Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between design managers and construction managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a design manager, becoming a construction manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a design manager has an average salary of $102,637, which is higher than the $81,313 average annual salary of a construction manager.
The top three skills for a design manager include sketch, project management and visualization. The most important skills for a construction manager are project management, construction management, and construction projects.
| Design Manager | Construction Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $102,637 | $81,313 |
| Hourly rate | $49.34 | $39.09 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 61,273 | 44,431 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 48 | 46 |
| Years of experience | - | 8 |
A design manager is responsible for creating graphic and digital designs, following clients' specifications, and managing project deliverables efficiently. Design managers work closely with the marketing and public relations department, developing strategies to promote the brand to the target audience. They coordinate with the creative team and present the design ideas to the management, ask for final approval, perform revisions as needed, and follow the budget goals. A design manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the design team's concerns and needs.
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.
Design managers and construction managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Manager | Construction Manager | |
| Average salary | $102,637 | $81,313 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $150,000 | Between $54,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a design manager and a construction manager in terms of educational background:
| Design Manager | Construction Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Business |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between design managers' and construction managers' demographics:
| Design Manager | Construction Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.8% Female, 36.2% | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 11.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 4% |