How To Become A Construction Manager

A construction manager manages a construction project from the planning stage all the way to its completion. You can supervise the building of residential and nonresidential buildings. Even public infrastructures like highways and bridges.

As a construction manager, it is part of your job to prepare expense estimates. You will also prepare the work schedules of the workers so that the project gets completed on time. Getting the costs and timetables right also means collaborating with the architects or engineers who will also be working on the project. Choosing subcontractors and coordinating the work they do will also form part of your work.

It’s important that you are on top of all construction activities so that the work meets all technical specifications. This means the project gets completed on time and within budget. Depending on the scale of the work to be done, you can either be in charge of the entire project or just a particular part of it like the foundation or electrical aspect.

To succeed as a construction manager, you need more than technical and engineering knowledge. You also need to possess excellent communication skills. You will be making regular reports to your clients and coordinating the work with the rest of the members of your team. You must also be highly analytical and be good at problem solving. You will be called upon to address problems that occur during construction. As a construction manager, you also need to have business and decision-making skills as well. You need to pay attention to details. You need to ensure that safety and building regulations are being followed.

Why Become A Construction Manager

One reason to become a construction manager is that it allows the professional who has had extensive experience in the construction field to take their experience and expertise to the next level. Many construction managers are self-employed. Compared to those who do the actual construction like construction laborers and helpers, the rate of injuries in this profession is low. They are also paid higher wages and as construction activity grows. The employment outlook of construction managers is expected to be very positive in the coming years.

Construction Manager Work Environment

The majority of construction managers are self-employed. Others work for companies who are into building construction. This includes specialty trade contractor and civil engineering construction industries. Many construction managers maintain an office at the construction site. They do this to oversee the project until it’s completion. They also need to make quick decisions when the project encounters glitches. They may have to travel to different worksites if they are in charge of different projects.

Construction Manager Salary

The Occupational Employment and Wages report of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that construction managers received a mean annual wage of $92,700. This translates to $44.57 per hour. The top paying states for construction managers are New Jersey ($122,520), Rhode Island ($118,790), Alaska ($114,950), California ($109,930) and Pennsylvania ($109,810).

The average construction manager has a salary of $84,410 a year ($40.58 an hour). An entry level construction manager can expect to earn $50,220 a year ($24.14 an hour). An experienced construction manager has an average annual salary of $146,340 a year ($70.36 an hour).

Average Construction Manager Annual Salary

$101,000

The average annual salary for construction managers is $101,000 a year. Salaries start at $54,810 a year and go up to $159,560 a year.

Average Construction Manager Hourly Wage

$48.56

The average hourly wage for a construction manager is $48.56. Hourly wages are between $26.35 and $76.71 an hour.

Stats were based out of 263,480 employed construction managers in the United States.

Highest Paying States For Construction Managers

1. New Jersey $66.82 / hr $138,980 / yr
2. Alaska $58.10 / hr $120,840 / yr
3. New York $58.02 / hr $120,670 / yr
4. Georgia $54.78 / hr $113,930 / yr
5. California $53.82 / hr $111,940 / yr

Top Paying Cities For Construction Managers

1. Winchester, VA $78.09 / hr$162,420 / yr
2. Atlantic City, NJ $75.41 / hr$156,850 / yr
3. Newark, NJ $70.90 / hr$147,470 / yr
4. San Francisco, CA $70.43 / hr$146,490 / yr
5. Jackson, MI $70.34 / hr$146,310 / yr

Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Construction Manager Career Outlook

The job outlook of construction managers is very positive in the next few years. In the decade covering 2012 to 2022, the employment rate of construction managers is expected to rise 16 percent. This rate is faster than the average rate for all job types. The demand for these professionals will come from the increase of construction activity. In the coming years, they will be needed to construct new buildings, offices, schools, hospitals, roads and other structures.

Construction Manager Degree

A bachelor’s degree in construction management, construction science, architecture and engineering are common educational preparations for those who want to be construction managers. There are construction managers who enter the profession with only a high school diploma. No matter what the person’s educational background is, a career as a construction manager necessitates real life work experience in fields as a laborer, stonemason, carpenter and others before one enters the profession. Experience can also be gained from internships and cooperative education programs.