Construction Managers
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Work Context
Education
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Experience
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
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.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $56K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $73K
Median Salary: $97K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $128K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $169K
Demand
Core Tasks
Plan, schedule, or coordinate construction project activities to meet deadlines.
Prepare and submit budget estimates, progress reports, or cost tracking reports.
Interpret and explain plans and contract terms to representatives of the owner or developer, including administrative staff, workers, or clients.
Direct and supervise construction or related workers.
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.
Plan, organize, or direct activities concerned with the construction or maintenance of structures, facilities, or systems.
Study job specifications to determine appropriate construction methods.
Implement new or modified plans in response to delays, bad weather, or construction site emergencies.
Inspect or review projects to monitor compliance with building and safety codes or other regulations.
Investigate damage, accidents, or delays at construction sites to ensure that proper construction procedures are being followed.
Develop or implement quality control programs.
Requisition supplies or materials to complete construction projects.
Determine labor requirements for dispatching workers to construction sites.
Contract or oversee craft work, such as painting or plumbing.
Inspect or review projects to monitor compliance with environmental regulations.
Perform, or contract others to perform, pre-building assessments, such as conceptual cost estimating, rough order of magnitude estimating, feasibility, or energy efficiency, environmental, and sustainability assessments.
Develop or implement environmental protection programs.
Apply for and obtain all necessary permits or licenses.
Evaluate construction methods and determine cost-effectiveness of plans, using computer models.
Apply green building strategies to reduce energy costs or minimize carbon output or other sources of harm to the environment.
Develop construction budgets to compare green and non-green construction alternatives, in terms of short-term costs, long-term costs, or environmental impacts.
Secure third-party verification from sources, such as Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED), to ensure responsible design and building activities or to achieve favorable LEED ratings for building projects.
Implement training programs on environmentally responsible building topics to update employee skills and knowledge.
Direct acquisition of land for construction projects.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Building and Construction
98%
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Administration and Management
87%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Engineering and Technology
85%
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
English Language
80%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Customer and Personal Service
74%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Design
72%
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Mathematics
72%
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Public Safety and Security
72%
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Mechanical
69%
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Economics and Accounting
66%
Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Top 10 Skills
Coordination
80%
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Management of Personnel Resources
80%
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Active Listening
78%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring
78%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking
78%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management
78%
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Complex Problem Solving
75%
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Critical Thinking
75%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making
75%
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Reading Comprehension
75%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Top 10 Abilities
Information Ordering
83%
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Problem Sensitivity
80%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning
78%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning
78%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Comprehension
78%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
78%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Visualization
78%
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Written Comprehension
78%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Near Vision
75%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Written Expression
75%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Top 10 Work Activities
Getting Information
95%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Scheduling Work and Activities
93%
Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
92%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
91%
Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
90%
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
90%
Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Interacting With Computers
89%
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
89%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Developing and Building Teams
88%
Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Monitoring and Controlling Resources
86%
Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
Detailed Work Activities
Develop operating strategies, plans, or procedures.
Manage construction activities.
Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.
Communicate organizational policies and procedures.
Communicate organizational information to customers or other stakeholders.
Supervise employees.
Prepare forms or applications.
Negotiate project specifications.
Direct facility maintenance or repair activities.
Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
Determine operational compliance with regulations or standards.
Investigate industrial or transportation accidents.
Implement organizational process or policy changes.
Develop procedures to evaluate organizational activities.
Purchase materials, equipment, or other resources.
Estimate labor requirements.
Evaluate green operations or programs for compliance with standards or regulations.
Estimate green project costs.
Analyze data to determine project feasibility.
Develop environmental remediation or protection plans.
Model operational processes.
Analyze forecasting data to improve business decisions.
Develop sustainable organizational policies or practices.
Recruit personnel.
Prepare operational budgets for green energy or other green operations.
Train employees on environmental awareness, conservation, or safety topics.
Work Context
Electronic Mail
How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
Responsible for Others' Health and Safety
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Work With Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Frequency of Decision Making
How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Education
Majors
Major
Interests
Enterprising
100%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Realistic
81%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional
67%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative
29%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Social
29%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Artistic
19%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Top 10 Work Styles
Integrity
93%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Dependability
91%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attention to Detail
90%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Leadership
88%
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Initiative
86%
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Stress Tolerance
86%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Self Control
85%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Persistence
84%
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Cooperation
83%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Achievement/Effort
80%
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Work Values
Working Conditions
84%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Independence
81%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Achievement
77%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Support
77%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Relationships
72%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Recognition
67%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
