Other Management Occupations

How to become a Construction Manager

Official title: Construction Managers

Also called: Concrete Foreman, Construction Area Manager, Construction Foreman, Construction Management Supervisor, Construction Manager, Construction Services Manager, Construction Superintendent, General Superintendent, Job Superintendent, Site Manager

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.

Main tasks

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.
Confer with supervisory personnel, owners, contractors, or design professionals to discuss and resolve matters, such as work procedures, complaints, or construction problems.
Prepare contracts or negotiate revisions to contractual agreements with architects, consultants, clients, suppliers, or subcontractors.

How to become one

Construction managers typically need a bachelor's degree, and they learn management techniques through on-the-job training. Large construction firms may prefer to hire candidates who have both construction experience and a bachelor's degree in a construction-related field.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Architecture & Built Environment degrees, Offered by 15 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 34 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $114,990 a year The middle half earn $88,550 to $151,640.
About 609,100 people work in this job now, and about 664,300 are projected by 2035. (+9.1%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Construction Manager?

How much does a Construction Manager earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $114,990 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $88,550 to $151,640.

Is a Construction Manager a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 9% by 2035, from about 609,100 to about 664,300 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Construction Manager?

Not always. 35% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Architecture & Built Environment degrees.

Will AI change the work of a Construction Manager?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.