Construction Manager Career Guide

A construction manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of a construction project, from budgeting and buying materials to scheduling and lining up tradesmen and subcontractors to get the job done. With the option to work in the private or public sector, they have many exciting job opportunities!

We provide unique insight into what working as a construction manager is really like, offering in-depth career profiles garnered from talking to construction managers with years of experience in the industry. Before you decide what profession is right for you, browse below to find out what life is really like for people working in the field. You can also check out other categories within the construction industry and other fields to see how professionals spend their days.

Construction Manager Career Ratings

(What these ratings mean)

Income

Career
Growth

Personal Growth

Contribution

Influence

Job Profiles

Real-Life Construction Manager Job Profiles

Below is a list of links to anonymous job profiles of REAL PEOPLE who have filled out our survey and offered to share their insights with our users about their job in the Construction Manager field.

ID	Job Title	Gender	Age	Earnings	City & State	Date
33677	Project Manager	Male	36	$110,000	Chicago, IL	01/01/2010
33589	Contractor	Male	32	$60,000	pflugerville, TX	01/01/2010
32882	Project Manager	Male	27	$40,000	Albuquerque, NM	01/01/2010
32712	Foreman	Male	33	$71,000	Madison heights, MI	01/01/2010

Overview

What a construction manager actually does

A construction manager wears many hats. They are responsible for overseeing all aspects of a construction project, from budgeting and buying materials to scheduling and lining up tradesmen and subcontractors to get the job done.

With the option to work in the private or public sector, construction managers can work for a large construction firm, for a small local builder or, they may work as an independent contractor. They can work on both residential and commercial projects, including the construction of houses, buildings, roads, public and municipal projects, and commercial projects.

While construction managers may occasionally do physical labor and engage in building work, they generally handle the logistics of a building project rather than performing the building work on their own. They work closely with architects, engineers, home and commercial builders, and often have the authority to hire and oversee the work of subcontractors. They have many core duties, which include:

Preparing cost estimates, budgets, and work timetables
Interpreting and explaining contracts and technical information to other professionals
Working closely with architects, engineers, and other construction specialists
Selecting subcontractors and scheduling and coordinating their activities
Monitoring projects and reporting its progress to the construction firm and clients
Responding to work delays, emergencies, and other problems with the project
Ensuring that the project complies with legal requirements (e.g., building and safety codes)

Why they are needed

Construction managers are very important in the construction industry. They are needed to control the three main stages of a project: planning, directing and monitoring.

Construction managers ensure that a building is correctly planned. In this process, they draw upon their previous knowledge to ensure that things follow the law and are full documented.
Construction managers are important for directing a project. They are connected with different team members, from labourers to architects, and ensure that they are working together
Construction managers also monitor projects to ensure that they are meeting timelines and budgets

Pros and cons of being a construction manager

Pros:

It is a very exciting career as everyday is different and there are lots of changes
Construction managers are paid an above-average salary
With the growing population, there will be a demand for construction manager which will create lots of exciting job opportunities
Construction managers will use a variety of different skills
It is a highly sociable and interactive role
It is a very active and engaging job

Cons:

Construction managers may have to work long hours
It can be very stressful as they are always working towards deadlines
A lot can go wrong (e.g., safety, schedules, finance)
There is a lot of responsibility and a lot of people to manage

Employability

Job market

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of construction managers is expected to grow 8% from 2019 to 2029, which is much fast than the average for all occupations. This growth in employment is expected because of the overall expansion and growth of the construction industry. Over the coming decade, both population and business growth will result in the construction of many new structures (e.g., retail outlets, schools, office buildings, homes) which will be required to be overseen by a construction manager.

In addition, there is a growing emphasis on retrofitting buildings to make them more energy efficient and this should create jobs for construction managers who will need to oversee the entire project.

Career paths

There is no set in stone career path to becoming a construction manager. However, construction managers will typically need a bachelor’s degree in construction science, construction management, architecture or engineering. This education gives construction managers an understanding of labor and employment laws and workplace safety regulations, as well as an understanding of how to read and interpret blueprints and construction documents. The more complexed the construction process becomes, the more importance a potential employer will place on a candidate education.

However, to supervise only smaller projects, construction managers will do only need an associates degree in construction management or construction technology.

Example Job Titles for Construction Manager

Below is a list of common job titles in the Construction Manager field. Click the links below for more information about these job titles, or view the next section for actual real-life job profiles.

Benefits & Conditions

Income and benefits

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for construction managers in the United States was $97,180. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $56,880 per annum and the highest 10 percent earned more than $169,070.

The heavy and civil engineering construction industry was the highest paying industry, with a median annual salary of $101,730. This was followed by nonresidential building construction ($98,620), specialty trade contractors ($93,650) and residential building construction ($89,000).

Autonomy and Flexibility

Construction managers are responsible hundreds of decisions regarding a construction project. Therefore, they are likely to have high autonomy. Construction managers are likely to have set working hours, and it is therefore unlikely that they will have flexibility over the hours they work. They are likely to, however, have flexibility over how they arrange their day and who they delegate tasks to.

Locations and commute

According to Zippia, the best states to be a construction manager, based on average annual salary and the number of jobs available, are:

Hawaii, where the average annual salary is $135,100
Alaska where the average annual salary is $123,515
Idaho, where the average annual salary is $94,507
Oregon, where the average annual salary is $99,826
Washington, where the average annual salary is $103,333

The worst states to be a construction manager, according to Zippia, are Missouri, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Work environment

38% of all construction managers in the United States were self-employed workers. A futher 17% were employed by speciality trade contractors, 16% by nonresidential building construction, 10% by residential building construction and 8% by heavy and civil engineering construction.

