Construction Manager in Round Rock, TX

The Salary Picture: Where Round Rock Stands

As a local who's watched construction cranes dot the skyline for two decades, I can tell you that Round Rock offers a compelling, though not elite, salary for Construction Managers. The median salary here is $107,430/year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $51.65/hour. While that's slightly under the national average of $108,210/year, it's crucial to contextualize this within the local market.

The cost of living index in Round Rock sits at 97.6, meaning your dollar stretches further here than in many other U.S. cities. With a metro population of 131,735, you're operating in a sizable, growing market without the cutthroat competition of a major coastal metropolis. The 10-year job growth is projected at a solid 8%, with approximately 263 Construction Manager positions in the metro area at any given time.

Here’s how salaries typically break down by experience level in our local market:

Experience Level	Years of Experience	Estimated Local Salary Range	Notes
Entry-Level	0-4 years	$75,000 - $90,000	Often starts as an Assistant PM or Field Engineer. Focus is on learning systems & local codes.
Mid-Career	5-9 years	$95,000 - $120,000	Manages projects under $10M. Typical for residential or small commercial.
Senior	10-15 years	$120,000 - $155,000	Oversees multi-site projects, complex commercial (e.g., medical office, retail).
Expert/Executive	15+ years	$155,000 - $185,000+	Director-level, large public works, or corporate roles with profit-sharing.

How Round Rock Compares to Other Texas Cities:

• Austin (Metro): Salaries are 10-15% higher (median ~$118k), but the cost of living is vastly higher, especially housing.
• San Antonio: Salaries are marginally lower (~5%), with a slightly lower cost of living.
• Dallas-Fort Worth: Salaries are on par or slightly higher (~3%), but the market is larger, with more corporate headquarters.
• Houston: Salaries are competitive, but the market is tied to energy and port logistics, offering different project types.

Insider Tip: Don't just chase the highest sticker price. A $110k salary in Round Rock often provides a better quality of life than a $125k salary in Austin once you factor in a 30-45 minute commute and lower housing costs.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let's get real about the numbers. A $107,430 salary in Texas (no state income tax) provides a solid foundation, but expenses are the true test.

Monthly Budget Breakdown (Single Earner, Mid-Career Manager):

• Gross Monthly Income: $8,953
• Estimated Taxes (Federal + FICA ~25%): -$2,238
• Net Monthly Income: $6,715

A Sample Realistic Budget:

• Housing (1BR Apartment): -$1,635
• Utilities (Avg. in TX): -$200
• Car Payment & Insurance: -$600 (Round Rock is car-dependent)
• Groceries & Household: -$550
• Health Insurance (Employer Plan): -$400
• Retirement Savings (10%): -$672
• Discretionary/Savings: -$2,658

Can They Afford to Buy a Home?
Yes, absolutely. The median home price in Round Rock is approximately $415,000. For a $415,000 home with 20% down ($83,000), a 30-year mortgage at 7% would have a monthly payment of roughly $2,195 (including taxes and insurance). This is about $560 more than the average 1BR rent, but well within the $2,658 discretionary budget shown above. With disciplined saving for a down payment (which may take 2-3 years from the mid-career salary), homeownership is a realistic goal. Building equity in a growing market like Round Rock is a significant long-term financial advantage.

Where the Jobs Are: Round Rock's Major Employers

Round Rock's construction scene is a mix of large-scale developers, healthcare expansion, and public infrastructure. Here are the key players you need to know:

1. JLB Partners: A significant residential builder with a major presence in Round Rock's fast-growing eastern corridors (like Teravista). They consistently hire for Project Managers for single-family and townhome communities. They have a reputation for stable, long-term projects.
2. HCA Healthcare (Round Rock Medical Center): A major driver of commercial construction. The hospital's continuous expansion creates demand for PMs specializing in healthcare facilities—complex projects with stringent codes. Look for jobs directly with HCA or their general contractor partners like DPR Construction.
3. The City of Round Rock: The Public Works department manages a steady pipeline of road, utility, and public facility projects. These are public sector jobs with excellent benefits and job security. The recent I-35 expansion projects have created numerous opportunities for PMs with civil/road construction experience.
4. Kirby Building Systems (Round Rock): A major local employer in light industrial construction. They handle large-scale metal building projects for logistics, manufacturing, and commercial use. This is a niche but stable sector.
5. Toll Brothers: The luxury homebuilder has a strong presence in high-end communities like Round Rock West. They look for PMs with experience in managing complex custom builds and high client expectations.
6. Whiting-Turner Contracting: While a national firm, their Austin office is heavily involved in Round Rock's commercial and institutional projects (e.g., university expansions, corporate offices). They offer a path to larger, multi-state project portfolios.
7. DPR Construction (Austin Office): A top-tier national GC with a significant Austin/ Round Rock footprint, specializing in healthcare, tech, and advanced manufacturing. They recruit aggressively for PMs with strong technical backgrounds.

Hiring Trends: There's a noticeable shift toward public-private partnerships (P3) for infrastructure and adaptive reuse of older retail spaces. PMs with experience in sustainable building (LEED) and BIM technology have a distinct edge. The 10-year job growth (8%) is robust, driven by continued population influx and the Austin metro's expansion northward.

Getting Licensed in TX

Texas does not have a state license for Construction Managers (unlike General Contractors, who are licensed). However, being licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE) or holding a Certified Construction Manager (CCM) credential can dramatically boost your earning potential and credibility.

• Professional Engineer (PE) License:

  • Requirements: Accredited engineering degree, pass the FE exam, 4 years of progressive experience under a PE, pass the PE exam.
  • Costs: ~$1,000 (FE exam) + ~$1,500 (PE exam) + membership dues.
  • Timeline: Minimum 5 years from graduation to licensure.
  • Value: Essential for roles involving structural, civil, or MEP design coordination. Often required for senior public works PMs.

• Certified Construction Manager (CCM):

  • Requirements: 4 years of construction management experience (or 8 without a degree), pass a comprehensive exam.
  • Costs: ~$1,200 (exam + application).
  • Timeline: You can sit for the exam once you meet the experience threshold.
  • Value: The gold standard for certification, recognized by owners (including the State of Texas) for complex projects. It often leads to $10,000-$20,000 in salary premiums.

Insider Tip: If you're moving to Round Rock, join the Central Texas Chapter of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) immediately. The networking here is invaluable, and many job openings are filled through member referrals before hitting public job boards.

Best Neighborhoods for Construction Managers

Where you live impacts your commute, lifestyle, and social circle. Here are the top picks for a Construction Manager, balancing access to job sites with quality of life.

Neighborhood	Vibe & Commute	Avg. 1BR Rent (Est.)	Best For...
Downtown Round Rock	Urban, walkable. 5-10 min commute to most offices. Low traffic.	$1,500 - $1,750	Young professionals, those who want to be in the heart of the action.
Round Rock West	Established, family-friendly. 10-15 min commute. Mature trees, good schools.	$1,600 - $1,850	Mid-career PMs looking to buy a home, good school districts.
Teravista	Master-planned, modern. 15-20 min commute to eastern job sites. Community amenities.	$1,700 - $1,900	Newer builds, active lifestyle, access to the Round Rock Premium Outlets.
The Oaks/Chisholm Valley	Quiet, suburban. 15-25 min commute. Larger lots, more privacy.	$1,550 - $1,800	Senior PMs with families, those wanting more space.
Brushy Creek (near Austin)	Borderline Austin. 20-30 min commute into Austin, 15 min to Round Rock.	$1,750 - $2,000	Those who want Austin nightlife access but Round Rock salary.

Insider Tip: Traffic on I-35 and SH-130 is brutal during peak hours. If your office is in Downtown Round Rock, try to live south of Old Settlers Blvd to avoid the worst of the north-south crawl. For jobs on the east side (near Teravista), living in The Oaks gives you a reverse commute with minimal traffic.

The Long Game: Career Growth

In Round Rock, career growth is less about climbing a corporate ladder and more about specializing and expanding your network.

