A Career Guide for Construction Managers in Dallas, TX

As someone who’s watched the Dallas skyline change almost yearly, I can tell you the construction scene here is relentless and rewarding. If you’re a Construction Manager (CM) thinking about relocating to the Metroplex, you’re looking at a market with constant demand but also fierce competition. This guide breaks down the reality, from your paycheck to your commute, using hard data and local insight.

The Salary Picture: Where Dallas Stands

Dallas pays its Construction Managers well, but it’s crucial to understand where you fit in the range. The median salary for a Construction Manager in Dallas is $109,281/year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.54/hour. This slightly outpaces the national average of $108,210/year, a small but meaningful advantage given the city’s growth.

However, your experience dictates your earning potential. The Dallas market, with its 2,605 active jobs for CMs, rewards specialized skills and proven track records.

Experience-Level Salary Breakdown

Experience Level	Typical Years in Field	Estimated Salary Range (Dallas)	Key Responsibilities
Entry-Level	0-4 years	$75,000 - $95,000	Assistant PM, project coordinator, submittals, basic scheduling.
Mid-Level	5-9 years	$95,000 - $130,000	Full project management, budget oversight, client liaison, safety compliance.
Senior-Level	10-15 years	$130,000 - $165,000	Multi-project oversight, complex public/private contracts, high-rise or industrial expertise.
Expert/Specialist	15+ years	$165,000+	Executive PM, MEP systems specialist, healthcare or data center CM, preconstruction lead.

Insider Tip: The jump from Mid to Senior is often where you see the biggest pay bump. To get there in Dallas, you need a portfolio of projects here. Local owners and GCs prioritize candidates with experience navigating Dallas’s specific permitting and soil challenges.

How Dallas Compares to Other Texas Major Cities

Dallas is competitive within the state, but not the highest. Houston’s energy sector and port activity often push CM salaries higher, especially in industrial. Austin’s tech boom has inflated project budgets, but the market is smaller.

City	Median Salary (Approx.)	Cost of Living Index (US Avg=100)	Key Market Driver
Dallas, TX	$109,281	103.3	Corporate HQs, DFW Airport expansion, multifamily.
Houston, TX	$112,000 - $115,000	96.5	Energy, petrochemical, port infrastructure.
Austin, TX	$107,000 - $108,000	110.0	Tech campuses, civic projects, residential.
San Antonio, TX	$98,000 - $102,000	92.0	Military, healthcare, tourism.

Insider Tip: While Houston might edge out Dallas in raw salary for certain industrial sectors, Dallas offers a more diversified client base. If an energy downturn hits Houston, Dallas’s corporate, healthcare, and airport projects keep the market moving.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

A median salary of $109,281 sounds great, but the Dallas cost of living, while below national extremes, is climbing. The average 1-bedroom rent is $1,500/month, and the Cost of Living Index is 103.3, meaning it’s about 3.3% above the U.S. average.

Let’s break down a realistic monthly budget for a single CM, filing as Head of Household (the most common for this salary range).

Monthly Budget Breakdown (Construction Manager @ $109,281)

• Gross Monthly Pay: $9,107
• Estimated Taxes (Federal, State, FICA): -$2,100
• Net Monthly Take-Home: ~$7,007
• Rent (1BR, nice area): -$1,500
• Utilities, Internet, Cell: -$250
• Groceries & Household: -$600
• Car Payment, Insurance, Gas (2 cars common here): -$800
• Health Insurance (Employer Plan): -$350
• 401k Contribution (5%): -$455
• Discretionary/Entertainment/Savings: -$1,052

Can you afford to buy a home? Yes, but it requires discipline. The median home price in Dallas County is around $400,000. With a 20% down payment ($80,000), a 30-year mortgage at 7% would be ~$2,130/month. This would push your housing cost to over 30% of your net pay, which is tight. Most managers in this range buy in the suburbs (Plano, Frisco, Richardson) where prices are lower, or wait for a promotion to the Senior-Level ($130k+) before taking the plunge.

Insider Tip: Property taxes in Dallas County are notoriously high, often 2.0-2.5% of assessed value. Factor that in. A $400k house could mean $8,000-$10,000 in annual property taxes alone.

