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Meet the biggest construction companies in California

Featured, People and Construction

Published December 23, 2025

Written By Alexis Nicols

California is home to some of the most powerful builders in the country, shaping skylines and driving massive infrastructure projects. Learning about these leaders, their rankings, and what sets them apart provides a clear picture of where the industry is headed in 2025. This guide makes it easy to compare revenue, specialties, and leadership, so you can see why companies such as Turner Construction and Swinerton continue to shape the state’s growth.

California’s building industry is still moving at a strong pace, with ENR’s California/West rankings showing steady revenue growth among top firms like Swinerton. Many of these companies are shifting focus toward resilience and community needs, balancing commercial growth with projects that protect people and the environment. 

Sustainability and green building remain big priorities, with builders embracing new materials and energy-efficient designs. Major initiatives such as the California High-Speed Rail Project, Mojave Desert Water Project, and Plant Prefab’s fire-resilient housing show how the industry is tackling climate risks and population growth, while nearly $4B committed to transportation infrastructure is creating more opportunities for commercial* contractors across the state.

Top 10 commercial construction companies in California (ranked)

10. Build Group Inc. (San Francisco)

Build Group is a general contractor, construction manager, and design-builder based in San Francisco. They do a lot of repeat commercial work in sectors like multi-family housing, retail, office, hospitality, restaurants, and healthcare, plus seismic upgrades, retrofits, and parking garages. They’re also able to self-perform concrete and drywall work, which gives them more control over certain phases of their projects. Some of their most notable work includes themixed-use Anchor House at UC Berkeley, which earned a Cemex Works Award, and Cityline Block 3S – The Martin, which has incorporated five heritage redwood trees into the design.

9. Clark Construction Group (Clark Group) (SoCal/National)

  • Revenue: $6B annually
  • Employees: 4,400+
  • CEO: Robert D. Moser Jr.
  • Founded: 1906

Clark Construction Group builds large-scale institutional and civic projects, often in and around transportation, water, transit, and other infrastructure work across California and nationally. They deliver everything from educational buildings and cultural and entertainment venues to large public works, such as transit hubs, highways, and utility infrastructure. Their expertise in both private and public sectors gives them a strong position when California shifts more toward infrastructure investment and resilience projects.

8. Granite Construction (Watsonville)

Granite Construction is a leader in transportation and infrastructure work in California. They handle heavy civil projects, including roads, highways, bridges, water, and wastewater systems, and also produce construction materials such as aggregates, asphalt, and concrete. Their recent second-quarter 2025 report showed revenue rising and a sizable pipeline of contracts in hand, highlighting how both public and private infrastructure spending continues to drive demand.

7. Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Co. (San Francisco/Los Angeles)

Hathaway Dinwiddie is known for high-end commercial projects across California, especially in life sciences, higher education, healthcare, and sustainable/LEED-certified buildings. They are recognized in ENR’s lists for their quality, design, and technical expertise, often working on landmark buildings and complex institutions. 

Some of their most notable projects include the Life science tenant improvements at The Shore at Sierra Point, which has offices, labs, wellness spaces, and a three-story open stair alongside the base building. Another innovative project is the Nexus on Grand. This new lab building on East Grand Avenue will showcase state-of-the-art design, with flexible floor plates and lab-ready systems built to support a range of life science tenants.

6. Devcon Construction Inc. (Milpitas)

Headquartered in Milpitas, Devcon Construction is a go-to builder for Silicon Valley companies. They serve a wide range of clients in the Bay Area and beyond, with a focus on delivering high-quality commercial, mixed-use, and tech infrastructure projects. Devcon’s portfolio focuses on design-build as a core strength, and the amount of repeat business (and regional reputation) makes them a leading player among California’s top contractors.

5. Swinerton

Swinerton was named ENR West Contractor of the Year: Southern California for its strong performance in the region. Based in Concord and operating statewide, it has an extensive commercial portfolio, encompassing office buildings, multi-family residential, hospitality, healthcare, and education, and energy, as well as public infrastructure.

In 2023, Swinerton pushed its backlog to a new high of $5.2B, up 11% over the previous year’s $4.7B. The company is also leaning into sustainability and tech innovation, with new environmental policies, green building approaches, and tools like drone inspections, concrete scanning, and mass-timber building through its Timberlab subsidiary.

4. Hensel Phelps (Irvine/Statewide)

Hensel Phelps is a major player in California, especially in aviation, healthcare, and civic projects. From its Irvine base, it competes statewide on large-scale projects, including airports, medical campuses, and governmental buildings, thanks to its strong resources, experience, and reputation. In Southern California, it led the LA Times’ list of general contractors with approximately $1.21 billion in local revenue for 2023.

In Northern California, Hensel Phelps broke through with major projects like the Harvey Milk Terminal 1 expansion at SFO (airport infrastructure) and the May Lee State Office Complex, often using progressive design-build methods. In 2024, Hensel Phelps generated about $3.1B in Northern California revenue. That total placed the company near the top of ENR West’s contractor rankings.

3. DPR Construction (Redwood City/Statewide)

DPR Construction builds technically complex and high-performance commercial projects across California and beyond. They specialize in life sciences, tech/advanced technology, healthcare, and higher education, often using methods like virtual design and prefabrication to improve efficiency and sustainability. 

DPR completed an 85,000-sq-ft operating room renovation and expansion for VCU Health in downtown Richmond, delivering advanced perioperative services. Despite the scale, crews kept 14 operating rooms fully functional, working around the clock with no disruption to hospital operations. At Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, DPR also renovated Cath Lab 1 with upgraded equipment and advanced imaging technology. The project included new anesthesia booms, Steris equipment, larger UPS capacity, and a Siemens ARTIS Icono Biplane Angiography System.

2. McCarthy Building Companies (Newport Beach/Statewide)

McCarthy Building Companies is one of California’s top contractors when it comes to large, complex commercial projects. They are particularly strong in healthcare (such as the UC Davis Health California Tower project), higher education, and advanced industry and energy facilities. Their approach often includes integrated delivery methods and leveraging regional leadership to manage big, multi-stakeholder jobs. With offices in key locations across California (including Newport Beach, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, and more), they combine national capacity with local know-how.

1. Turner Construction Co. (Anaheim/Statewide)

Turner Construction operates throughout California, with strong offices in Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bay Area. In 2024, they earned the title of number one contractor in the United States. They undertake large projects, including airports, hospitals, higher education buildings, and commercial campuses. 

Under recent leadership updates, Turner is boosting its work in tech-adjacent sectors (like data centers and advanced facilities) while still maintaining strength in traditional commercial and institutional building. With a strong presence in both public and private contracts, plus deep expertise in complex, high-scale builds, Turner remains one of the top firms in the state.

Bottom line

From sustainable building practices and modular design to tackling infrastructure and water challenges, these firms are setting the pace for innovation and growth. With billions in funding flowing into transportation, housing, and resilience projects, California remains one of the most dynamic markets in the country.

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