Construction Managers

Wages
In 2015, the average annual wage in a Alabama was $81,530 with most people making betweeen $54,030 and $134,910
Wages by Industry
  • Nonresidential Building Construction $94,170.00
  • Residential Building Construction $91,420.00
  • Building Equipment Contractors $98,040.00
  • Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors $92,000.00
  • Other Specialty Trade Contractors $91,620.00
  • Building Finishing Contractors $93,690.00
Education Required
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Common Majors
  • Business Administration and Management, General
  • Business/Commerce, General
  • Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
  • Construction Management
  • Operations Management and Supervision
About the job

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.

What you'll do
    • Apply green building strategies to reduce energy costs or minimize carbon output or other sources of harm to the environment.
    • Contract or oversee craft work, such as painting or plumbing.
    • Determine labor requirements for dispatching workers to construction sites.
    • Develop construction budgets that compare green and non-green construction alternatives in terms of short-term costs, long-term costs, or environmental impacts.
    • Direct acquisition of land for construction projects.
    • Direct and supervise construction or related workers.
    • Evaluate construction methods and determine cost-effectiveness of plans, using computer models.
    • Implement training programs on environmentally responsible building topics to update employee skills and knowledge.
    • Procure Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) or other environmentally certified professionals to ensure responsible design and building activities or to achieve favorable LEED ratings for building projects.
    • Requisition supplies or materials to complete construction projects.
Things you need to know
    • 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.
    • English Language – Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • Mathematics – Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Abilities you'll need to have
    • Speaking – Talking to others to convey information effectively.
    • Active Listening – 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.
    • Critical Thinking – Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
    • Reading Comprehension – Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
    • Coordination – Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
    • Time Management – Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
    • Complex Problem Solving – Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.