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.
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What Tasks Do Construction Managers Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of construction managers span:
- 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.
What Construction Managers Need to Know
Successful construction managers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Construction Managers Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- 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.
Construction Managers Pay
| 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 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Construction Managers Salary by State
| 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
Earnings for construction managers vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| 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
The bulk of construction managers work in these industries:
| 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 |
Below are examples of industries where construction managers work:
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 reflects 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
Entry-level construction managers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
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 commonly pursue programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
6 programs across 3 majors
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
1 programs across 1 majors
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on 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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