AEC Salary Report 2024
Compensation across architecture, engineering, and construction — what 8.4 million workers earn, where salaries are highest, and which roles are growing fastest. Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024.
The AEC industry employs approximately 8.4 million workers across design, engineering, and construction roles — from construction laborers (1.29 million, the single largest occupation) to architectural and engineering managers (198,600). Median annual wages range from $42,770 for insulation workers to $162,530 for A&E managers — a nearly 4x spread within a single industry. The data reflects BLS OEWS May 2024 survey results.
- Construction Trades account for 65% of the tracked AEC workforce — 5.5 million workers across 16 occupations.
- A&E Managers earn a median of $162,530 — the highest in the industry — but even entry-level managers (p10) still earn $104,170, the only AEC group where the bottom 10% exceeds $100K.
- Electricians (762,100) and Carpenters (742,900) are the two largest individual skilled trades occupations.
- Construction Laborers, the largest single occupation at 1.29 million workers, earn a median of $43,120 — with entry-level (p10) at $25,800.
- Solar PV Installers are the fastest-growing role at +42% projected growth through 2034.
Engineers and managers dominate the top of the salary rankings, with all nine engineering specialties and both management roles exceeding $97,000 median. The gap between AEC's best-paid and lowest-paid workers is stark — A&E Managers at $162,530 vs. Insulation Workers at $42,770.
| Rank | Occupation | Group | Median | p10 | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Architectural & Engineering Managers | Management | $162,530 | $104,170 | $268,280 |
| 2 | Engineers All Other | Engineering | $106,990 | $62,450 | $169,700 |
| 3 | Electrical Engineers | Engineering | $105,620 | $65,930 | $158,890 |
| 4 | Construction Managers | Management | $105,450 | $62,300 | $161,160 |
| 5 | Elevator Installers & Repairers | Construction Trades | $103,630 | $62,750 | $155,360 |
| 6 | Environmental Engineers | Engineering | $101,400 | $65,830 | $158,750 |
| 7 | Health & Safety Engineers | Engineering | $100,390 | $58,330 | $154,200 |
| 8 | Industrial Engineers | Engineering | $99,790 | $65,490 | $161,270 |
| 9 | Mechanical Engineers | Engineering | $98,910 | $58,930 | $148,380 |
| 10 | Civil Engineers | Engineering | $97,470 | $63,750 | $152,250 |
| 11 | Architects | Architecture | $94,840 | $61,670 | $151,790 |
| 12 | Occupational Health & Safety Specialists | Estimating & Safety | $79,000 | — | — |
| 13 | Landscape Architects | Architecture | $78,140 | — | — |
| 14 | First-Line Construction Supervisors | Construction Trades | $77,210 | $45,480 | $114,950 |
| 15 | Cost Estimators | Estimating & Safety | $72,030 | — | — |
| 16 | Surveyors | Architecture | $68,800 | — | — |
| 17 | Electricians | Construction Trades | $64,850 | $38,900 | $104,030 |
| 18 | Construction & Building Inspectors | Estimating & Safety | $64,620 | — | — |
| 19 | Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters | Construction Trades | $62,260 | $38,310 | $97,690 |
| 20 | Architectural & Civil Drafters | Architecture | $61,080 | — | — |
| 21 | Structural Iron & Steel Workers | Construction Trades | $59,990 | — | — |
| 22 | Civil Engineering Technicians | Engineering | $59,480 | — | — |
| 23 | Sheet Metal Workers | Construction Trades | $58,150 | — | — |
| 24 | Carpenters | Construction Trades | $56,430 | $34,030 | $87,310 |
| 25 | Operating Engineers / Equipment Operators | Construction Trades | $55,130 | — | — |
| 26 | Glaziers | Construction Trades | $51,060 | — | — |
| 27 | Cement Masons | Construction Trades | $49,350 | — | — |
| 28 | Solar PV Installers | Construction Trades | $49,160 | $30,320 | $75,990 |
| 29 | Surveying & Mapping Technicians | Architecture | $48,030 | — | — |
| 30 | Hazardous Materials Removal Workers | Construction Trades | $47,360 | — | — |
| 31 | Roofers | Construction Trades | $47,170 | $29,020 | $70,400 |
| 32 | Painters | Construction Trades | $45,620 | $27,140 | $73,350 |
| 33 | Construction Laborers | Construction Trades | $43,120 | $25,800 | $66,870 |
| 34 | Insulation Workers | Construction Trades | $42,770 | — | — |
The same job pays dramatically different amounts depending on where you work. DC, California, Massachusetts, Washington, and New York consistently rank in the top 5 across all AEC disciplines. The pattern reflects cost of living, union density, and concentration of large complex projects.
