How to become a construction manager
Official title: Construction managers
Also called: Construction manager, Construction expediter, Construction site manager, Construction superintendent, Construction project manager, Highway construction manager, Housing construction manager, Pipeline construction manager, Construction assistant manager, Commercial construction manager, Construction general contractor, Construction operations manager
Construction managers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the activities of a construction company or a construction department within a company, under the direction of a general manager or other senior manager. They are employed by residential, commercial and industrial construction companies and by construction departments of companies outside the construction industry.
Main tasks
- Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate construction projects from start to finish according to schedule, specifications and budget
- Prepare and submit construction project budget estimates
- Plan and prepare construction schedules and milestones and monitor progress against established schedules
- Prepare contracts and negotiate revisions, changes and additions to contractual agreements with architects, consultants, clients, suppliers and subcontractors
- Develop and implement quality control programs
- Represent company on matters such as business services and union contracts negotiation
- Prepare progress reports and issue progress schedules to clients
- Direct the purchase of building materials and land acquisitions
How to become one
A university degree in civil engineering or a college diploma in construction technology is usually required. A master's degree in project management may be required. Several years of experience in the construction industry, including experience as a construction supervisor or field superintendent, are usually required. Extensive experience in the construction industry may substitute for post-secondary education requirements. Professional engineering status or construction trade certification may be required by some employers.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $95,004 a year The middle half earn $78,000 to $121,875.
- About 108,900 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 124,200 are projected by 2033. (+14%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: moderate risk of shortage.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a construction manager?
A university degree in civil engineering or a college diploma in construction technology is usually required. A master's degree in project management may be required. Several years of experience in the construction industry, including experience as a construction supervisor or field superintendent, are usually required. Extensive experience in the construction industry may substitute for post-secondary education requirements. Professional engineering status or construction trade certification may be required by some employers.
How much does a construction manager earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $95,004 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $78,000 to $121,875.
Is a construction manager a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 14% by 2033, from about 108,900 to about 124,200 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a construction manager?
Not always. 29% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03