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Construction Managers
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.
Other titles employers use
Concrete Foreman · Construction Area Manager · Construction Foreman · Construction Management Supervisor · Construction Manager · Construction Services Manager · Construction Superintendent · General Superintendent
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to persuading, organizing and practical work.
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Coordination
- Complex Problem Solving
Subjects to know
- Building and Construction
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
- Engineering and Technology
- Customer and Personal Service
Useful strengths
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.5 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 3.6 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.7 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.3 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 40%
- A certificate or some college 25%
- High school or less 20%
- A two-year degree 10%
- A master's degree 5%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Project management software
- Document management software
- Word processing software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 68,530
- Job openings each year
- 5,400
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 15.0%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 68,530 | 5,400 | 15.0% |
| California | 67,400 | 5,190 | 11.2% |
| Florida | 47,840 | 3,790 | 15.8% |
| North Carolina | 39,210 | 3,030 | 11.9% |
| Illinois | 23,280 | 1,700 | 4.1% |
| Washington | 21,820 | 2,090 | 18.0% |
| Colorado | 21,500 | 1,710 | 16.8% |
| New York | 19,870 | 60 | 3.1% |
| Ohio | 18,710 | 1,370 | 4.4% |
| New Jersey | 18,480 | 1,380 | 7.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 15,960 | 1,170 | 4.5% |
| Tennessee | 13,180 | 1,080 | 22.5% |
| Georgia | 11,470 | 880 | 11.0% |
| Michigan | 11,360 | 810 | 1.6% |
| Virginia | 10,860 | 820 | 8.2% |
| Arizona | 10,790 | 840 | 11.9% |
| Maryland | 10,760 | 820 | 9.2% |
| Alabama | 9,690 | 730 | 9.0% |
| Wisconsin | 9,410 | 750 | 17.0% |
| Minnesota | 9,230 | 690 | 6.3% |
| Oregon | 9,230 | 730 | 15.8% |
| Indiana | 8,580 | 630 | 4.6% |
| Louisiana | 7,900 | 630 | 15.5% |
| South Carolina | 7,560 | 560 | 6.5% |
| Nevada | 6,940 | 560 | 17.6% |
| Utah | 6,630 | 590 | 38.7% |
| Missouri | 5,680 | 430 | 8.2% |
| Kansas | 5,290 | 400 | 7.3% |
| Nebraska | 5,250 | 400 | 10.3% |
| Massachusetts | 4,750 | 360 | 7.7% |
| Connecticut | 4,330 | 340 | 13.1% |
| Oklahoma | 4,170 | 320 | 9.2% |
| Idaho | 4,070 | 350 | 30.9% |
| Iowa | 3,900 | 310 | 14.4% |
| Arkansas | 3,250 | 250 | 8.3% |
| Mississippi | 2,730 | 210 | 12.8% |
| Maine | 2,340 | 160 | — |
| New Mexico | 2,310 | 180 | 14.4% |
| Montana | 2,220 | 180 | 19.4% |
| Puerto Rico | 1,630 | 130 | 18.1% |
| District of Columbia | 1,530 | 120 | 10.1% |
| Wyoming | 1,470 | 120 | 17.6% |
| New Hampshire | 1,430 | 110 | 10.9% |
| West Virginia | 1,300 | 100 | 13.0% |
| Vermont | 1,250 | 100 | 9.6% |
| Alaska | 1,220 | 90 | 8.9% |
| North Dakota | 1,180 | 90 | 13.5% |
| Delaware | 890 | 70 | 8.5% |
| South Dakota | 800 | 60 | 12.7% |
| Rhode Island | 550 | 40 | 14.6% |
| Guam | 290 | 20 | 3.6% |
| Virgin Islands | 70 | 10 | 40.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 5,579
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
Western Governors University
- Degrees each year
- 2,505
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
California State University-Fullerton
- Degrees each year
- 2,158
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
San Diego State University
- Degrees each year
- 2,080
- Admit rate
- 34%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
San Jose State University
- Degrees each year
- 1,657
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
- Degrees each year
- 1,565
- Admit rate
- 74%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Liberty University
- Degrees each year
- 1,543
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $27,000
University of Maryland Global Campus
- Degrees each year
- 1,483
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- —