What construction job pays $200,000 a year?

Several construction jobs can pay $200,000 a year, typically in management, specialized trades, union leadership, or business ownership rather than entry-level hourly work, and reaching that level usually requires years of experience, certifications, and location in high-cost markets. Construction managers and project managers overseeing large commercial, industrial, or infrastructure projects often earn $120,000 to $200,000 plus bonuses, especially with PMP certification and experience managing multi-million dollar jobs in cities like New York, San Francisco, and Seattle. Elevator installers and repairers are one of the highest-paid trades, with union members in high-cost areas earning $120,000 to $200,000 annually including overtime and benefits due to specialized skills and safety risks. Licensed electrical contractors and plumbing contractors who own their own businesses and employ crews can net $150,000 to $300,000 per year after expenses by doing commercial and residential service work. Crane operators on large union commercial sites, especially tower crane operators, can earn $100,000 to $200,000 with overtime. Superintendents on large commercial projects, safety managers, and estimators for large firms can also reach $150,000 to $200,000. Self-employed general contractors, remodelers in affluent suburbs, and specialized finish carpenters doing high-end custom homes can charge $75 to $150 per hour and net $200,000. Prevailing wage jobs on government projects pay significantly more. So while average carpenter earns $50,000 to $70,000, management, ownership, and highly specialized trades like elevator mechanic are paths to $200,000.