Are you paying market? Model any mechanical construction role in seconds using our 2026 placement dataset — then unlock the full comp report.
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Modeled base salary range
$135K–$200K
Typical bonus: $20K–$30K (15% of base). Total comp target: $155K–$230K.
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| Metro | Base low | Base high | Total target (base + max bonus) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange County, CA | $135K | $200K | $230K |
| Los Angeles, CA | $138K | $204K | $235K |
| San Diego, CA | $131K | $194K | $223K |
| Inland Empire, CA | $125K | $185K | $213K |
| Bay Area, CA | $148K | $218K | $251K |
| Sacramento, CA | $128K | $189K | $217K |
| Seattle, WA | $135K | $200K | $230K |
| Portland, OR | $125K | $185K | $213K |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $123K | $181K | $208K |
| Phoenix, AZ | $121K | $179K | $206K |
| Las Vegas, NV | $123K | $181K | $208K |
| Denver, CO | $128K | $189K | $217K |
| Houston, TX | $125K | $185K | $213K |
| Dallas, TX | $128K | $189K | $217K |
| Austin, TX | $131K | $194K | $223K |
| San Antonio, TX | $119K | $176K | $202K |
| Atlanta, GA | $123K | $181K | $208K |
| Charlotte, NC | $120K | $178K | $205K |
| Raleigh–Durham, NC | $121K | $179K | $206K |
| Nashville, TN | $121K | $179K | $206K |
| Miami, FL | $125K | $185K | $213K |
| Orlando, FL | $119K | $176K | $202K |
| Tampa, FL | $120K | $178K | $205K |
| New York, NY | $153K | $226K | $260K |
| Northern New Jersey | $144K | $213K | $245K |
| Boston, MA | $144K | $213K | $245K |
| Philadelphia, PA | $131K | $194K | $223K |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $121K | $179K | $206K |
| Washington, DC | $140K | $207K | $238K |
| Baltimore, MD | $129K | $191K | $220K |
| Chicago, IL | $135K | $200K | $230K |
| Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN | $129K | $191K | $220K |
| Detroit, MI | $125K | $185K | $213K |
| Cleveland, OH | $121K | $179K | $206K |
| Columbus, OH | $121K | $179K | $206K |
| Cincinnati, OH | $120K | $178K | $205K |
| Indianapolis, IN | $120K | $178K | $205K |
| Kansas City, MO | $120K | $178K | $205K |
| St. Louis, MO | $121K | $179K | $206K |
| Milwaukee, WI | $123K | $181K | $208K |
| Honolulu, HI | $140K | $207K | $238K |
| Guam | $144K | $213K | $245K |
Source: Gulfstream 2024–Q2 2026 placement data, cross-checked against BLS OES national medians. Metro multipliers reflect cost-of-living + local competitive intensity.
| Role | Base low | Base high | Typical bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Project Manager | $135K | $200K | 15% |
| Senior Mechanical PM | $162K | $232K | 20% |
| Mechanical Estimator | $124K | $189K | 12% |
| Chief Estimator | $216K | $340K | 25% |
| Mechanical Superintendent | $124K | $189K | 10% |
| HVAC Service Manager | $113K | $173K | 15% |
| Plumbing PM | $124K | $184K | 12% |
| Sheet Metal Foreman | $103K | $157K | 8% |
| VDC / BIM Detailer | $92K | $146K | 8% |
| VDC / BIM Manager | $140K | $200K | 12% |
| Controls / BAS PM | $130K | $189K | 12% |
| Mechanical Sales Engineer | $103K | $162K | 30% |
| Preconstruction Director | $194K | $286K | 20% |
| VP of Operations | $243K | $405K | 30% |
| HVAC Service Technician | $81K | $124K | 6% |
| Chiller Technician | $103K | $157K | 8% |
| Boiler Technician | $92K | $140K | 7% |
Long-form 2026 pillar guides that pair with this benchmark tool.
Publishing about mechanical construction hiring? Copy a ready-to-use citation or embed snippet — free to use with attribution.
Gulfstream Strategic Placements. "2026 Mechanical Construction Compensation Benchmark." Retrieved 2026. https://gulfstreamsp.com/comp-benchmark<p>Source: <a href="https://gulfstreamsp.com/comp-benchmark" rel="noopener">2026 Mechanical Construction Compensation Benchmark — Gulfstream Strategic Placements</a>. Base, bonus, and total comp benchmarks for mechanical PMs, superintendents, estimators, and service leaders across US metros.</p>Free to reuse with a link back to https://gulfstreamsp.com/comp-benchmark. Questions or larger data pulls? Email research@gulfstreamsp.com.
Our benchmarks refresh continuously against live Gulfstream placements plus a monthly review of Bureau of Labor Statistics, ENR, and AGC data. The report you receive reflects the last 90 days.
Project managers, senior PMs, superintendents, estimators, chief estimators, service managers, service technicians, foremen, sales engineers, VDC/BIM coordinators, and mechanical operations leadership across every major US metro.
No. The full report covers base, target bonus, vehicle/allowance, PTO norms, retention bonus practices, and equity/profit-sharing structure by role and metro.
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Yes — book a 30-minute call and we'll walk through the numbers, your specific role sets, and how your current comp stacks against market for retention and hiring.