Where the Jobs Are: Dallas's Major Employers

The Dallas job market for CMs isn't about one giant company; it's about the ecosystem of GCs, developers, and owners. The hiring trend is strong in multifamily, healthcare, and data centers.

1. Turner Construction: The giant. Their Dallas office is always busy with large corporate, airport (DFW), and healthcare projects. They hire aggressively for experienced PMs with a BIM background.
2. Barton Malow: Major player in healthcare (UT Southwestern, Texas Health) and tech. They have a strong pipeline and look for CMs with PMP or LEED credentials.
3. Manhattan Construction: Deep roots in Texas, long history with corporate clients (like AT&T in their new HQ), and public projects. Known for a strong safety culture.
4. HKS (Architect/Owner's Rep): Not a GC, but a massive employer of Construction Managers in an owner's rep role for complex projects like the new Omni Hotel, sports venues, and university buildings.
5. City of Dallas (Public Works): The City is a major client, managing over $1 billion in capital improvements. They hire CMs directly for public projects. Process is slow, but benefits and stability are top-tier.
6. Dallas Independent School District (DISD): With a $1.6B bond program, DISD is building new schools and renovating old ones. They employ a large team of in-house construction managers.
7. Data Center Specialists (e.g., DPR Construction, Structure Tone): The "Silicon Prairie" is real. Data center construction is booming in West Dallas and Irving. These are fast-paced, tech-heavy projects that pay a premium for CMs with MEP and critical systems experience.

Insider Tip: Networking here is everything. Join the Dallas Builders Association (DBA) and the AGC of Greater Dallas. The "Texas Flag" award ceremony is where everyone meets.

Getting Licensed in TX

Texas does not have a state license for Construction Managers. However, you cannot legally call yourself a "General Contractor" without a license, and most CMs work under one. The key is the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) for Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC licenses if you're doing that work, but for pure CM, the focus is on Texas A&M University's Construction Science program for education and the AGC for certifications.

Critical Requirements & Costs (For a Standard CM Path):

• Degree: A Bachelor's in Construction Science/Management or Engineering is heavily preferred. Texas A&M, UT Arlington, and UNT are top local programs.
• Certifications (Where the value is):
  • LEED AP BD+C: Essential for sustainable projects. Cost: ~$550 (exam + study).
  • PMP (Project Management Professional): Widely respected. Cost: ~$555 (exam) + ~$1,200 (prep course).
  • OSHA 30: Often required by GCs. Cost: ~$180 online.
• Timeline to Get Started: If you have a degree and 5+ years of experience, you can be job-ready in 1-3 months. This includes updating your resume for the Dallas market, studying for a relevant cert (like LEED), and beginning to network. The hiring process for a good CM role can take 6-8 weeks.

Insider Tip: Texas is a "right to work" state. Unions are not as dominant as in the Northeast. Your value is in your knowledge and portfolio, not union membership. However, union GCs (like Turner) do offer excellent benefits.

Best Neighborhoods for Construction Managers

Where you live in Dallas affects your commute, lifestyle, and budget. Traffic on I-635 and US-75 (Central Expressway) can be brutal, so proximity to your office is key.

Neighborhood	Vibe & Commute	Typical Rent (1BR)	Proximity to Major Job Hubs
Uptown / Oak Lawn	Urban, walkable, vibrant nightlife. 15-20 mins to downtown.	$2,000 - $2,500	Close to downtown GC offices, corporate HQs in Victory Park.
Plano / Frisco	Suburban, family-friendly, excellent schools. 30-45 mins to downtown (reverse commute).	$1,600 - $1,900	Near major corporate campuses (Toyota, Capital One) and data centers.
Richardson / Garland	Established suburb, great value, diverse. 25-35 mins to downtown.	$1,400 - $1,700	Central to DFW Airport, telecom corridor (AT&T, Verizon).
Deep Ellum / East Dallas	Hip, industrial-chic, older homes. 10-15 mins to downtown.	$1,700 - $2,000	Close to entertainment district, new multifamily projects.
North Dallas (Near the Galleria)	Corporate, upscale, apartment-heavy. 20-30 mins to downtown.	$1,800 - $2,200	Near I-635 loop, major highway access to all job hubs.

