Salary data is based on the Duluth, MN-WI metropolitan area and applied to Duluth using local cost-of-living adjustments.

Paving Salaries in Duluth, MN

Average Base Pay

$59,583/yr

1% below national average

Monthly

$4,965

Hourly

$29

Cost Index

Paving in Duluth, MN earn an average of $59,583 per year, with most salaries falling between $47,666 and $71,500 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 1% below the national average, Duluth offers a more modest rate for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 83. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Duluth.

Salary Range

The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.

$45K
Low

$60K
Median

$74K
High

25th percentile: $51K75th percentile: $69K

About Paving

Construction Managers plan, coordinate, and oversee construction projects from groundbreaking through completion, ensuring that work is delivered on schedule, within budget, and to the required quality standards. They manage subcontractors, suppliers, inspectors, and design professionals simultaneously, coordinating the sequencing of work across multiple trades. The role begins in preconstruction—reviewing plans and specifications, preparing cost estimates, bidding and awarding subcontracts, and developing project schedules using tools like Primavera or Microsoft Project. During construction, they hold weekly job site meetings, track schedule progress, manage submittals and requests for information, process pay applications, and maintain project documentation. Identifying and mitigating risk is central: construction managers anticipate schedule conflicts, monitor weather impacts, manage material procurement lead times, and resolve field conditions that differ from design assumptions. Safety management is a primary legal and ethical responsibility. Most construction managers hold a degree in construction management or civil engineering, and many hold the Certified Construction Manager (CCM) or PMP credential.

What Pavings Do

Develop and manage project schedules and construction budgets
Bid, award, and manage subcontracts and supplier agreements
Coordinate and sequence work among trades to minimize conflicts
Conduct job site meetings and maintain project documentation
Review and process submittals, RFIs, change orders, and pay applications
Enforce safety regulations and maintain a safe job site
Monitor work quality and ensure conformance with contract documents
Communicate project status to owners and stakeholders

Key Skills & Qualifications

Construction scheduling with Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project
Cost estimating and budget control
Subcontract management and procurement
Blueprint and specification reading and interpretation
OSHA safety regulations and job site safety management
Construction project management software such as Procore
Change order management and dispute resolution
CCM or PMP certification

Career Path

Field Engineer / Project Engineer
Assistant Project Manager
Project Manager
Senior Project Manager
Senior PM / VP of Construction

Paving Market in Duluth, MN

Salary Competitiveness

Duluth salaries for Pavings track closely with the national median, diverging by less than 4%. This alignment suggests a competitive but balanced local market—employers are broadly in step with national pay scales, which can make benchmark comparisons more reliable when negotiating.

Cost of Living Impact

Duluth's cost of living runs below the national average, which works in favor of this salary. Essential monthly expenses account for approximately 61% of take-home pay—a ratio that leaves meaningful room for savings, debt reduction, and discretionary spending compared with higher-cost metros.

Effective Purchasing Power

The purchasing power of $59,583 for a Paving in Duluth is moderate: enough to meet essential expenses and build incremental savings, but requiring deliberate budgeting to avoid margin erosion—especially as rent and healthcare costs have outpaced wage growth across many mid-tier markets.

vs. National Avg

-1%

Cost Pressure

61%

Purchasing Power

Moderate

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.

Annual Salary

Take-home (73%)Taxes (27%)

Annual Net

$43,496

Monthly

$3,625

Weekly

$836

Eff. Tax Rate

27%

A gross salary of $59,583 for a Paving in Duluth translates to roughly $3,625 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $2,217—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $1,408 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Duluth's current market.

How far does this salary go in Duluth?

Cost of Living in Duluth

Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Duluth, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.

Cost Index

Below Avg — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).

🏠Housing / Rent$1,180/mo

🍔Food & Groceries$445/mo

🚗Transportation$130/mo

💡Utilities$180/mo

🏥Healthcare$282/mo

Monthly$2,217

Annual$26,604

Disposable Income$1,408

Financial Reality Check

This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Duluth to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.

Monthly Take-Home

$3,625

Living Costs

$2,217

Disposable

$1,408

Cost Index

Lifestyle

Moderate

With a monthly take-home of $3,625, your estimated living costs in Duluth are $2,217 ($26,604/yr). This leaves $1,408 per month in disposable income, indicating a moderate standard of living. Duluth's cost of living is 17% below the national average.

Overall, a Paving earning $59,583 in Duluth falls into a moderate lifestyle tier and can cover essentials and hit modest savings goals, though discretionary spending warrants careful planning. With a cost index of 83, Duluth is 17% more affordable than the national average, which extends your purchasing power. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Duluth continue to evolve.