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What does a construction supervisor do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
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.

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Construction supervisor responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real construction supervisor resumes:

  • 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.
  • Prepare estimates for residential roofing.
  • Perform maintenance and installation of a computerize microprocessor HVAC system with pneumatic and electric controls.
  • Perform contract management, construction scheduling, subcontractor coordination, client relations, quality assurance and safety policy oversight and enforcement.
  • Prepare construction draws, lien releases, AIA contract agreements, change orders.
  • Install cedar, standard and architectural shingles.
  • Prepare plans and specifications for new and existing housing, supervise sub-contractors to insure compliance with HUD requirements.
  • Levele concrete and earth using trowels and shovels.
  • Inspect and ensure passing of all city and county building code requirements.

Construction supervisor skills and personality traits

We calculated that 10% of Construction Supervisors are proficient in Customer Service, OSHA, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Business skills, and Customer-service skills.

We break down the percentage of Construction Supervisors that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 10%

    Certified Operator, Carpentry Repair Lead, Customer Service Representative.

  • OSHA, 8%

    Maintain safe, secure, and healthy work environment by following and enforcing OSHA standards and procedures.

  • Project Management, 8%

    Provided project management, construction supervision, workforce development administration and program development to government and non-profit clients.

  • Work Ethic, 6%

    Earned promotion to superintendent based on consistent work ethic and organizational skills.

  • Construction Management, 5%

    Developed and implemented construction management controls.

  • Construction Sites, 5%

    Supervised and coordinated multiple residential remodeling and new construction sites.

Most construction supervisors use their skills in "customer service," "osha," and "project management" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential construction supervisor responsibilities here:

Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a construction supervisor to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "construction managers must be able to plan strategies, investigate project cost variances, and solve problems over the course of a project." Additionally, a construction supervisor resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "prepared autocad drawings, design, and analysis of some luxuries residential buildings"

Business skills. Many construction supervisor duties rely on business skills. "construction managers need to prepare and follow project budgets, hire and manage staff, and coordinate with other workers and managers," so a construction supervisor will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways construction supervisor responsibilities rely on business skills: "provided construction leadership to general contractor involved mostly in the business of roofing and general construction. "

Leadership skills. Another common skill required for construction supervisor responsibilities is "leadership skills." This skill comes up in the duties of construction supervisors all the time, as "construction managers must effectively delegate tasks to construction workers, subcontractors, and other lower level managers to ensure that projects are completed accurately and on time." An excerpt from a real construction supervisor resume shows how this skill is central to what a construction supervisor does: "provided leadership, training, project management, and organizational development for a staff of 30 personnel. "

Most common construction supervisor skills

The three companies that hire the most construction supervisors are:

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Compare different construction supervisors

Construction supervisor vs. Prestressed concrete labour

Prestressed concrete labor works at construction sites where they are in charge of handling and processing prestressed concrete materials into structural forms. They typically coordinate with managers and engineers to learn the construction plans and guidelines, design and build structures, prepare materials, and perform corrective measures when necessary. They must also maintain an active communication line with staff, coordinating regularly. Moreover, prestressed concrete labor must abide by the construction site's safety policies and regulations for a safe and efficient work environment.

If we compare the average construction supervisor annual salary with that of a prestressed concrete labour, we find that prestressed concrete labours typically earn a $28,734 lower salary than construction supervisors make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both construction supervisor and prestressed concrete labour positions are skilled in osha, work ethic, and construction sites.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between construction supervisors and prestressed concrete labour. For instance, construction supervisor responsibilities require skills such as "customer service," "project management," "construction management," and "inspectors." Whereas a prestressed concrete labour is skilled in "rakes," "strong work ethic," "shovels," and "physical labor." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Prestressed concrete labours really shine in the construction industry with an average salary of $38,973. Comparatively, construction supervisors tend to make the most money in the energy industry with an average salary of $77,290.On average, prestressed concrete labours reach lower levels of education than construction supervisors. Prestressed concrete labours are 5.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Construction supervisor vs. Finish carpenter

Finish carpenters are skilled professionals who perform the final touches on homes after the structure is fully built. These carpenters must carry out various tasks such as installing doors, building bookshelves, and adding designs to window and door trims. They are required to follow work from sketches and drawings to complete the job to the right specifications as well as collecting the correct materials before beginning a job. Finish carpenters must also dismantle and demolish before carrying out repairs or installing new materials.

Finish carpenter positions earn lower pay than construction supervisor roles. They earn a $15,894 lower salary than construction supervisors per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Construction supervisors and finish carpenters both require similar skills like "construction sites," "general construction," and "hvac" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real construction supervisor resumes. While construction supervisor responsibilities can utilize skills like "customer service," "osha," "project management," and "work ethic," finish carpenters use skills like "hand tools," "custom cabinets," "safety rules," and "drywall installation."

On average, finish carpenters earn a lower salary than construction supervisors. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, finish carpenters earn the most pay in the construction industry with an average salary of $50,876. Whereas construction supervisors have higher pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $77,290.In general, finish carpenters achieve similar levels of education than construction supervisors. They're 3.5% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Construction supervisor vs. General foreman

Using their knowledge and expertise of all construction disciplines, a general foreman plans and oversees operations within a construction site to ensure that everything is running smoothly. They are typically in charge of conducting regular inspections, coordinating with engineers and architects, managing the budget and expenditures, supervising workers, and ensuring that the project moves according to the desired time frame. Furthermore, a general foreman implements all safety regulations and policies to ensure a safe and productive work environment for everyone.

An average general foreman eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of construction supervisors. The difference in salaries amounts to general foremen earning a $14,364 lower average salary than construction supervisors.By looking over several construction supervisors and general foremen resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "osha," "construction sites," and "safety regulations." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, construction supervisors are more likely to have skills like "customer service," "project management," "work ethic," and "construction management." But a general foreman is more likely to have skills like "safety rules," "oversight," "safety policies," and "construction projects."

General foremen earn the best pay in the construction industry, where they command an average salary of $54,753. Construction supervisors earn the highest pay from the energy industry, with an average salary of $77,290.general foremen typically earn similar educational levels compared to construction supervisors. Specifically, they're 2.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Construction supervisor vs. Lead carpenter

A lead carpenter is responsible for monitoring field carpenters on performing construction duties, analyzing schematics and blueprints, following clients' specifications, completing the project within the agreed timeframe, and maintaining materials with the budget goals, ensuring the highest quality and client's satisfaction. Lead carpenters regularly inspect the project, perform adjustments as needed, repair defects and inconsistencies, and adhere to the safety standards and protocols during operations. A lead carpenter must have excellent knowledge of the carpentry industry to handle clients' demands and efficiently create the finished product.

Lead carpenters average a lower salary than the annual salary of construction supervisors. The difference is about $13,653 per year.While their salaries may vary, construction supervisors and lead carpenters both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "construction sites," "safety standards," and "construction process. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A construction supervisor uses "customer service," "osha," "project management," and "work ethic." Lead carpenters are more likely to have duties that require skills in "safety rules," "roofing," "plumbing," and "door installation. "In general, lead carpenters earn the most working in the construction industry, with an average salary of $53,642. The highest-paying industry for a construction supervisor is the energy industry.lead carpenters reach similar levels of education compared to construction supervisors, in general. The difference is that they're 3.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of construction supervisor

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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