Construction Managers

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Management
• O*NET-SOC code: 11-9021
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.
• Study job specifications to determine appropriate construction methods.
• Plan, organize, or direct activities concerned with the construction or maintenance of structures, facilities, or systems.
• Contract or oversee craft work, such as painting or plumbing.
• Investigate damage, accidents, or delays at construction sites to ensure that proper construction procedures are being followed.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D, Autodesk Revit, Google Docs, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Civil Engineers
• Solar Energy Installation Managers
• Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
• Construction and Building Inspectors
• Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
• Industrial Engineers
• Architectural and Engineering Managers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Construction Managers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.