How To Become A General Foreman: What It Is and Career Path

What is a general foreman and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

General Foreman is also known or referred to as a construction supervisor or superintendent. As a general Foreman, you are to supervise construction sites and be in charge of the management of staff and building schedules. You have to ensure that every operation on a construction site is running smoothly. Typically, you are in charge of conducting inspections regularly. The coordination with engineers and architects is also a part of your duties.

In addition, you are to manage expenditure and budget while still supervising workers. You must also ensure that projects are done according to the desired time frame. Furthermore, you are to ensure that workers implement all safety policies and regulations to have a safe and productive workspace for everyone.

Usually, to be a general foreman, you don't need a college education to qualify for this role. However, you should possess at least a high school diploma or GED. A general foreman makes an average salary of $64,025 per year.

ScoreGeneral ForemanUS Average

Salary

3.8

Avg. Salary $48,517

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.6

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.08%

Asian 1.44%

Black or African American 5.66%

Hispanic or Latino 21.56%

Unknown 3.89%

White 66.37%

Gender

female 3.00%

male 97.00%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.1

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a general foreman

Explore general foreman education requirements

Most common general foreman degrees

High School Diploma

32.8 %

Bachelor's

27.4 %

Associate

23.3 %

Start to develop specific general foreman skills

Skills	Percentages
Safety Procedures	10.68%
OSHA	9.15%
Safety Rules	8.26%
Quality Standards	5.94%
Oversight	4.99%

Complete relevant general foreman training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New general foremen learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a general foreman based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real general foreman resumes.

Gain additional general foreman certifications

General foreman certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific general foreman certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for general foremen include OSHA Safety Certificate and Certified Construction Manager (CCM).

More About Certifications

Research general foreman duties and responsibilities

Manage and supervise residential remodel and new construction projects.
Install EMT, ridge, and PVC conduit systems for the protection and utilization of electrical wiring.
Work with many types of PVC style roof systems ..
Instruct on how to properly rig parts on flat bar, load and unload trucks

Prepare your general foreman resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your general foreman resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a general foreman resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable general foreman resume templates

Build a professional general foreman resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your general foreman resume.