The Highest Paid Construction Occupations in 2021

The highest paid construction occupation is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with half of all CEOs making over $162,390 per year, followed by construction lawyers with median wages of $152,650, according to NAHB Eye on Housing. Of the next 13 highest paid positions in construction, 12 are management roles, with architectural and engineering managers making $135,900 and the top 25 percent on the pay scale earning over $170,940 annually.

Elevator installers and repairers top the median wage list of the highest paid trade occupations with a median salary of over $98,600 a year, followed by pile driver operators and first-line construction supervisors, earning $77,030 and $72,600, respectively.

According to the latest May 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and analysis by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), half of payroll workers in construction earn more than $49,070 and the top 25% make at least $75,820. In comparison, the U.S. median wage is $45,760, while the top quartile (top 25%) makes at least $68,590.

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