Insider Tip: The "reverse commute" is real. If you live in Frisco and work in downtown Dallas, you're driving against the main traffic flow. It's a huge quality-of-life advantage. Don't underestimate the psychological toll of a 90-minute, stop-and-go commute on I-635.

The Long Game: Career Growth

The 10-year job growth for Construction Managers in the Dallas metro is 8%, which is steady but not explosive. The path forward is specialization.

• Specialty Premiums:
  • Healthcare (CM-D): Can add a 10-15% premium. Requires knowledge of infection control, medical gas, and complex MEP systems.
  • Data Centers: Commands a 15-20% premium. It's a niche field with insane growth due to cloud computing.
  • Sustainable Construction (LEED): Now a baseline requirement for most public and corporate projects. Not a premium, but a mandatory skill.
  • Public/CM Agent: Requires patience with bureaucracy but offers long-term stability and pension potential (with the City or DISD).

Advancement Paths:

1. Technical Path: Project Engineer → Project Manager → Senior PM → Director of Preconstruction (focus on estimating and budgeting).
2. Management Path: Project Manager → Senior PM → Project Executive (oversees a portfolio of projects, client relationships) → Regional VP.
3. Owner's Rep Path: Shift from GC to a firm like HKS or Jacobs, managing the owner's perspective. Less travel, more strategic.

The 10-Year Outlook: Dallas isn't slowing down. The continued expansion of DFW Airport, the influx of corporate headquarters (from California and the East Coast), and the need for housing for a growing population (projected to hit 2 million in the metro by 2030) will keep construction in high gear. However, the market will become more competitive. The CMs who invest in tech (drone surveying, advanced BIM) and niche specialties will command the highest salaries.

The Verdict: Is Dallas Right for You?

Pros	Cons
Strong, diversified job market. Not reliant on one industry.	High property taxes eat into homeownership savings.
Median salary ($109,281) slightly above national average.	Traffic and sprawl. A car is a necessity; commutes can be long.
No state income tax. Boosts your take-home pay.	Summers are brutally hot (often 100°F+ for weeks).
Vibrant social scene, amazing food, major sports teams.	Market is competitive; you need a strong portfolio to stand out.
Central location in the U.S. Easy to travel to other projects.	Rapid development can mean neighborhood disruption and rising costs.

Final Recommendation:
Dallas is an excellent choice for Construction Managers at the Mid to Senior level who are looking for a dynamic, fast-paced market with clear growth. If you are willing to specialize (in healthcare, data centers, or sustainable building), you can exceptionally well. It’s less ideal for those who prioritize a walkable, dense urban core or who are just starting out without a clear specialty, as entry-level competition is fierce. If you can handle the heat and the car-dependency, the career trajectory and earning potential make it a strategic move.

FAQs

1. Is the salary of $109,281 enough to live comfortably in Dallas?
Yes, comfortably but not lavishly. You can afford a nice 1-bedroom apartment in a desirable area, save for retirement, and enjoy the city's amenities. To build significant wealth or buy a home in a prime neighborhood, you'll need to progress to the Senior level ($130k+).

2. Do I need a PE (Professional Engineer) license to be a Construction Manager in Texas?
No. A PE license is for engineers who stamp drawings. A CM does not need it unless they are performing engineering design services. However, having a PE can be a differentiator, especially for roles that overlap with engineering management.

3. How does the job market for CMs in Dallas compare to Austin?
Dallas has more jobs (2,605 vs. Austin's ~1,800) and a more diverse client base. Austin's market is hotter per capita due to tech, but it's also smaller and more saturated with new graduates. Dallas offers more stability for experienced CMs.

4. What's the best way to find a CM job in Dallas if I'm moving from out of state?

1. Update your LinkedIn with "Relocating to Dallas, TX" in your headline.
2. Connect with recruiters at staffing firms like Michael Page or Kforce that specialize in construction.
3. Reach out to local chapters of AGC and DBA for virtual networking events.
4. Be prepared for in-person interviews. Dallas hiring managers value a face-to-face meeting.

5. Are there specific software skills in high demand?
Absolutely. Procore is the ubiquitous project management software. Autodesk BIM 360/Revit is a must for any modern project. Familiarity with Plangrid and Bluebeam is also expected. If you can demonstrate proficiency in these, you'll be ahead of 80% of applicants.