What Does a Foreman Do?

A foreman is a skilled worker in the construction industry, usually a tenured or experienced construction worker. The construction site's foremen act as the bridge between construction supervisors and construction workers. The foreman is responsible for communicating instructions from supervisors, ensuring that all workers on site are assigned tasks, and ensuring that tasks are completed within the timeline. The foreman is also responsible for checking the quality of the work the workers are doing on-site, managing workers' schedules, and budgeting for needed materials. It is important that a foreman is responsible, trustworthy, and personable.

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Foreman Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real foreman resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

Manage construction of sheet metal installation and HVAC systems of commercial facilities including construction of storefronts and mechanical rooms.
Supervise a mowing crew on horse farms, drive company vehicle while hauling equipment, and perform maintenance on mowing equipment.
Operate bobcat, breaking/removing concrete.
Enforce company policies and OSHA regulations, investigate construction accidents utilizing knowledge gain through cooperation with safety department and law enforcement.
Complete documentation pertaining to the same for both Amtrak and the FRA.
Oversee new drills and workovers along with maintaining older wells.
Used d/w 9/11 and Vermeer 24x40.
Istart out on a Vermeer 80/100 and working up to Vermeer 100/120 while helping runsupport on Vermeer 200/300.

Foreman Job Description

When it comes to understanding what a foreman does, you may be wondering, "should I become a foreman?" The data included in this section may help you decide. Compared to other jobs, foremen have a growth rate described as "decline" at -3% between the years 2018 - 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, the number of foreman opportunities that are predicted to open up by 2028 is -400.

A foreman annual salary averages $55,073, which breaks down to $26.48 an hour. However, foremen can earn anywhere from upwards of $41,000 to $73,000 a year. This means that the top-earning foremen make $12,000 more than the lowest-earning ones.

Once you've become a foreman, you may be curious about what other opportunities are out there. Careers aren't one size fits all. For that reason, we discovered some other jobs that you may find appealing. Some jobs you might find interesting include a hacker, crew supervisor, park maintainer, and conservation worker.

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Foreman Jobs You Might Like

12 Foreman Resume Examples

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Gregory Rivera Foreman Contact Information Lafayette, LA (940) 555-2047 grivera@example.com Skills Tape Measure Grain Elevator Assembly Line Structural Steel Safety Meetings Critical Lifts Crew Members Company Policies PIM Equipment Operation Employment History Foreman 2017 - Present The Townsend Lafayette, LA Crew foreman on bucket truck, operated truck, wood chipper, chainsaws. Hold a Class B CDL. Climb Knowledge of Safety Rules Fast-pace work environment Good customer relations Monthly goals always achieved.Experience over multiple crews. Cerified in CPR & first aidHave taken a 30hour OSHA class Rigger 2015 - 2017 Bechtel Houston, TX Conduct daily safety meetings with my foremen. Handled the movement of heavy equipment with the help of controls. Performed hands on training and safety precautions with crane services and crew members while dissasembling and reassembling oil drilling rigs. Manipulated rigging lines and hoists in order to control attached heavy equipment. Use good hand signals and speak clearly through any radio devices. Ironworker/Welder (Part-Time) 2014 - 2015 Lippert Components South Bend, IN Weld RV chases, read prind, layout materials for the job order. Provide MIG welding for all classes of hitches through the company and outsource for production rates. Build different compartments and the back cabin for the vehicles by MIG welding aluminum. Assist erection crew through bolt-up and weld out to AWS D1.1 code. Education Bachelor's Degree General Studies 2012 - 2015 Indiana University South Bend South Bend, IN


