Construction Project Manager Recruitment
Construction Project Manager recruitment at PMagency focuses on organisations delivering live construction projects where programme certainty, cost control and site coordination are critical. We work with contractors, developers and consultancies across the UK who are operating under tight margins, fixed delivery dates and increasing regulatory oversight.
Clients typically engage us when programmes are slipping, subcontractor coordination is weak or reporting to funders and clients lacks clarity. Construction Project Management remains one of the most delivery pressured areas of the UK market, with strong demand for professionals who can operate confidently between site, commercial teams and senior stakeholders. Our insight is informed by the PMagency Annual Salary Survey, now in its 14th year, tracking long term hiring and salary movement across the construction sector.
Roles we recruit for and 2026 salary insight
Junior Project Manager (2026 average salary £39,600)
Salaries increased by 4.1% compared with 2025 as contractors continue to invest in delivery support roles to protect senior resource. Junior Project Managers typically support programme updates, site coordination and reporting. Roles are predominantly site or office based, with hybrid working limited to 32% due to on site requirements.Project Manager (2026 average salary £58,900)
Up 4.5% year on year, driven by sustained demand across commercial, residential and mixed use developments. Project Managers are responsible for programme delivery, subcontractor coordination and client reporting. PRINCE2 or APM qualifications deliver an average salary uplift of 7%, particularly on regulated or publicly funded projects.Senior Project Manager (2026 average salary £74,200)
A 4.7% increase on 2025, reflecting pressure on complex, multi phase schemes. Senior Project Managers typically lead major packages or multiple projects, with accountability for programme risk and commercial exposure. Hybrid working remains low at 28%, with site presence a key requirement.Programme Manager (2026 average salary £90,800)
Salaries rose by 4.6% year on year, particularly on large scale residential, infrastructure and framework programmes. Programme Managers oversee interdependent construction projects and are often responsible for funder, client and board level reporting.Head of Project Management (2026 average salary £105,900)
Up 4.3% on last year, with demand strongest among developers and Tier 1 contractors standardising delivery and governance across portfolios. These roles define delivery frameworks, assurance processes and capability development.
From a regional perspective, construction Project Management demand is highest in London, the South East, the Midlands and the North West. London based roles attract a salary premium of approximately 9% above the UK average, while the South East sits around 6% higher. The Midlands and North West remain close to the national average but have seen faster year on year growth of 4.8% driven by infrastructure and regeneration activity. Site based requirements continue to suppress remote working, but salaries have adjusted to reflect travel, workload and delivery risk.
According to PMagency Annual Salary Survey data, construction Project Management salaries have grown by 25% over the past five years, broadly in line with the wider sector but with sharper increases at senior level. 61% of construction Project Managers receive employer funded training, most commonly PRINCE2, APM or site safety related qualifications. Holding a recognised Project Management certification delivers an average salary uplift of 8%, with the strongest returns seen on publicly funded, infrastructure and high value commercial projects. Retention remains closely linked to workload, programme realism and site travel expectations rather than flexible working, which continues to be limited across the sector.
