Construction Starts by Sector & Material Prices (Q2 2026)
Construction Starts by Sector (Q2 2026)
Material Price Change (YoY) — Q2 2026
Labor Market Signals
| Discipline | Region | Shortage Level | Avg Rate/hr | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEP Coordinator | West | Critical | $68–$82 | +12% |
| Civil PE (licensed) | Southeast | Moderate | $72–$95 | +7% |
| Structural EIT | Northeast | Critical | $45–$58 | +14% |
| Construction PM | Southwest | Moderate | $88–$115 | +9% |
| BIM Manager | National | High | $75–$110 | +18% |
| Estimator (Senior) | Midwest | Low | $65–$90 | +4% |
| Superintendent | National | Moderate | $95–$130 | +8% |
| Commissioning Agent | West | High | $85–$120 | +21% |
Salary Trends by Discipline (2026 Benchmarks)
| Discipline | Entry (0–3yr) | Mid (4–8yr) | Senior (9–15yr) | Principal | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering | $68–$78K | $88–$108K | $115–$140K | $155–$190K | ↑ +6% |
| Structural Engineering | $72–$84K | $95–$118K | $125–$155K | $165–$210K | ↑ +8% |
| MEP Engineering | $70–$82K | $92–$115K | $120–$150K | $155–$200K | ↑ +11% |
| Construction Management | $65–$78K | $88–$112K | $118–$145K | $155–$195K | ↑ +7% |
| Architecture | $58–$72K | $78–$98K | $105–$130K | $140–$175K | ↑ +5% |
| Geotechnical | $65–$76K | $85–$108K | $115–$142K | $150–$185K | ↑ +6% |
| Environmental | $60–$72K | $80–$100K | $105–$130K | $138–$170K | ↑ +4% |
| BIM / VDC | $62–$78K | $84–$105K | $110–$138K | $145–$180K | ↑ +13% |
Industry Reports & Data Sources
AGC of America
Data DIGest — Weekly Construction Market Report
Weekly economic indicators, employment data, and construction spending from the Associated General Contractors of America.
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Engineering News-Record
ENR Market Forecast & Construction Economics
Quarterly construction cost data, market outlook, and sector-by-sector starts from the industry's leading trade publication.
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Dodge Construction Network
Construction Starts Forecast — Quarterly
Comprehensive construction starts data by sector, region, and project type. The industry standard for project pipeline intelligence.
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CBRE
Construction Cost Guide — Annual
Benchmark construction costs per SF by project type, region, and complexity tier from one of the largest construction advisory firms.
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RSMeans / Gordian
RSMeans Building Construction Cost Data — Annual
The industry-standard unit cost database: 50,000+ line items by CSI MasterFormat, updated annually with regional cost factors.
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Rider Levett Bucknall
Quarterly Construction Cost Report — North America
Project cost data, tender price indices, and regional market conditions across 14 North American cities, updated quarterly.
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