CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2025	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2025	Jun. 30, 2024
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 614,468	$ 582,822	$ 1,045,417	$ 1,023,182
Cost of revenues	(471,328)	(470,079)	(807,437)	(833,535)
Gross profit	143,140	112,743	237,980	189,647
General and administrative expense	(33,987)	(27,856)	(68,618)	(55,154)
Intangible asset amortization	(4,536)	(4,280)	(9,039)	(8,577)
Acquisition related costs	(2,495)	(101)	(2,674)	(137)
Earn-out expense	(1,343)	(1,000)	(2,686)	(2,000)
Other operating income (expense), net	3,785	(6,772)	5,677	(8,920)
Operating income	104,564	72,734	160,640	114,859
Interest income	6,901	6,305	13,728	12,207
Interest expense	(4,995)	(6,513)	(10,227)	(13,177)
Income before income taxes	106,470	72,526	164,141	113,889
Income tax expense	(27,362)	(17,952)	(42,442)	(25,556)
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	79,108	54,574	121,699	88,333
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(8,117)	(2,695)	(11,231)	(5,406)
Net income attributable to Sterling common stockholders	$ 70,991	$ 51,879	$ 110,468	$ 82,927
Net income per share attributable to Sterling common stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.33	$ 1.68	$ 3.62	$ 2.68
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.31	$ 1.67	$ 3.59	$ 2.66
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	30,408	30,914	30,477	30,945
Diluted (in shares)	30,762	31,145	30,804	31,158