Construction managers plan and administrate the development of varied construction projects, from road and bridge infrastructure, to commercial shopping complexes, to private residential homes. They are responsible for implementation of the construction project from conception through completion, coordinating the jobs of contractors and project managers. They typically work from an office on the job site, but are often not directly involved in actual construction activities.
While the construction industry is naturally subject to ''boom or bust'' cycles in the economy, over sixty percent of construction managers are self-employed as contractors or within their own firms, and thus somewhat insulated from potential layoff or unemployment during economic downturns. The combination of increasingly and technologically complex construction projects, aging energy and transportation infrastructure, and trends to retrofit existing structures for energy efficiency will serve to create sustained employment opportunities in construction management. In 2008, over a half million people worked in the field nationwide, with approximately a 17% annual job growth rate forecast through 2018.
Though not a job requirement for the industry, persons with a bachelor's degree in construction or civil engineering, or who possess practical experience in construction, have a tremendous advantage for employment in construction management. Extensive job experience in construction, often from persons employed initially as interns or ''construction craft workers'' such as plumbers or carpenters, is critical for entrance into and success in construction management. Indeed, so important is such experience it may sometimes take the place of more advanced college degrees. Many schools across the nation offer 2 or 4-year degrees in construction or related fields. Bachelor degree graduates are often hired initially as assistants to project managers, while persons with Masters and more experience in the field may be employed by the very largest and most prestigious construction companies and projects. Although again not strictly a job requirement, voluntary certification in the field of construction is increasingly important for those seeking careers in construction management.
According to the USDOL, the median income for a construction manager is $79,860, with the highest salaries approaching $150,000 and the lowest, about $47,000, among construction manager jobs in residential construction. Again, the strongest job prospects and higher initial salaries will be for those individuals with extensive construction related experience, a bachelor's degree or higher, and certification in the field of construction management.
