How to Begin a Professional Career as a Construction Manager

How to Begin a Professional Career as a Construction Manager
Construction Manager by Oregon Department of Transportation http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Construction_Manager_(9468874430).jpg
Construction Manager: A Quick Look
Median Salary $82,790 per year
$39.80 per hour
Entry-level education Bachelor’s degree
On-the-job training YesMedium-term
Primary employers Companies in heavy engineering construction and civil engineering; construction companies; contractors for specialty trade projects.
Number of positions (U.S.) 485,000
Job Growth (2010-2020) 16% (slightly faster pace than average)
New positions (2010-2020) +78,200

What Does A Construction Manager Do?

Construction Managers oversee the entire building process of  a given structure. The building stages include the point where the building is first developed to the moment it is completed. They also cover the construction’s budget and planning.Read more.

Salary

On average, the median yearly salary of a Construction Manager stands around $82,800 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Read more.

Construction Manager by Oregon Department of Transportation http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Construction_Manager_(9468874430).jpg

Becoming A Construction Manager

In order to become a Construction Manager for a prominent firm, a candidate must generally hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field. More and more construction firms are requiring their managers have a bachelor’s degree. The candidate will also possess a plethora of experience in construction.Read more.

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Job Outlook

The Bureau expects the Construction Manager position to grow by 16 percent over the next decade. This rate of growth is slightly faster than the average rate of growth of all positions in the US from 2012 to 2022 (11%). The Bureau expects that new job openings will arise for Construction Managers due to population and business growth.Read more.

Construction Manager Salary

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the median yearly salary for Construction Managers in May 2012 was just under $83,000. Obviously this number is calculated by the middle number between the workers making more and the workers earning less than this figure. Therefore, we should recognize that the lowest earning 10 percent earn less than $49,700 per year. The top earning 10 percent make over $144,500 per year. We should also note that the median salary for all management positions in all fields of employment stands at $93,900 per year. This is much higher than the median yearly salary of a Construction Manager. Construction Manager's salaries may fluctuate depending on the field they work in. The top earning Construction Managers typically work in the field of heavy and civil engineering. These specific managers have a median yearly salary of $85,100. Construction Managers working in traditional building construction earn a median yearly wage of $81,800. By contrast, specialty Trade Contractors earn a median yearly wage of $79,500. According to the survey conducted by the bureau, Constructions Managers employed in civil engineering typically earned the most. Some Construction Managers who already hold full time employment also receive additional compensation through extra hours or pay bonuses. Most of Construction Managers are employed full-time. Many report working long hours due to emergency deadlines, delays in the workflow, and urgent projects. Some managers are on call 24 hours a day. A fraction of Construction Managers work as freelancers and earn money according to the number of contracts they have with various clients.

How To Become A Construction Manager

In order to become a Construction Manager for a prominent firm, a candidate must generally hold a bachelor's degree in a related field. More and more construction firms are requiring their managers have a bachelor's degree. The candidate will also possess a plethora of experience in construction.Some candidates may be able to circumvent having a bachelor's degree provided they have numerous years of professional experience in their resume. However, these candidates typically wind up working as self-employed contractors. Educational Requirements In a specialty field such as construction, receiving proper education is becoming more and more important on today’s job market. Competition in the Construction Management field intensified over the past few years. Moreover, modern construction processes are becoming more and more complex. The processes require professionals with specialized education credentials. Most Construction Managers who work for a construction firm hold a bachelor's degree in construction science, construction management, engineering, or architecture. And with over 100 college and universities in the United States that provide students with accredited degrees in the aforementioned fields, there are plenty of options to choose from. Students studying in these majors must complete courses in general arithmetic, statistics, project control, design, project management, cost estimate skills, building codes, and more. Some colleges offer two year programs in construction technology or construction management. These programs reward graduates with an associate's degree. Candidates with one of these degrees and relevant on-the-job experience in the field may qualify as an entry level Construction Manager for small projects or contracts.

Certification

Most employers won't require a candidate possess a certificate to become a construction manager. However, today’s competitive job market places an increased focus on certification. Candidates may opt for the title of Certified Construction Manager (CCM), awarded by the Construction Management Association of America. To qualify, you will need to show proof of your work experience and pass a technical examination. You can also become a certified Associate Constructor (AC) or a Certified Professional Constructor (CPC), two titles granted by the American Institute of Constructors. Certain states may require their Construction Managers hold a certificate to work in a public project. You should check with your local licensing board to see if you need one. Training On-the-job training typically involves a newly hired assistant manager working under a more seasoned professional. Generally, construction firms hire all new Construction Manager this way. This training may last anywhere between a few months to several years.

Construction Manager Job Description

Construction Managers oversee the entire building process of a given structure. The building stages include the point where the building is first developed to the moment it is completed. Construction managers plan, oversee, and work out the budgeting of the construction work in question. Duties We've included a list of the typical duties of a construction manager:
  • Create estimates of the budget, costs, and work schedules for construction
  • Explain the contracts involved, as well as the more technical aspects of the process, to other specialists working on the contract
  • Work together with engineers, architects, and other experts
  • Update the client with progress of the construction and address any possible budget/expenditure issues
  • Hire and oversee subcontractors
  • Address urgent deadlines, delays in construction, and any issues that arise during construction
As a Construction Manager, you’ll be in charge with coordinating an ample range of project types. Basically, if something can be built, a Construction Manager will oversee the process. Typically, a manager will supervise the process from beginning to end. But he or she may consult with the builders or developers he or she is working with in the process. A Construction Manager will also supervise the work of specialized construction staff member such as contractors. They have to schedule the workflow and ensure sure all the micro-processes are standardized in terms of design, expenditure, and scheduling. Construction Managers may be assigned to several projects at the same time. This sort of thing happens frequently with the construction of apartment buildings. Construction Managers work in close collaboration with civil engineers, steel workers, landscapers, road pavers, and architects. They may also have to collaborate with attorneys, representatives of the local government, and inspectors from the city authorities.

Construction Manager Job Outlook

The Bureau holds an optimistic view of employment of Construction Managers for the next decade. They estimate the position to grow by 16 percent. This rate of growth (16%) is slightly faster than the average rate of growth of all positions in the US from 2012 to 2022 (11%). The Bureau expects that new job openings will arise for Construction Managers due to population and business growth. The Bureau expects construction in the United States to expand, as an effect of population growth. Industry experts estimate an increased need for commercial and office buildings, residential buildings, hospitals, schools, restaurants, and so on over the following ten years. As the current road, piping and bridge infrastructures age, the government will require work to maintain it. As work safety standards become more strict, technology has become increasingly complex and the need for environmentally conscious building more acute, candidates interested in becoming Construction Managers can expect massive job growth in this construction management field. It’s important to note that the construction field is highly reliant on the overall evolution of the national economy. As such, staff in this field can expect to see both peak periods, with massive hiring going on, as well as periods with reduced activity levels, during which the pace of job growth is likely to slow down.

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