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The differences between commercial project managers and estimator project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a commercial project manager, becoming an estimator project manager takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a commercial project manager has an average salary of $84,909, which is higher than the $73,546 average annual salary of an estimator project manager.
The top three skills for a commercial project manager include project management, customer service and roofing. The most important skills for an estimator project manager are general contractors, construction projects, and sub contractors.
| Commercial Project Manager | Estimator Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $84,909 | $73,546 |
| Hourly rate | $40.82 | $35.36 |
| Growth rate | 8% | -2% |
| Number of jobs | 150,062 | 112,100 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 46 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 2 |
A commercial project manager is responsible for monitoring the development of business projects across the company within various industries. Commercial project managers strategize on the procedures for the project deliverables, including the resources, budget allocation, and timetables. They delegate tasks among the team members and conduct regular brainstorming sessions for progress updates and ways to enhance the existing project outline. A commercial project manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially in resolving failure points within the project system and adjust plans immediately as needed to meet goals and objectives.
An estimator project manager is responsible for analyzing cost estimates by gathering cost information from suppliers and other third-party vendors. An estimator project manager must have excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills, especially with measurement accuracy and evaluating important project metrics. Estimator project managers research the general market pricing of materials and labor costs, estimate production times, and follow the project timetable without compromising the quality and the client's specifications. They create estimate reports and risk analyses to discuss with the client and the project team.
Commercial project managers and estimator project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Project Manager | Estimator Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $84,909 | $73,546 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $115,000 | Between $52,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | ONE Gas | Intel |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a commercial project manager and an estimator project manager in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Project Manager | Estimator Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between commercial project managers' and estimator project managers' demographics:
| Commercial Project Manager | Estimator Project Manager | |
| Average age | 46 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.2% Female, 20.8% | Male, 92.4% Female, 7.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 2.9% White, 70.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 2.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 4.4% White, 75.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |