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Construction manager vs construction supervisor

The differences between construction managers and construction supervisors 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 construction supervisor takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a construction manager has an average salary of $81,313, which is higher than the $62,881 average annual salary of a construction supervisor.

The top three skills for a construction manager include project management, construction management and construction projects. The most important skills for a construction supervisor are customer service, OSHA, and project management.

Construction manager vs construction supervisor overview

Construction ManagerConstruction Supervisor
Yearly salary$81,313$62,881
Hourly rate$39.09$30.23
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs44,43132,487
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4646
Years of experience8-

What does a construction manager do?

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.

What does a construction supervisor do?

Construction supervisors ensure construction team members work jointly to deliver excellent work on time. They provide team-building sessions and training and monitor the construction processes. These professionals ensure the construction processes take place every time as per the safety regulations and health regulations. Besides creating budgets, project plans, reports and delivering them to the appropriate stakeholders, construction supervisors also perform routine site, material, and equipment inspections. They always remain updated about the construction advancements and construction safety codes.

Construction manager vs construction supervisor salary

Construction managers and construction supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Construction ManagerConstruction Supervisor
Average salary$81,313$62,881
Salary rangeBetween $54,000 And $120,000Between $42,000 And $92,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateHawaiiNew York
Best paying companyMetaSBA Communications
Best paying industryTechnologyEnergy

Differences between construction manager and construction supervisor education

There are a few differences between a construction manager and a construction supervisor in terms of educational background:

Construction ManagerConstruction Supervisor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo-

Construction manager vs construction supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between construction managers' and construction supervisors' demographics:

Construction ManagerConstruction Supervisor
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 92.0% Female, 8.0%Male, 94.3% Female, 5.7%
Race ratioBlack 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, 5.1% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 22.9% Asian, 1.4% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage4%2%

Differences between construction manager and construction supervisor duties and responsibilities

Construction manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage three geotechnical engineers, a general contractor , 45 sub-contractors, and consultants.
  • Manage all contractor-relate tasks from RFI submissions through payment administration.
  • Manage and coordinate architects, structural engineers, MEP engineers and subcontractors technical departments.
  • Manage complete design and construction coordination of company's retail properties throughout the Washington/Baltimore area market.
  • Manage third party contractors, including safety oversight, control inspection and environmental design specification compliance, and also direct consultants.
  • Implement and maintain construction safety regulations according to OSHA requirements, and ensure environmental protection regulatory compliance with engineering standards.
  • Show more

Construction supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Manage third party contractors, including safety oversight, control inspection and environmental design specification compliance, and also direct consultants.
  • Conduct site visits to ensure OSHA and local safety regulations are adhered to in accordance with company policy.
  • Perform caulking tasks which include: priming, air barrier on walls and utilizing mechanical tools.
  • Perform daily project walk-through to assess safety and cleanliness, thus ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations and insurance requirement.
  • Maintain the church building and school including general repairs, preventative maintenance, HVAC and scheduling contractors for repairs as needed.
  • Purchase framing, siding, cornice, roofing, finish carpentry and all other materials necessary, maintaining effective inventory control.
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Construction manager vs construction supervisor skills

Common construction manager skills
  • Project Management, 12%
  • Construction Management, 12%
  • Construction Projects, 9%
  • OSHA, 5%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Oversight, 4%
Common construction supervisor skills
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • OSHA, 8%
  • Project Management, 8%
  • Work Ethic, 6%
  • Construction Management, 5%
  • Construction Sites, 5%

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