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What Does it Take to Be a Construction Manager?

Job Description & Duties 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.

Daily Life Of a Construction Manager

  • Apply for and obtain all necessary permits or licenses.
  • Secure third-party verification from sources such as Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) to ensure responsible design and building activities or to achieve favorable LEED ratings for building projects.
  • Plan, organize, or direct activities concerned with the construction or maintenance of structures, facilities, or systems.
  • Determine labor requirements for dispatching workers to construction sites.
  • Investigate damage, accidents, or delays at construction sites to ensure that proper construction procedures are being followed.
  • Develop or implement quality control programs.

Skills Needed to be a Construction Manager

Below is a list of the skills most Construction Managers say are important on the job.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

  • Contractor
  • General Contractor
  • Utility Division Project Manager
  • Masonry Contractor Administrator
  • Plumbing Contractor

Job Demand for Construction Managers

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 403,800 jobs in the United States for Construction Manager. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 11.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 44,800 new jobs for Construction Manager by 2026. The BLS estimates 33,200 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Construction Manager are Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Alaska, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of a Construction Manager

The average yearly salary of a Construction Manager ranges between $55,240 and $161,510.

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Construction Managers who work in New Jersey, Delaware, or New York, make the highest salaries.

How much do Construction Managers make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $96,500
Alaska $115,580
Arizona $92,520
Arkansas $78,250
California $117,770
Colorado $97,170
Connecticut $112,570
Delaware $124,000
District of Columbia $103,310
Florida $94,150
Georgia $105,330
Hawaii $109,850
Idaho $78,880
Illinois $95,020
Indiana $86,210
Iowa $84,710
Kansas $87,270
Kentucky $89,990
Louisiana $99,610
Maine $84,410
Maryland $106,050
Massachusetts $109,130
Michigan $101,810
Minnesota $93,230
Mississippi $79,380
Missouri $96,680
Montana $96,000
Nebraska $93,080
Nevada $94,350
New Hampshire $91,490
New Jersey $145,400
New Mexico $89,410
New York $131,950
North Carolina $109,520
North Dakota $109,640
Ohio $103,700
Oklahoma $85,950
Oregon $98,110
Pennsylvania $106,270
Rhode Island $132,750
South Carolina $100,030
South Dakota $95,820
Tennessee $82,870
Texas $98,420
Utah $83,990
Vermont $92,730
Virginia $109,980
Washington $100,180
West Virginia $113,320
Wisconsin $113,270
Wyoming $96,050

What Tools do Construction Managers Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Construction Managers:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Access
  • Data entry software
  • Email software
  • SAP
  • Microsoft Project
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Database software
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
  • Scheduling software
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer

Becoming a Construction Manager

What education is needed to be a Construction Manager?

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What work experience do I need to become a Construction Manager?

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Where Construction Managers Work

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The table below shows the approximate number of Construction Managers employed by various industries.

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Those who work as a Construction Manager sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: Mike Moore via public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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