Project Manager vs. Superintendent

A project manager is someone who oversees the administrative duties of a project off of a work site, while a superintendent is a professional who works on a construction site presiding over the other construction workers.

A project manager is hired by an owner of a construction project to supervise and oversee, as well as consult for the owner on the organization and implementation of a construction project. They handle most of their job functions off-site.

A superintendent supervises a job site as the construction manager or foreman and manages other employees to provide directions and maintain safety. Their job is primarily on-site.

Here are the key differences between a project manager and a superintendent:

• A superintendent acts as a foreman on a site, whereas a project manager monitors the process and progress of the work-site from a distance

• Project managers are involved in the conception and problem-solving aspects of a construction project

• Superintendents are more hands-on and mainly oversee other construction workers

• Project managers have higher salaries than superintendents

• Project managers manage contracts, risks, and budgeting