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Construction Managers: Career Overview
Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.
What Do Construction Managers Take On?
Typical responsibilities of construction managers cover:
- Inspect or review projects to monitor compliance with building and safety codes or other regulations.
- Develop or implement quality control programs.
- Plan, schedule, or coordinate construction project activities to meet deadlines.
- Prepare and submit budget estimates, progress reports, or cost tracking reports.
- Direct and supervise construction or related workers.
- Determine labor requirements for dispatching workers to construction sites.
- Confer with supervisory personnel, owners, contractors, or design professionals to discuss and resolve matters, such as work procedures, complaints, or construction problems.
- Prepare contracts or negotiate revisions to contractual agreements with architects, consultants, clients, suppliers, or subcontractors.
Skills and Knowledge
Top construction managers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Construction Managers Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Bridges and Buildings Supervisor
- Commercial Construction Project Manager
- Commercial Construction Superintendent
- Commercial Superintendent
- Concrete Foreman
- Construction Area Manager
- Construction Coordinator
- Construction Director
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 498,432 construction managers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -0.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Construction Managers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $83,791 |
| Hourly median | $40.28 |
| 10th percentile | $55,444 |
| 25th percentile | $69,617 |
| 75th percentile | $97,964 |
| 90th percentile | $112,138 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Construction Managers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $147,750 |
| Washington | $136,180 |
| Alaska | $135,630 |
| New York | $135,530 |
| Delaware | $135,200 |
| New Jersey | $130,580 |
| California | $129,000 |
| District of Columbia | $128,770 |
| Maryland | $128,500 |
| Oregon | $126,660 |
| Hawaii | $122,910 |
| Connecticut | $118,680 |
| Minnesota | $117,500 |
| Colorado | $113,520 |
| South Dakota | $113,520 |
| Wisconsin | $113,170 |
| Arizona | $110,120 |
| Illinois | $108,570 |
| Virginia | $107,000 |
| North Carolina | $104,750 |
| Nevada | $104,530 |
| Louisiana | $104,510 |
| Missouri | $104,350 |
| Maine | $104,060 |
| South Carolina | $104,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $103,990 |
| Kansas | $103,760 |
| Michigan | $103,610 |
| Rhode Island | $103,500 |
| Florida | $103,320 |
| Idaho | $102,880 |
| Montana | $102,820 |
| Georgia | $101,360 |
| North Dakota | $101,020 |
| New Mexico | $100,580 |
| Utah | $99,900 |
| Tennessee | $99,790 |
| Vermont | $99,660 |
| Kentucky | $99,620 |
| Indiana | $99,600 |
| Texas | $99,600 |
| Wyoming | $97,050 |
| Nebraska | $96,760 |
| Ohio | $96,440 |
| Oklahoma | $96,310 |
| Iowa | $96,300 |
| Mississippi | $93,840 |
| Alabama | $92,620 |
| Guam | $88,760 |
| Arkansas | $87,160 |
| Virgin Islands | $80,880 |
| West Virginia | $76,150 |
| Puerto Rico | $68,700 |
Where Construction Managers Earn the Most
Pay for construction managers differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $132,885 | 4.3% | 1.04 |
| Far Western US | $127,588 | 16.0% | 1.02 |
| Middle Atlantic | $126,663 | 8.5% | 0.65 |
| Rocky Mountains | $108,134 | 6.5% | 1.72 |
| Plains States | $105,928 | 5.5% | 0.89 |
| Great Lakes | $103,667 | 14.3% | 1.05 |
| Southeast | $101,835 | 26.1% | 1.16 |
| Southwest | $100,999 | 18.6% | 1.55 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $160,870 | 5,660 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $156,590 | 6,970 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $151,980 | 2,100 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | WA | $140,980 | 80 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $138,970 | 4,220 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $138,000 | 12,150 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $136,970 | 2,760 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $136,400 | 780 |
Top Industries Employing Construction Managers
Most construction managers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 277,520 | $104,530 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 15,160 | $128,000 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 9,580 | $128,910 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 6,260 | $137,190 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 6,160 | $108,630 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 3,890 | $142,620 |
| Utilities | 3,430 | $134,700 |
| Manufacturing | 3,280 | $118,660 |
Construction Managers work in the following industries:
Software Construction Managers Use
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Creative Cloud software (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk Revit (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for construction managers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Contact With Others
Getting Started in This Career
Typical construction managers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Facilities Managers (Primary-Long)
- Industrial Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Geothermal Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Architectural and Engineering Managers (Primary-Long)
- Wind Energy Development Managers (Supplemental)
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators (Supplemental)
- Cost Estimators (Supplemental)
- Project Management Specialists (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Future construction managers often complete programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 11-9021.00 (Construction Managers).
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