Construction managers may have a main office. However, they will spend most of their time in a field office onsite. From here, they will monitor projects and make decisions about construction activities. If they manage multiple projects, they must visit different worksites which may require travelling out of state of being away from home for extended periods.

Career Satisfaction

Common Matching Personality Types

Which personalities tend to succeed and thrive in Construction Manager careers? Based on our research, there is a relatively strong positive correlation between the following personality types and Construction Manager career satisfaction. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t many exceptions, of course, but if you fit into one of the following personality types then we suggest you give strong consideration to a career in Construction Manager.

16 Types (Myers-Briggs)

ESTP
ESTJ

Big Five (OCEAN)

Extraversion

DISC

Enneagram

None

Holland Codes (RIASEC)

Personality types

It is likely that a successful construction manager will be an ESTJ personality type. ESTJ’s, or otherwise known as ‘the executive’ are decisive and confident. The ESTJ’s has a preference for working in a logical and methodical way, which is well suited to managing a busy construction site. ESTJ’s work with a huge focus on productivity and are incredibly eager to ensure that things get done correctly, which is crucial for managing a building site.

Accomplishment and mastery

Most construction managers must first achieve a bachelor’s degree and then progress to a construction management position through hard work, dedication and graft. Therefore, when you finally secure a construction management role, you will feel a high sense of accomplishment and skill mastery. Furthermore, throughout your career you will (hopefully) continue to run building projects with efficiency and to timeline and budget. This will provide a high sense of accomplishment.

Meaning and contribution

Construction managers play a very important role in supporting the growing population. They ensure that building projects run smoothly and efficiently and ensure that we have homes, offices, hospitals and schools to use. Although their work will not directly save any lives, the meaning and contribution to the economy is priceless.

Life fit

Most construction managers will work full time. However, they may often find themselves working overtime and long hours, as well as travelling. Therefore, it can sometimes provide a difficult life fit.

Who will thrive in this career?

There are some key qualities that you will need to thrive as a construction manager, such as:

Being incredibly organized person
Enjoying (and be good at) leading teams
Being able to make quick and effective decisions
A good business mindset, as this means you will always be working with productivity and efficiency at the forefront of your min
A good eye for numbers to track budgets
Attention to detail will allow you to thrive as a warehouse manager. This is because warehouse managers will need to notice small problems and learn about all aspects of shipping and logistics as a whole.

Who will struggle in this career?

Although anyone can be a successful construction manager. However, those people with the following qualities may be more likely to struggle:

Those who do not have the confidence or desire to lead a team may
Those with no enthusiasm for education and continuous leaning
Not be able to pay attention to detail
Not working with productivity at the forefront of their mind

Requirements

Quick Glance

Skills

Skills and talents

As well as adequate experience in the field, construction managers will need skills and talents such as:

Organization skills, as construction managers will be responsible for handling a wide range of tasks and must ensure that everything is in order
Leadership skills, as construction managers oversee the work of employees and contractors
Problem-solving skills, as construction managers will be faced with problems every single day (e.g., delays, staff sickness) and they must be able to resolve these issues and ensure that production is kept efficient
Teamwork skills, as construction managers will need to work in small teams, with other other construction workers and architects. They must be able to build a sense of cohesion, trust and open communication

Education

There is no set in stone career path to becoming a construction manager. However, construction managers will typically need a bachelor’s degree in construction science, construction management, architecture or engineering. However, to supervise only smaller projects, construction managers will do only need an associates degree in construction management or construction technology.

Certifications

In some states, construction managers are required to be licensed. Professional certification, although not required, demonstrates a particular level of knowledge and experience.

The Construction Management Association of America awards the Certified Construction Manager (CCM) credential to workers who have the required experience and who pass a technical exam. Candidates complete a self-study course that covers topics related to construction managers, including the manager’s role, legal issues, and risk allocation.

The American Institute of Constructors awards the Associate Constructor (AC) and Certified Professional Constructor (CPC) credential to candidates who meet its requirements, which include passing construction exams.

How to Become

Summary

A construction manager wears many hats and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of a construction project, from budgeting and buying materials to scheduling and lining up tradesmen and subcontractors to get the job done. With the option to work in the private or public sector, construction managers can work for a large construction firm, for a small local builder or, they may work as an independent contractor. They can work on both residential and commercial projects, including the construction of houses, buildings, roads, public and municipal projects, and commercial projects.

Immediate action

Typically, construction managers progress from other construction roles. So, if becoming a construction manager appeals to you, we recommend gathering experience in a construction and ‘getting your foot in the door’.

Education and learning

There are no formal educational requirements to become a construction manager. However, construction managers should aim to have an associates or a bachelor’s degree.

Skill development

Constructions managers will learn many essential skills through their education and training. They will also be expected to keep on top of industry trends and regulations, which means that their skills and knowledge will constantly develop throughout their career.

FAQs

Ask a Question

Have a question about Construction Manager careers? If so, our mentors would love to help! Just click on a mentor’s profile below and then fill out the “Ask a Question” form on that page. Your question will then be emailed to the mentor, who can then email you a reply.

ID	Job Title	Gender	Age	Earnings	City & State	Date
33677	Project Manager	Male	36	$110,000	Chicago, IL	01/01/2010
33589	Contractor	Male	32	$60,000	pflugerville, TX	01/01/2010
32882	Project Manager	Male	27	$40,000	Albuquerque, NM	01/01/2010
32712	Foreman	Male	33	$71,000	Madison heights, MI	01/01/2010

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