Construction Manager
A Construction Manager is a professional responsible for overseeing construction projects from inception to completion. They play a critical role in planning, budgeting, scheduling, and coordinating various aspects of construction, ensuring that projects meet client specifications and safety regulations. This position typically requires a bachelor's degree in fields such as civil engineering or construction management, along with significant prior experience in the construction industry.
Construction Managers often find themselves balancing office work with on-site responsibilities, which may include interacting with clients, architects, and contractors while conducting inspections and managing labor. They must possess strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to the unpredictable nature of construction work. The job can involve long hours, as well as physical demands such as standing for extended periods and working in varied weather conditions.
With a median annual salary of approximately $104,900 and a projected employment growth rate of 5%, the field offers a promising career path for those interested in architecture, design, and leadership roles in the construction sector.
Construction Manager
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Architecture & Construction
Interests: Architecture, design, managing others, problem-solving
Earnings (Yearly Median): $104,900 per year $50.43 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 5% (Faster than average)
Entry-Level Education Bachelor's degree
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job Training Moderate-term on-the-job training
Overview
Sphere of Work. Construction managers are responsible for overseeing a construction project from start to finish. They hire and fire employees, create and carry out budgets, design projects, and coordinate with the property owner, developer, and other key individuals. Construction managers ensure that the project is operating on time, that employees perform their assigned tasks, that the project stays within the budget, and that it meets the standards of the client. Construction managers may oversee the entire project or a section of that project, setting worker schedules, purchasing materials and tools, and conducting periodic inspections of the site. A large number of construction managers are self-employed, although many are also employees of a larger construction company.
Work Environment. Construction managers work in offices and at construction sites, working with a large number of people and employees. In many cases, the construction site is far away from the construction manager’s home base. In light of this fact, they may have to travel to sites for months at a time until the project is completed. Construction managers should be able to stand for long periods, lift heavy objects, and work in a wide range of weather conditions on sites at which personal safety is a concern. These managers often work long hours and are on call at all times.
Occupation Interest. Construction managers have a great deal of prior construction experience and use this experience effectively to oversee the progress of others. These individuals are in charge of virtually every aspect of either the entire project or a section of it. This means that construction managers have a great deal of control over how the job is carried out. Although construction managers should expect to be involved in some on-site work, the higher-risk work tends to be delegated to the manager’s subordinates.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. Because a construction manager’s job encompasses so many different functions, and the building process can be unpredictable, there tends to be great variation in daily tasks. A construction manager plans and directs a project from start to finish, troubleshooting issues that arise throughout. They schedule and coordinate each of the project’s stages, ensuring the work will be completed in a reasonable amount of time. Additionally, the construction manager selects and oversees the employees and personnel for each phase of the project; this includes selecting general contractors and subcontractors who will perform certain tasks, such as plumbing and electrical installation. The manager works to ensure that each worker is performing the tasks required, adhering to safety requirements, and operating according to schedule.
Besides overseeing the construction site, the construction manager works with the client to plan the project according to his or her needs. The construction manager must create and implement the project budget and monitor the costs incurred throughout the process. The manager coordinates with architects, developers, and suppliers to verify that the project is proceeding according to plan. The manager must order building materials and equipment and obtain all permits and licenses before the workers can perform their tasks. They are responsible for establishing quality control and safety standards for the project, completing the project according to building and safety codes, and monitoring workers’ safety on the job site. Although time is spent interacting with clients in an office, much of each day may be spent outside at the building site.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Construction managers sometimes work in office environments as part of their job responsibilities. These offices may be located at the company’s headquarters, where managers meet with clients, developers, and architects during the earliest stages of the project. Managers may also work in field offices located on the construction site itself. A significant part of the workday is usually spent on-site coordinating with workers and contractors, monitoring progress, and performing routine inspections. Some construction managers even purchase the land on which the project will be built.
Human Environment. Construction managers must coordinate with a wide range of people in order to bring projects to successful completion. They work with clients, developers, architects, and suppliers. They must also work with the public, including local officials, to secure permits and licenses. Finally, construction managers hire, oversee, and, when necessary, fire employees, contractors, and subcontractors.
Technological Environment. A construction manager should have experience with and be knowledgeable about construction tools and equipment. They must work in close proximity to heavy equipment like backhoes, bulldozers, and cranes, as well as smaller equipment like nail guns and saws.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students interested in becoming construction managers should study math and geometry as well as shop classes, such as carpentry and the building trades. Since business management, budget oversight, and communications are other important aspects of the manager’s job, courses such as business and English are useful.
Postsecondary. Many construction managers obtain a bachelor’s degree in such fields as civil engineering, building science, or construction management. Such training may include courses in cost evaluation, site planning, and business management. Because of the enormous value placed on prior experience in the industry, other managers supplement their years of experience in construction with an associate’s degree in a related field and are able to advance that way.
Related Occupations
− Construction & Building Inspector
− Supervisor
Bibliography
“Construction Managers.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/management/construction-managers.htm. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.
“Construction Managers 11-9021.00.” O*NET OnLine, 9 Aug. 2024, www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-9021.00. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.
"Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023 11-9021 Construction Managers." US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes119021.htm. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.