What Construction Managers Do

Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish.

Work Environment

Many construction managers have a main office, but spend most of their time working out of a field office at a construction site, where they monitor the project and make daily decisions about construction activities. The need to meet deadlines and respond to emergencies often requires construction managers to work many hours.

How to Become a Construction Manager

Large construction firms increasingly prefer candidates with both construction experience and a bachelor’s degree in a construction-related field. Although individuals with a high school diploma and many years of experience in a construction trade may be hired as construction managers, these individuals are typically qualified to become self-employed general contractors.

Job Outlook

Employment of construction managers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Construction managers will be needed as overall construction activity increases over the coming decade. Those with a bachelor’s degree in construction science, construction management, or civil engineering, coupled with construction experience, will have the best job prospects.

Growth & Trends

This occupation supported 485,000 jobs in 2012 and 373,200 jobs in 2014, reflecting a decline of 23.1%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 16.1% in 2022 to 563,200 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 500,600, compared with an observed value of 373,200, 25.4% lower than expected. This indicates current employment trends are much worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 3.7% in 2024 to 391,100 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 578,800 jobs for 2024, 48.0% higher than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are much worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation.

Construction Managers Employment and Labor Information 2023

Construction Managers Employment Brief:

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.

Construction Managers Job Description

Here is a Job Description an employer might post for potential Construction Managers.

Construction Managers Responsibilities and Duties:

• Develop or implement quality control programs.
• Study job specifications to determine appropriate construction methods.
• Apply green building strategies to reduce energy costs or minimize carbon output or other sources of harm to the environment.
• Implement new or modified plans in response to delays, bad weather, or construction site emergencies.
• Direct and supervise construction or related workers.
• Inspect or review projects to monitor compliance with building and safety codes or other regulations.
• Direct acquisition of land for construction projects.
• Prepare and submit budget estimates, progress reports, or cost tracking reports.
• Contract or oversee craft work, such as painting or plumbing.
• Inspect or review projects to monitor compliance with environmental regulations.

Typical Daily Tasks of Construction Managers:

• Getting Information: Investigate industrial or transportation accidents. Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
• Scheduling Work and Activities.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates.
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Negotiate project specifications.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Estimate labor requirements. Implement organizational process or policy changes.
• Working with Computers.
• Developing and Building Teams.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Purchase materials, equipment, or other resources.

Construction Managers Skills and Requirements:

• Systems Evaluation Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
• Persuasion Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
• Word ProcessingUsing a computer application to type text, insert pictures, format, edit, print, save, and retrieve word processing documents.
• DatabasesUsing a computer application to manage large amounts of information, including creating and editing simple databases, inputting data, retrieving specific records, and creating reports to communicate the information.
• Operations Monitoring Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Time Management Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Coordination Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• NavigationUsing scroll bars, a mouse, and dialog boxes to work within the computer's operating system. Being able to access and switch between applications and files of interest.
• Learning Strategies Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
• Complex Problem Solving Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Construction Managers Education and Training:

Typical education for include: Bachelor's degree.

Construction Managers Salary, Wages, and Salary and Job Outlook

Construction Managers average pay is: $48.79 per hour according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employees who work in Utility System Construction are the highest paid making $57.16, while Residential Building Construction make the least at $47.23 per hour.Here are the top city/metro areas with the highest paying salaries for a Construction Managers: