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Construction supervisor vs construction assistant

The differences between construction supervisors and construction assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a construction supervisor has an average salary of $62,881, which is higher than the $39,072 average annual salary of a construction assistant.

The top three skills for a construction supervisor include customer service, OSHA and project management. The most important skills for a construction assistant are safety procedures, construction projects, and general contractors.

Construction supervisor vs construction assistant overview

Construction SupervisorConstruction Assistant
Yearly salary$62,881$39,072
Hourly rate$30.23$18.78
Growth rate8%4%
Number of jobs32,48731,209
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age4639
Years of experience--

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.

What does a construction assistant do?

A construction assistant performs various clerical and operational support tasks to assist construction managers and maintain smooth workflow operations. Their responsibilities usually include monitoring budgets and costs, handling calls and correspondence, purchasing construction materials according to project requirements, liaising with suppliers and construction contractors, and participating in managing the schedules and activities of the workers. A construction assistant may also perform inspections to identify problem areas and ensure that all procedures adhere to the safety codes and standards.

Construction supervisor vs construction assistant salary

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

Construction SupervisorConstruction Assistant
Average salary$62,881$39,072
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $92,000Between $28,000 And $54,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSpringfield, MA
Highest paying stateNew YorkHawaii
Best paying companySBA CommunicationsBeazer Homes
Best paying industryEnergyConstruction

Differences between construction supervisor and construction assistant education

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

Construction SupervisorConstruction Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Construction supervisor vs construction assistant demographics

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

Construction SupervisorConstruction Assistant
Average age4639
Gender ratioMale, 94.3% Female, 5.7%Male, 80.7% Female, 19.3%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 30.8% Asian, 2.4% White, 50.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between construction supervisor and construction assistant duties and responsibilities

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.
  • Show more

Construction assistant example responsibilities.

  • Fix electrical fixtures and manage plumbing problems effectively.
  • Employ a wide verity of hand and power tools including hoists, drills, precision measuring instruments and electronic testing devices.
  • Negotiate material sales contracts, document historical information, provide earned value management, and safety oversight for projects/programs.
  • Prepare plans and specifications for new and existing housing, supervise sub-contractors to insure compliance with HUD requirements.

Construction supervisor vs construction assistant skills

Common construction supervisor skills
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • OSHA, 8%
  • Project Management, 8%
  • Work Ethic, 6%
  • Construction Management, 5%
  • Construction Sites, 5%
Common construction assistant skills
  • Safety Procedures, 15%
  • Construction Projects, 11%
  • General Contractors, 7%
  • Drywall Installation, 7%
  • Equipment Operators, 4%
  • Manual Labor, 4%

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