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The differences between construction managers and civil engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a construction manager, becoming a civil engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a construction manager has an average salary of $81,313, which is higher than the $70,950 average annual salary of a civil engineer.
The top three skills for a construction manager include project management, construction management and construction projects. The most important skills for a civil engineer are civil 3d, engineering design, and cost estimates.
| Construction Manager | Civil Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $81,313 | $70,950 |
| Hourly rate | $39.09 | $34.11 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 44,431 | 26,803 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 46 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 6 |
A construction manager oversees a construction site and its workers, ensuring efficiency in the workforce and overall operations. They work in an office within the construction site to meet and coordinate with architects, contractors, and clients. They must also hire the required workforce, identify and resolve issues, maintain daily reports and communication with clients, and prioritize a safe work environment. Above all, they must see that all of the required protocols are met, including the target completion time and budget.
A civil engineer designs and supervises the construction of large-scale public works projects such as buildings, roads, tunnels, highways, airports, bridges, dams, and other substantial infrastructure. Most civil engineers work in the private industry, but some work for a government organization. Their output is almost everywhere. Many of them specialize in a specific project or practice a target profession such as in transportation, structural engineering, or geotechnical engineering. They oftentimes work at project sites, as they monitor the ongoing construction.
Construction managers and civil engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Construction Manager | Civil Engineer | |
| Average salary | $81,313 | $70,950 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $120,000 | Between $51,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Construction |
There are a few differences between a construction manager and a civil engineer in terms of educational background:
| Construction Manager | Civil Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Business | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between construction managers' and civil engineers' demographics:
| Construction Manager | Civil Engineer | |
| Average age | 46 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% | Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 15.6% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |