For construction companies in Orange County, California, managed IT services typically cost $135–$185 per user per month for firms with 20–100 employees.
That means most general contractors and subcontractors spend between $3,000 and $18,000 per month total on IT, depending on the number of jobsites, mobile workers, security requirements, and cyber-insurance needs.
Construction firms in Orange County often pay slightly more than the national average due to higher labor costs, faster on-site response expectations, dense jobsite environments, and stricter insurance requirements. The trade-off is fewer outages, faster issue resolution, and reduced project risk.
Below is a clear breakdown of what actually drives IT costs for construction companies in this size range—and what’s typically included.
1. Number of Users, Devices, and Job Roles
IT pricing starts with people—but in construction, devices matter just as much as headcount.
Most Orange County construction firms average:
- 1.5–2.2 devices per user
- A mix of office staff, project managers, field supervisors, and jobsite crews
- Laptops, tablets, smartphones, and shared jobsite systems
More devices = more security, monitoring, and support requirements, which increases cost.
Typical impact on cost:
Higher device counts can increase per-user pricing by 10–20% compared to office-only businesses.
2. Jobsite Connectivity Requirements
Jobsite connectivity is one of the biggest cost drivers for construction IT.
Common needs include:
- Temporary jobsite Wi-Fi (not consumer routers)
- LTE / 5G failover to prevent outages
- Remote monitoring for active sites
In Southern California, where jobsites are dense and schedules are tight, connectivity issues quickly become expensive delays.
Orange County benchmarks:
- $150–$400 per jobsite per month for managed connectivity
- Most mid-size contractors support 2–10 active jobsites at a time
3. Cybersecurity and Insurance Requirements
Cyber-insurance now directly impacts IT cost for construction companies.
Many of these costs are driven by security and insurance requirements. Construction companies should understand the cybersecurity risks unique to construction companies before comparing IT pricing.
Most insurers require:
- Endpoint protection and advanced threat detection
- Email security and phishing protection
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Secure backups and written policies
Construction firms that fail insurance security questionnaires often face:
- Higher premiums
- Coverage exclusions
- Delayed approvals (sometimes 30–60 days)
Cost impact:
Insurance-driven security controls typically add 15–30% to the IT stack—but dramatically reduce financial risk.
4. Cloud Services, Backup, and Disaster Recovery
Construction companies rely heavily on access to:
- Project files (CAD, BIM, drawings)
- Contracts, RFIs, and change orders
- Accounting and payroll systems
Because crews are mobile and devices get lost or damaged, cloud-based backup is essential.
Orange County recovery expectations:
- Recovery Time Objective (RTO): 4–12 hours
- Same-day recovery for critical project data
Faster recovery usually means higher-quality backup systems—and slightly higher cost—but prevents missed deadlines and billing delays.
Another major factor in construction IT pricing is data protection. Subcontractors and general contractors should also consider how cloud backup and disaster recovery protect project data and reduce downtime.
Not sure where you stand? We help construction companies identify IT risks, insurance gaps, and jobsite issues before they become problems
5. Support Model: Break/Fix vs Flat-Rate Managed IT
Many construction companies start with break/fix IT and later switch to managed services.
Break/Fix IT:
- Lower upfront cost
- Unpredictable monthly spend
- Slower response during critical project phases
Flat-Rate Managed IT:
- Predictable monthly pricing
- Proactive maintenance and monitoring
- Faster response times for jobsites
Orange County benchmark:
Flat-rate managed IT typically reduces surprise IT spending by 25–40% annually compared to break/fix.
Real Orange County Construction Cost Example
A general contractor in North Orange County with:
- 68 employees
- 6 active jobsites
- Frequent jobsite Wi-Fi issues
Previously spent $4,000–$7,000 per month on inconsistent break/fix IT.
After moving to a flat-rate managed IT plan:
- Monthly cost stabilized at ~$12,000/month
- Jobsite downtime dropped significantly within 30 days
- Cyber-insurance renewed with no security exclusions
- IT costs became predictable and budgetable
What’s Typically Included at $135–$185 per User
For most Orange County construction companies, this range includes:
- Unlimited helpdesk support
- Jobsite-aware IT support
- Cybersecurity protection
- Cloud backup and disaster recovery
- Compliance and insurance support
- Ongoing monitoring and maintenance
Final Takeaway
For construction companies with 20–100 employees in Orange County, IT is no longer just overhead—it’s risk management.
Spending $135–$185 per user per month:
- Reduces downtime
- Protects project data
- Satisfies insurance requirements
- Keeps jobsites productive
The cheapest IT option is rarely the least expensive in the long run.
Talk to a Construction IT Expert
If you’re a general contractor or subcontractor with 20–100 employees and want to understand your real IT risks, costs, or gaps, talk to an expert who specializes in construction environments.
No pressure. Just clear answers.