Occupation Details
Construction Managers
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.
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Interests
Realistic
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.
Enterprising
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.
Conventional
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.
Work Values
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$80,320.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$126,300.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$173,600.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
19,030
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
22,210
+318 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
1,787
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.2%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Degree Needed - Four-year college
Experience Requirements
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 Requirements
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
Skills information is not available for this occupation.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Building and Construction
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
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
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.
Customer and Personal Service
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.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- DroneDeploy
- Fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicles UAV
- Gas detection sensors
- Laptop computers
- Large-format scanners
- Laser imaging detection and ranging LIDAR systems
- Lasers
- Levels
- Multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles UAV
- Pocket personal computers PC
- RGB cameras
- Thermal imaging cameras
Technology
- 3M Post-it App
- AEC Software FastTrack Schedule
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Cloud
- ArenaSoft Estimating
- Autodesk Revit
- Axios Systems assyst
- Bechtel Software SETROUTE
- CBS ProLog Manager
- CSI WSE CodeBuddy
- Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
- Daily Manager
- Database software
- Drone image capturing software
- Dropbox
- Email software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- recommend alterations in construction or specifications
- recommend action to ensure compliance
- interpret maps for architecture, construction, or engineering project
- explain rules, policies or regulations
- explain government laws or regulations
- prepare contract documents
- monitor contract performance
- use quality assurance techniques
- use building or land use regulations
- use knowledge of investigation techniques
- use long or short term production planning techniques
- use negotiation techniques
- use project management techniques
- compute production, construction, or installation specifications
- compile information on findings from investigation of accidents
- set priorities for construction workers
- assign work to staff or employees
- estimate materials or labor requirements
- estimate time or cost for installation, repair, or construction projects
- estimate costs of design materials or construction
- compute cost estimates of construction or engineering projects
- inspect project operations, or site to determine specification compliance
- evaluate new construction industry practices
- evaluate construction quality
- confer with management or users
- understand construction specifications
- understand government construction contracting regulations
- recognize construction industry codes or symbols on blueprints
- adhere to safety procedures
- perform safety inspections in construction or resource extraction setting
- inspect facilities or equipment for regulatory compliance
- manage contracts
- order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
- make decisions
- use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
- plan or organize work
- negotiate business contracts
- resolve customer or public complaints
- oversee execution of organizational or program policies
- manage building maintenance projects
- direct and coordinate construction of mine shafts or tunnels
- direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
- consult with managerial or supervisory personnel
- schedule employee work hours
- obtain information from individuals
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- 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.
- 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.
- Implement new or modified plans in response to delays, bad weather, or construction site emergencies.
- 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.
- 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.
- Develop construction budgets to compare green and non-green construction alternatives, in terms of short-term costs, long-term costs, or environmental impacts.
- Implement training programs on environmentally responsible building topics to update employee skills and knowledge.
- Direct acquisition of land for construction projects.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Construction managers
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
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