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The differences between construction managers and general superintendents 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 general superintendent takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a construction manager has an average salary of $81,313, which is higher than the $75,102 average annual salary of a general superintendent.
The top three skills for a construction manager include project management, construction management and construction projects. The most important skills for a general superintendent are OSHA, construction management, and project management.
| Construction Manager | General Superintendent | |
| Yearly salary | $81,313 | $75,102 |
| Hourly rate | $39.09 | $36.11 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 44,431 | 92,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| 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 general superintendent is primarily in charge of overseeing projects and programs, ensuring operations adhere to standards and requirements. In the construction industry, a general superintendent supervises the daily procedures in a construction site to ensure the project's completion within budget, schedule, and quality standards. They also have other administrative duties, such as coordinating with contractors and suppliers, monitoring the inventory of materials, purchasing supplies according to project requirements, developing reports, conducting inspections, and implementing safety policies and regulations.
Construction managers and general superintendents have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Construction Manager | General Superintendent | |
| Average salary | $81,313 | $75,102 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $120,000 | Between $52,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Meta | Southern California Edison |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a construction manager and a general superintendent in terms of educational background:
| Construction Manager | General Superintendent | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between construction managers' and general superintendents' demographics:
| Construction Manager | General Superintendent | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% |
| 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, 6.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 6.3% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 10% |