Cheryl Torres Foreman Contact Info Los Angeles, CA (230) 555-3464 ctorres@example.com Skills Pipe SupportsPIMHand ToolsCompany PoliciesConstruction SitesLayoutStairsCrew MembersExtraction ActivitiesHeavy Machinery Employment History Foreman 2018 - Present IBEW Los Angeles, CA Train apprentices in the NEC and various wiring methods on a one on one basis. Involved in the wiring and repairs at a nuclear facility. Performed electrical installation and wiring for commercial, industrial, residential facilities. Installed and maintained motors, lighting fixtures, generators, circuit breakers, and transformers. Assign work task to crew members to walk down systems to make sure that everything is complete. Foreman 2008 - 2018 Moon Valley Nurseries San Bernardino, CA Reinforce safety programs by complying with safety procedures and identify unsafe conditions and notify store management. Install wood, hollow metal doors and door hardware, toilet partitions, toilet accessories Perform industrial electrical construction and remodeling. Journeyman Ironworker 1998 - 2008 Sierra Trading Post San Bernardino, CA Led a small team in the implementation of various HVAC systems. Iron workers Local 397 - Tampa, Florida Structural Steel Specialist/Foreman for heavy rigging crew Used hand tools to set the work site to grade and level, and align forms. Measured and marked layout for installation, according to blueprints, using rule, template, square and compass. Education Bachelor's Degree Business 1995 - 1998 California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA


Frances Rodriguez Foreman Main, PA (280) 555-4757 frodriguez@example.com Experience Foreman2020 - Present MI Windows and Doors•Main, PA Check all welds done by crew members to ensure they meet all necessary codes. Lead crew members on repair and install roofing products. Maintained and adhered to all OSHA guide-lines. Worked with blue print issues, duty scheduling, and operated small construction equipment and heavy equipment. Ordered new materials as needed Supervised projects meeting customer's needs Oversee daily operations Managed warehouse equipment Concrete Finisher2015 - 2020 MI Windows and Doors•Main, PA Pour slab inside vehicle garage and Finished concrete with various hand tools and power tools. Worked in massive pouring sessions of concrete floors, steps, sidewalks, and columns. Form Setter2010 - 2014 Aquatic Co•Troy, NY Assorted jobs, including sorting, setting, and packaging jewelry, Warehouse work, Shipping and Receiving Assist clients with the buying process at jewelry tradeshows. Skills JackhammerSafety MeasuresSpecial ToolsAir PocketsForm SettingHeavy MachineryCommunicationHand ToolsProject ManagementSafety Hazards Education Master's Degree Electrical Engineering2014 - 2015 Pennsylvania State University•Main, PA Bachelor's Degree Electrical Engineering2007 - 2010 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute•Troy, NY

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Foreman Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 17% of Foremen are proficient in CDL, OSHA, and Safety Rules. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Detail oriented, and Listening skills.

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

CDL, 17%
Obtained Class A CDL License and operated dump trucks and tractor trailers as needed.
OSHA, 11%
Established the Hazard Communication Programs ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations.
Safety Rules, 7%
Assist project supervisor in coordinating activities of workers involved in various tasks and monitor and enforce all safety rules and regulations.
Safety Procedures, 5%
Operated Company truck with trailers successfully applying all traffic safety procedures and principles.
CPR, 5%
Have my CPR training and Lift card current.
Safety Standards, 4%
Served on safety and procedures committees to generate quality safety standards.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Foreman Resume templates

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Some of the skills we found on foreman resumes included "cdl," "osha," and "safety rules." We have detailed the most important foreman responsibilities below.

The most important skills for a foreman to have in this position are communication skills. In this excerpt that we gathered from a foreman resume, you'll understand why: "forest and conservation workers must convey information effectively to technicians and other workers." According to resumes we found, communication skills can be used by a foreman in order to "experienced in owner / customer relations and communication in both handwritten and computer based reporting systems. "

While it may not be the most important skill, we found that many foreman duties rely on detail oriented. This example from a foreman explains why: "forest and conservation workers must watch gauges, dials, or other indicators to determine whether equipment and tools are working properly." This resume example is just one of many ways foremen are able to utilize detail oriented: "conformed to detail, customer relations, time standards and positive results. "

Foremen are also known for listening skills, which can be critical when it comes to performing their duties. An example of why this skill is important is shown by this snippet that we found in a foreman resume: "forest and conservation workers must give full attention to what their superiors are saying" We also found this resume example that details how this skill is put to the test: "inspect segments for damage .operate forklift self employed 06/01/2012 - 07/01/14 general construction, house remodeling skills hard working.fast learner.good listener"

A thorough review of lots of resumes revealed to us that "physical stamina" is important to completing foreman responsibilities. This resume example shows just one way foremen use this skill: "forest and conservation workers plant trees and repeatedly perform a variety of physical tasks" Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical foreman tasks: "performed tasks involving physical labor at residential and heavy construction projects. "

See the full list of foreman skills.

