Construction Project Management Careers

In advising construction tasks and vendors, a primary goal of construction project management is to create the most cost-effective plan, schedule, and means of obtaining labor, materials and equipment. Project managers may use specialized software and financial and administrative tools to estimate costs and establish schedules.

Your work in construction project management can involve jobs that range from small to very large, simple to complex: residential housing, institutional and commercial buildings, large-scale industrial projects such as a steel mill or oil refinery, or heavy infrastructure such as highways and bridges, to name a few.

Managers usually separate sizable construction projects like an office complex or shopping center into many discrete smaller projects:

• Clearing land and site preparation
• Paving and underground utilities
• Building construction, which entails excavation, laying the foundation and assembling the structure itself
• Building-system installation (electrical, plumbing, fire-protection, heating, air-conditioning)
• Finishes (interior flooring, walls, ceilings and painting)
• Landscaping

Personnel management is an important part of project management in construction, such as the determination of labor requirements and the hiring, direction and dismissal of contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. Construction project managers also can obtain permits and must ensure compliance to all licensure requirements as well as safety and building codes.

Job titles in construction project management may vary with the type of company that employs these professionals and include the following:

• project engineer
• construction project manager
• general contractor
• construction supervisor
• construction superintendent

Construction project managers frequently work with owners, architects, engineers and other professionals during the different phases of the construction process. Managers may supervise a project in its entirety or a portion of it, but don't typically participate in the construction work itself.

• Bachelor's degree – Bachelor's degree programs in building science, construction engineering and construction science are available at over 100 schools in the U.S. Coursework in these programs include: design, site planning, project management training, construction methods and materials, to name a few.

• Master's degree – Master's degree programs in construction management or science exist in over 60 colleges and universities. Graduates with master's degrees who have construction work experience often become managers in sizable construction management firms.

• Other training – Industry organizations and some two-year colleges can also offer training in construction technology or construction project management training.

• Advanced Certification – Although certification is not required to work in construction project management, a growing number of managers are obtaining these credentials to benchmark their knowledge and experience. Consider these voluntary certification programs: Associate Constructor (AC) and Certified Professional Constructor (CPC) from the American Institute of Constructors; and Certified Construction Manager (CCM) from the Construction Management Association of America.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2012-13 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median national annual salary for Construction Managers is $83,860. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors.