Construction project managers
ensure construction jobs comply with building safety codes.
Construction project managers oversee construction jobs from start to finish. They plan construction jobs, manage the budget, oversee completion of activities and handle any issues that arise during construction. Salary survey results published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers indicate college graduates with a degree in a construction-related field received job offers averaging $53,199 a year.
Function
Construction project managers are responsible for all phases of the construction management process, including the overall direction, administration, completion and financial outcome of the construction project. They help with the acquisition of land, obtain permits, hire contractors, monitor development and ensure completed building components comply with construction plans and local, state and federal codes. Construction project managers are the central point of contact for the various stakeholders involved in construction projects, such as clients, contractors, architects, designers and regulatory personnel. They coordinate activities, manage resources and work flow, track the schedule and budget and keep stakeholders informed of progress.
Significance
Construction project managers ensure tasks get completed as scheduled to avoid project delays and save costs. They order supplies and arrange delivery to the build site, being careful not to exceed the budget. They monitor work and frequently inspect completed sections to avoid violation of building code standards and related fines. Essentially, construction project managers keep construction projects on track.
Considerations
Individuals who thrive in dynamic, deadline driven work environments and can effectively manage concurrently occurring tasks and competing priorities fare well in the construction management industry. Construction project managers interact with a variety of stakeholders, such as clients, contractors and building safety authorities, to name a few. Some duties may involve resolving conflicting stakeholder interests, so persuasiveness, excellent communication, negotiation and conflict resolution skills are critically important. The nature of work and wide range of responsibilities that construction project managers face require knowledge of traditional construction techniques, including electrical and plumbing standards, blueprint reading and budget for and purchase materials.
Benefits
Aside from the high level of mental stress construction projects create, the sense of job satisfaction among construction project managers in the industry is high. Many project managers enjoy positive working relations with the stakeholders they encounter in the course of a construction project, such as builders, architects, construction crews and contractors, to name a few.
Educational Requirements
Employers of construction projects managers generally prefer individuals with a bachelor's degree in a construction-related field, such as construction management, building science, civil engineering or construction science. Employers also demonstrate a strong preference for individuals with practical construction experience and certifications from a professional construction or project management organization. In general, a college degree in a construction-related field, plus work experience, is adequate preparation for many construction project management jobs.
Income
Salary data reported by the U.S. Department of Labor indicate construction project managers in the United States earn mean annual wages ranging from $49,320 to $151,630. The annual median income is $93,290 for all construction project manager jobs in the United States, as of May 2009. Project managers employed by nondepository credit intermediation companies and businesses offering professional, scientific and technical services enjoy the highest salaries, with annual mean wages of $124,870 and $142,550, respectively, as of May 2009. New York is the top-paying state for the occupation; construction project managers in this area average annual salaries of $134,090, as of May 2009.