We've found that 23.4% of foremen have earned a bachelor's degree. Furthermore, 1.8% earned their master's degrees before becoming a foreman. While it's true that some foremen have a college degree, it's generally possible to become one with only a high school degree. In fact, one out of every three foremen did not spend the extra money to attend college.

The foremen who went onto college to earn a more in-depth education generally studied business and general studies, while a small population of foremen studied criminal justice and electrical engineering technology.

View more details on foreman salaries across the United States.

We also looked into companies who hire foremen from the top 100 educational institutions in the U.S. The top three companies that hire the most from these institutions include Newkirk Electric Associates, KBR, and Fluor.

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What Hackers Do

A crew supervisor is responsible for monitoring the staff's performance, delegating tasks, and ensuring that the customers receive high-quality services and satisfaction. Crew supervisors maintain the adequacy of stock inventories, negotiate with suppliers and third-party vendors, and strategize on minimizing costs without sacrificing the quality. They also evaluate sales reports and identify business opportunities to increase revenues and achieve profitability goals. A crew supervisor must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially on handling customers' inquiries and concerns, as well as resolving complaints.

In this section, we compare the average foreman annual salary with that of a hacker. Typically, hackers earn a $33,643 higher salary than foremen earn annually.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. A foreman responsibility is more likely to require skills like "cdl," "osha," "safety rules," and "safety procedures." Whereas a hacker requires skills like "python," "web application," "a/b," and "seo." Just by understanding these different skills you can see how different these careers are.

Hackers tend to reach higher levels of education than foremen. In fact, hackers are 5.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.3% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

What Are The Duties Of a Crew Supervisor?

Next up, we have the crew supervisor profession to look over. This career brings along a lower average salary when compared to a foreman annual salary. In fact, crew supervisors salary difference is $13,313 lower than the salary of foremen per year.

While the salary may be different for these job positions, there is one similarity and that's a few of the skills needed to perform certain duties. We used info from lots of resumes to find that both foremen and crew supervisors are known to have skills such as "cdl," "safety rules," and "safety procedures. "

But both careers also use different skills, according to real foreman resumes. While foreman responsibilities can utilize skills like "osha," "general contractors," "backhoe," and "sub contractors," some crew supervisors use skills like "payroll," "corrective action," "safety equipment," and "gps."

Crew supervisors may earn a lower salary than foremen, but crew supervisors earn the most pay in the construction industry with an average salary of $46,417. On the other side of things, foremen receive higher paychecks in the construction industry where they earn an average of $59,898.

When it comes to the differences in education between the two professions, crew supervisors tend to reach similar levels of education than foremen. In fact, they're 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

How a Park Maintainer Compares

Let's now take a look at the park maintainer profession. On average, these workers make lower salaries than foremen with a $11,140 difference per year.

While looking through the resumes of several foremen and park maintainers we discovered that both professions have similar skills. These similarities include skills such as "cdl," "mowing," and "snow removal," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from foreman resumes include skills like "osha," "safety rules," "safety procedures," and "cpr," whereas a park maintainer might be skilled in "athletic fields," "manual labor," "leaf blower," and "general building. "

Park maintainers typically study at similar levels compared with foremen. For example, they're 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Description Of a Conservation Worker

Now, we'll look at conservation workers, who generally average a lower pay when compared to foremen annual salary. In fact, the difference is about $18,678 per year.

According to resumes from both foremen and conservation workers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "cpr," "safety standards," and "hvac. "

Each job requires different skills like "cdl," "osha," "safety rules," and "safety procedures," which might show up on a foreman resume. Whereas conservation worker might include skills like "manual labor," "trail maintenance," "grounds maintenance," and "gps."

Conservation workers earn a higher salary in the health care industry with an average of $43,408. Whereas, foremen earn the highest salary in the construction industry.

In general, conservation workers reach similar levels of education when compared to foremen resumes. Conservation workers are 0.5% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Updated October 2, 2020