Virginia	$164,917	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Construction Managers — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a construction managers?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Washington is the best state for a construction managers: a BLS median of $155,070 is worth $144,908 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 107.0), an index of 128.2 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. New York has the highest headline BLS median for a construction managers at $155,360, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 51 on real pay (index 120.6). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a construction managers salary go least far?: Arkansas ranks last of 51 states for a construction managers: a $86,310 BLS median is worth only $95,647 after tax and cost of living (index 84.6). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a construction managers is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.