| 1 | DC | $121,360 |
| 2 | CA | $115,380 |
| 3 | MA | $110,370 |
| 4 | WA | $110,100 |
| 5 | NY | $107,600 |
| 6 | NJ | $107,550 |
| 7 | HI | $105,400 |
| 8 | CT | $105,350 |
| 9 | AK | $103,400 |
| 10 | CO | $100,430 |
| 1 | DC | $123,530 |
| 2 | CA | $117,430 |
| 3 | MA | $112,320 |
| 4 | WA | $112,050 |
| 5 | HI | $111,650 |
| 6 | NY | $109,500 |
| 7 | NJ | $109,470 |
| 8 | CT | $107,220 |
| 9 | AK | $105,240 |
| 10 | CO | $102,200 |
| 1 | DC | $135,740 |
| 2 | CA | $129,040 |
| 3 | MA | $123,440 |
| 4 | WA | $123,140 |
| 5 | HI | $122,690 |
| 6 | NY | $120,340 |
| 7 | NJ | $120,290 |
| 8 | CT | $117,830 |
| 9 | AK | $115,650 |
| 10 | CO | $112,310 |
| 1 | DC | $83,120 |
| 2 | CA | $79,020 |
| 3 | WA | $78,470 |
| 4 | NY | $76,700 |
| 5 | MA | $75,570 |
| 6 | HI | $75,140 |
| 7 | NJ | $73,660 |
| 8 | CT | $72,150 |
| 9 | CO | $71,580 |
| 10 | MD | $71,180 |
BLS OEWS reports wages only — not benefits. Using BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC) data, total compensation is meaningfully higher. Construction Trades workers receive benefits equal to 32.5% of total comp; Architecture/Engineering workers 30.1%.
Total Comp = Wage ÷ (1 − Benefits Rate)
These are estimates based on BLS industry averages. Actual benefits vary by employer size, union status, and location.
BLS projects 149,400 annual openings for Construction Laborers alone — the largest hiring volume of any AEC occupation. But growth rate tells a different story: Solar PV Installers (+42%), Occupational Health & Safety Specialists (+12%), and Industrial Engineers (+11%) are the fastest-growing roles. Two roles are projected to decline: Cost Estimators (-4%) and Construction & Building Inspectors (-1%), likely due to AI-assisted takeoff and automated inspection tools.
| Occupation | Growth Rate | BLS Category | Annual Openings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar PV Installers | +42% | Much faster | 4,100 |
| Occupational Health & Safety Specialists | +12% | Much faster | 18,300 |
| Industrial Engineers | +11% | Much faster | 25,200 |
| Construction Managers | +9% | Much faster | 46,800 |
| Electricians | +9% | Much faster | 81,000 |
| Electrical Engineers | +7% | Faster than avg | 17,500 |
| Construction Laborers | +7% | Faster than avg | 149,400 |
| Civil Engineers | +5% | Faster than avg | 23,600 |
| Architects | +4% | Faster than avg | 7,800 |
| A&E Managers | +4% | Faster than avg | 14,500 |
| Plumbers | +4% | Faster than avg | 44,000 |
| Construction & Building Inspectors | -1% | Decline | — |
| Cost Estimators | -4% | Decline | 16,900 |
Annual openings include both new positions and replacements for workers who retire or leave. Source: BLS OOH 2024–2034 projections.
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