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Construction consultant vs project superintendent

The differences between construction consultants 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 consultant and a project superintendent. Additionally, a project superintendent has an average salary of $97,517, which is higher than the $68,461 average annual salary of a construction consultant.

The top three skills for a construction consultant include construction management, general contractors and cost estimates. The most important skills for a project superintendent are OSHA, construction management, and general contractors.

Construction consultant vs project superintendent overview

Construction ConsultantProject Superintendent
Yearly salary$68,461$97,517
Hourly rate$32.91$46.88
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs35,53771,449
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age4646
Years of experience88

What does a construction consultant do?

Construction consultants are experts in the construction industry that offer their clients advice on architecture, contracts, project management, etc. These consultants provide definitions of what projects entail, advise how to set up projects, and inspect the contractor's work. They need strong communication skills, business skills, and teamwork skills to do their jobs efficiently. Their job is to inspect every phase of a project to ensure that they follow the agreed design and to approve or deny changes before they are applied.

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 consultant vs project superintendent salary

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

Construction ConsultantProject Superintendent
Average salary$68,461$97,517
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $98,000Between $71,000 And $133,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAHartford, CT
Highest paying stateCaliforniaConnecticut
Best paying companyAppleThe Weitz Company
Best paying industryTechnologyConstruction

Differences between construction consultant and project superintendent education

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

Construction ConsultantProject Superintendent
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Construction consultant vs project superintendent demographics

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

Construction ConsultantProject Superintendent
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 90.5% Female, 9.5%Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 2.9% White, 70.7% 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 Percentage4%4%

Differences between construction consultant and project superintendent duties and responsibilities

Construction consultant example responsibilities.

  • Support development and manage RFP's for new and renovation work for select clients.
  • Manage third party contractors, including safety oversight, control inspection and environmental design specification compliance, and also direct consultants.
  • Operate truck-mounted cranes and rough-terrain forklift to set new HVAC equipment, and to facilitate delivery of new construction materials.
  • Provide CPM scheduling consulting services to owners, contractors, and government agencies.
  • Coordinate full spectrum of interactions with specialty subcontractors such as structural engineers, electricians, HVAC and plumbers.
  • Provide a 3-D model of customer building project using AutoCAD design and supply full list of project supplies.
  • Show more

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.
  • Show more

Construction consultant vs project superintendent skills

Common construction consultant skills
  • Construction Management, 14%
  • General Contractors, 8%
  • Cost Estimates, 6%
  • HVAC, 6%
  • Real Estate, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%
Common project superintendent skills
  • OSHA, 12%
  • Construction Management, 8%
  • General Contractors, 7%
  • Construction Projects, 7%
  • Quality Standards, 7%
  • Safety Program, 6%

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