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Job outlook for construction foremen in the United States
Construction foreman job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected construction foreman job growth rate is -3% from 2018-2028.
About -400 new jobs for construction foremen are projected over the next decade.
Construction foreman salaries have increased 8% for construction foremen in the last 5 years.
There are over 38,722 construction foremen currently employed in the United States.
There are 40,621 active construction foreman job openings in the US.
The average construction foreman salary is $57,121.
Are construction foreman jobs in demand?
Construction foreman job and salary trends over time
Construction foreman jobs over time
Construction foreman job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 38,722 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 36,382 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 37,240 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 36,617 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 34,146 | 0.01% |
Average construction foreman salary over time
Construction foreman salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $57,121 | $27.46 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $55,749 | $26.80 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $54,924 | $26.41 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $53,947 | $25.94 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $53,029 | $25.49 | +1.5% |
Construction foreman jobs by state
Most common states for construction foremen
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 98 | 13% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 87 | 13% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 115 | 11% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 59 | 10% |
| 5 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 280 | 9% |
| 6 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 80 | 9% |
| 7 | Alaska | 739,795 | 64 | 9% |
| 8 | Vermont | 623,657 | 54 | 9% |
| 9 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 150 | 8% |
| 10 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 137 | 8% |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 114 | 8% |
| 12 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 102 | 8% |
| 13 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 611 | 7% |
| 14 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 382 | 7% |
| 15 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 619 | 6% |
| 16 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 310 | 6% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 250 | 6% |
| 18 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 200 | 6% |
| 19 | Delaware | 961,939 | 58 | 6% |
| 20 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 383 | 5% |
Most common cities for construction foremen
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Worth | 4 | 11% | $48,075 |
| 2 | Palm Beach Gardens | 4 | 7% | $48,061 |
| 3 | Jupiter | 4 | 6% | $48,057 |
| 4 | Boynton Beach | 4 | 5% | $48,084 |
| 5 | Melbourne | 4 | 5% | $48,026 |
| 6 | Sioux Falls | 5 | 3% | $56,661 |
| 7 | Orlando | 6 | 2% | $47,974 |
| 8 | Des Moines | 5 | 2% | $46,074 |
| 9 | Baltimore | 5 | 1% | $63,811 |
| 10 | Jacksonville | 5 | 1% | $48,076 |
| 11 | Tampa | 5 | 1% | $47,917 |
| 12 | Houston | 7 | 0% | $43,029 |
| 13 | Phoenix | 6 | 0% | $56,174 |
| 14 | Austin | 4 | 0% | $43,116 |
Construction Foreman job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of construction foreman experts
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Kennesaw State University
University of Oklahoma
Dr. John Cabage
Chair, Associate ProfessorSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
What general advice would you give to a Construction Foreman?
Dr. John Cabage: Along with the traditional approaches in general education, a graduate must embrace technology changes. In the future, we will see robotics prevalent in construction work. We already see the obsolescence of blueprints in favor of portable computers. We see the growing contribution of technology with constructors using virtual and augmented reality, with artificial intelligence as tools for preparing bids, estimates, schedule, visualization, and quality checks.
What Construction Foreman skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. John Cabage: The Construction Industry is robust and vital for the health of our nation. The industry is growing and will continue to grow in the future. Projects are becoming larger and more complex requiring teamwork and collaboration from partners of all walks both internal and external to the construction community.
Neil Opfer
Assoc. Professor - UNLV Civil & Environmental Engineering & Construction DepartmentWhat Construction Foreman skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Neil Opfer: First off, know what competitive salaries are in your area of the country for the type of job you want as you never have to recover from a good start. Some companies, for instance, will offer salaries that are simply not competitive. As an example, a few years ago, we had one CM graduate starting at $70K per year at one firm (heavy-highway contractor) whereas another grad had been offered $42K per year for a commercial flooring contractor. That $42K was simply not competitive with the market whether that employer offering that salary knew it or not. Also, compare offers versus area living costs. Use cost-of-living calculators such as at bankrate.com If you, using this bankrate.com tool, were offered one job in Las Vegas NV at $80,000 per year versus another job opportunity in Los Angeles CA, you would need $122,000 per year as a comparable salary. Remember to measure yourself as to earning that salary on a regular basis. Don't take jobs where a bonus is promised to make up for a bad salary. Example here is taking a Superintendent Job where your Job ended up profitable but other jobs run by others overall didn't so taking that lower salary and not getting that bonus didn't work out so well. Again, benchmark yourself against what others in the industry in that same area are actually getting paid. If you truly feel you deserve a raise where you're at but can't get it you may need to change jobs to get to a higher salary scale. But that firm offering above-market salaries may be doing so because of internal problems (bad bosses, poor working conditions, insane hours, insane understaffing, etc.) so look before you leap. It's a given that to be successful as a working professional in construction, one cannot just work a 40-hour week. But you shouldn't be working 7-10s or more on a regular basis either. Again, through networking you perhaps can find out who are the 'bad employers.'
What general advice would you give to a Construction Foreman?
Neil Opfer: Remember that in a CM Program you have spent 4 years of your life (or more) studying books and learning the "theory of construction." But this is the start of your education and not the end. The best quote here (not from me) is "Success is a journey, not a destination." Sadly I have classmates that I graduated with years ago who, once they graduated, never cracked a book. Also remember that construction in many respects is an incredibly-varied field and you will, perhaps if working for a GC or a CM firm, never know as much as that electrician or plumber knows about their craft or that trade contractor knows about their specialty. But insofar as possible you need to learn and absorb as much as possible about these other areas. Otherwise you'll lead a life of ignorance and designers and contractors will, sadly, take advantage of your ignorance. When I was in college (1974), my Dorm President told me, "Everyone is ignorant about something but the stupid person works at being ignorant." Don't work at being ignorant. Also, respect everyone on the job from laborer, carpenter, on up because you can learn something from everyone along the way in your career. You, remember, are lucky in that as a college grad you're in the 37% or so of the U.S. population with a college degree but CM is a STEM field because of the math, physics, and construction-science coursework you take. Only 18% of the U.S. population have STEM degrees so you're in even a more select field with your technical education. But those on the construction site who did not have an opportunity to go to college may resent you or they've had bad experiences with college grads who "lorded over them" the fact that they were a college grad and the craft personnel on the job were not. Advice to a new college graduate in CM would be to remember (not original with me but a great axiom) that (1) you are hired for your technical skills, (2) promoted for your leadership/managerial skills, and (3) fired for your lack of people skills. Do a good job at whatever you do and look for opportunities to improve processes when possible. Realize that as a new grad you'll often get the jobs that more senior people don't want. Also, realize that your job is partly "paying your dues" to get the chance at more interesting jobs in the future. Learn to network with others in your firm and those at other firms including being involved in professional associations and civic/charitable work. Ensure that your supervisors know the extras (prof associations, civic work) you are doing outside of work. Finally the old adage of a "sound mind in a sound body" means to continually improve yourself on both a mental and a physical basis.
Irish Horsey Ph.D.
Interim Chair of the Department of Construction Management and Assistant ProfessorKennesaw State University
Department of Construction Management
What skills stand out on Construction Foreman resumes?
Irish Horsey Ph.D.: Construction Managers are problem solvers. Employers seek analytical, technical, and effective communication skills from potential employees for construction management positions. Whether building a skyscraper or single-family home, there are always groups of people performing numerous construction activities and tasks simultaneously on a construction site. Therefore, resumes that show time, cost, and, most importantly, safety management skills are most desired by employers.
What soft skills should all Construction Foremen possess?
Irish Horsey Ph.D.: Leadership and communication are among the most essential skills of a construction manager. Construction managers are responsible for ensuring that projects are built safely on schedule, within budget, and to the quality outlined in the drawings and specifications. To fulfill these responsibilities, construction managers must lead multiple teams, including primary, secondary, and third party players, on a construction project through effective oral and written communications.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Construction Foremen?
Irish Horsey Ph.D.: Construction Managers are project managers with specialized technical skills. Construction managers' most important technical skills are print reading, estimating, scheduling, project and technology management.
What type of skills will young Construction Foremen need?
Ben F. Bigelow Ph.D.: Construction companies want someone who can "speak the language" when they arrive, so instead of teaching about the industry; they are teaching about their company and its processes, etc. While there are technical skills graduates should have, construction companies are far more concerned with graduate's soft skills; can they communicate clearly and effectively in writing and speaking?