Construction Managers

11-9021.00 Zone 4 — Considerable Preparation Needed

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.

Also known as: Bridges and Buildings Supervisor, Commercial Construction Project Manager, Commercial Construction Superintendent, Commercial Superintendent, Concrete Foreman, Construction Area Manager, Construction Coordinator, Construction Director, ...

Annual Salary

$106,980

Median annual wage (May 2024)

$83,480 25th – 75th percentile $139,330

10th percentile $65,160

90th percentile $176,990

U.S. Employment: 348,330

Job Outlook

+8.7%

Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Much faster than average)

Annual Job Openings 46,800 per year (avg. 2024–2034)

Typical education: Bachelor's degree

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

What You'd Do

Confer with supervisory personnel, owners, contractors, or design professionals to discuss and resolve matters, such as work procedures, complaints, or construction problems.
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.
Inspect or review projects to monitor compliance with building and safety codes or other regulations.
Study job specifications to determine appropriate construction methods.
Requisition supplies or materials to complete construction projects.
Prepare and submit budget estimates, progress reports, or cost tracking reports.
Develop or implement quality control programs.
Develop or implement environmental protection programs.
Implement training programs on environmentally responsible building topics to update employee skills and knowledge.

Inspect or review projects to monitor compliance with environmental regulations.
Perform, or contract others to perform, pre-building assessments, such as conceptual cost estimating, rough order of magnitude estimating, feasibility, or energy efficiency, environmental, and sustainability assessments.
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, schedule, or coordinate construction project activities to meet deadlines.
Investigate damage, accidents, or delays at construction sites to ensure that proper construction procedures are being followed.
Prepare contracts or negotiate revisions to contractual agreements with architects, consultants, clients, suppliers, or subcontractors.
Implement new or modified plans in response to delays, bad weather, or construction site emergencies.
Interpret and explain plans and contract terms to representatives of the owner or developer, including administrative staff, workers, or clients.
Apply for and obtain all necessary permits or licenses.
Evaluate construction methods and determine cost-effectiveness of plans, using computer models.

Top Skills

Judgment and Decision Making 4.1

Management of Personnel Resources 4.1

Active Listening 4.0

Time Management 4.0

Coordination 4.0

Critical Thinking 4.0

Complex Problem Solving 4.0

Reading Comprehension 3.9

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Knowledge Areas

Building and Construction 4.7

Administration and Management 4.3

Mathematics 4.0

Engineering and Technology 4.0

Customer and Personal Service 3.9

Mechanical 3.8

Production and Processing 3.8

Public Safety and Security 3.8

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level

Bachelor's

40%

High School

15%

Certificate

15%

Some College

10%

Associate's

10%

< High School

Master's

Technology & Tools

Software and tools commonly used in this role

In-Demand Technologies

Adobe Acrobat Adobe Creative Cloud software Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Autodesk Revit Google Docs Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Project Microsoft SharePoint Microsoft Visio Microsoft Word Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management Procore software SAP software Trimble SketchUp Pro Yardi software

Other Tools

3M Post-it App AEC Software FastTrack Schedule ArenaSoft Estimating Axios Systems assyst Bechtel Software SETROUTE Cadsoft Design/Build CBS ProLog Manager Computer aided design and drafting software CADD CSI WSE CodeBuddy Daily Manager

Work Styles

Personality traits and work styles important for this career

2.7

Leadership Orientation

2.7

Dependability

2.3

Integrity

2.3

Attention to Detail

2.2

Perseverance

2.2

Stress Tolerance

2.1

Cautiousness

Key Abilities

Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role

Problem Sensitivity 4.1

Oral Comprehension 4.0

Written Comprehension 4.0

Oral Expression 4.0

Deductive Reasoning 4.0

Information Ordering 4.0

Written Expression 3.9

Near Vision 3.9

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Activities

General types of job behaviors occurring on this job

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates 4.4

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards 4.3

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings 4.3

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials 4.3

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work 4.3

Scheduling Work and Activities 4.3

Making Decisions and Solving Problems 4.2

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others 4.2

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Environment

Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work

E-Mail

4.9

Telephone Conversations

4.9

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

4.7

Contact With Others

4.6

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

4.6

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection

4.5

Health and Safety of Other Workers

4.3

Time Pressure

4.3

Freedom to Make Decisions

4.2

Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities

4.2

Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results

4.2

Frequency of Decision Making

4.1

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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.