• Specialty Premiums:

  • Healthcare Construction: +10-15% (HCA is a major driver).
  • Public Works/P3: +5-10% (City, County, TxDOT projects).
  • Sustainable/Green Building (LEED): +5-8% (Increasing demand).
  • BIM/VDC Manager: +10-20% (Tech-forward firms like DPR value this).

• Advancement Paths:

  1. Path A (Corporate): Mid-size GC (e.g., JLB) -> Senior PM -> Regional Manager.
  2. Path B (Specialist): Field Engineer -> PM (Commercial) -> Senior PM (Healthcare) -> Owner's Rep (for a hospital system).
  3. Path C (Public): Project Engineer (City) -> Project Manager -> Capital Projects Director.
  4. Path D (Entrepreneurial): PM at a GC -> Start your own small-scale residential or remodeling firm (common in this market).

• 10-Year Outlook: The 8% job growth is real. The continued expansion of the Austin metro area northward will keep Round Rock at the forefront. The biggest opportunities will be in managing complex renovations of aging infrastructure and integrating smart home/tech features into new residential builds. The PMs who adapt to modular construction and drone-based site surveying will be the most valuable.

The Verdict: Is Round Rock Right for You?

Pros	Cons
Strong, Stable Salary ($107,430 median) with a lower cost of living than Austin.	Car-Dependent city with limited public transit.
Growing Job Market (8% growth, 263 jobs) with diverse opportunities (residential, healthcare, public).	Competition from Austin talent; some senior roles may require commuting into the city.
Excellent Work-Life Balance; less traffic and pressure than major metros.	Public School Quality can be mixed; research specific districts (Round Rock ISD is strong).
Proximity to Austin for career networking and entertainment without the high cost.	Summers are brutally hot; outdoor work can be grueling from June-August.
Aging Infrastructure creates a constant need for renovation and repair PMs.	Rapid growth can lead to zoning battles and community pushback on new developments.

Final Recommendation: Round Rock is an excellent choice for mid-career Construction Managers seeking a high quality of life, financial stability, and manageable growth. It's ideal if you want to buy a home, raise a family, or start your own firm without the extreme costs of Austin or the relentless pace of Houston/Dallas. If you're a senior PM seeking Fortune 500 corporate headquarters roles, you might look closer to Austin. But for the vast majority of us building Texas, Round Rock hits the sweet spot.

FAQs

1. Do I need to be licensed as a General Contractor to work as a Construction Manager in Round Rock?
No. Texas does not have a state license for Construction Managers. However, if your responsibilities include acting as a General Contractor (bidding, managing subs, holding the contract), you may need a Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) license for residential work, or a state-issued General Contractor license for commercial projects over a certain value. The line can be blurry, so understand your exact role.

2. What's the typical project size for a Construction Manager in Round Rock?
The market is a mix. You'll find many residential projects in the $500K - $2M range. Commercial projects (medical office, retail, light industrial) often range from $2M - $15M. Public works projects can be much larger, especially those tied to the I-35 expansion or new public facilities.

3. Is the market saturated with Construction Managers?
With only 263 positions and 8% growth, it's not saturated, but it is competitive. The key differentiators are specialization (healthcare, public works) and local network (AGC membership). Newcomers should be prepared to start in a slightly more junior role to gain local project experience and references.

4. How important is a degree?
A Bachelor's in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or Architecture is highly preferred for mid-to-large firms (like DPR or Whiting-Turner). However, significant field experience (10+ years) can sometimes substitute for a degree, especially with residential builders like JLB or Toll Brothers. A degree paired with a PE or CCM is the most powerful combination.

5. What’s the biggest challenge for a new Construction Manager moving to Round Rock?
Understanding the local regulatory environment. While Texas has no state-level codes for CMs, Round Rock and Williamson County have specific development codes, utility requirements, and inspection processes. Building relationships with local inspectors, city planners, and suppliers is critical. Your first 6 months should be focused on learning this landscape, not just managing projects.