Construction administrator vs project superintendent

The differences between construction administrators and project superintendents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a construction administrator and a project superintendent. Additionally, a project superintendent has an average salary of $97,517, which is higher than the $46,576 average annual salary of a construction administrator.

The top three skills for a construction administrator include construction management, construction projects and construction contracts. The most important skills for a project superintendent are OSHA, construction management, and general contractors.

Construction administrator vs project superintendent overview

	Construction Administrator	Project Superintendent
Yearly salary	$46,576	$97,517
Hourly rate	$22.39	$46.88
Growth rate	8%	8%
Number of jobs	79,644	71,449
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	8	8

What does a construction administrator do?

A Construction Administrator is responsible for all administrative duties regarding a company's construction projects. They prepare construction contract documents, review project budgets, and meet with the general contractor and clients to assist in the construction process.

What does a project superintendent do?

The construction or project superintendent's role is to oversee the operations of construction sites, from the planning phase to completion. They have varied duties and responsibilities based on specific projects that include scheduling and budgeting, communicating and negotiating with external partners, and acquiring materials and equipment. A construction superintendent also earns construction permits, resolving on-site emergencies and issues, and supervising staff. This position requires several skills, including a degree in construction management or a similar field, relevant experience, and in-depth knowledge of construction processes and operations.

Construction administrator vs project superintendent salary

Construction administrators and project superintendents have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Construction Administrator	Project Superintendent
Average salary	$46,576	$97,517
Salary range	Between $32,000 And $66,000	Between $71,000 And $133,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	Hartford, CT
Highest paying state	Hawaii	Connecticut
Best paying company	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	The Weitz Company
Best paying industry	Construction	Construction

Differences between construction administrator and project superintendent education

There are a few differences between a construction administrator and a project superintendent in terms of educational background:

	Construction Administrator	Project Superintendent
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Construction administrator vs project superintendent demographics

Here are the differences between construction administrators' and project superintendents' demographics:

	Construction Administrator	Project Superintendent
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2%	Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between construction administrator and project superintendent duties and responsibilities

Construction administrator example responsibilities.

Manage and execute the SharePoint business integration implementation project and become the corporate governance portal administrator.
Prepare all notice to owners, certificates of insurance, and AIA billings for projects.
Respond to difficult RFI's, ferreting out inappropriate requests with answers clearly indicate in the contract documents.
Review the contract documents and specifications and consult with the design professional as required to provide responses to RFI's.
Facilitate and schedule all in-house AIA credit presentations for manufacture representatives.
Perform detailed CPM schedule analyses on as-built schedules to determine delay entitlement.

Project superintendent example responsibilities.

Manage design build, MEP, metal frame, dry wall, paint, high end cabinetry, turn- key project.
Initiate and manage RFI's between owner/engineer/architects.
Manage third party contractors including safety oversight, environmental design specification compliance, and similar construction specifications and requirements.
Lead safety compliance by conducting regular safety meetings with subcontractors and strictly enforcing safety policies and procedures, including OSHA regulations.
Develop and establish project safety guidelines adhering to OSHA standards and daily procedures.
Design products in AutoCAD base on field measurements for CNC machines.

Construction administrator vs project superintendent skills

Common construction administrator skills

Construction Management, 7%
Construction Projects, 7%
Construction Contracts, 7%
Project Management, 6%
RFI, 5%
Purchase Orders, 5%

Common project superintendent skills

OSHA, 12%
Construction Management, 8%
General Contractors, 7%
Construction Projects, 7%
Quality Standards, 7%
Safety Program, 6%

Construction Administrator vs. similar jobs

Construction Administrator related careers

Construction Administrator related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Executive Management Industry
Construction Administrator
Construction Administrator vs Project Superintendent

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse executive management jobs