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General foreman vs superintendent

The differences between general foremen and superintendents 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 general foreman, becoming a superintendent takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a superintendent has an average salary of $82,458, which is higher than the $48,517 average annual salary of a general foreman.

The top three skills for a general foreman include safety procedures, OSHA and safety rules. The most important skills for a superintendent are OSHA, quality standards, and construction management.

General foreman vs superintendent overview

General ForemanSuperintendent
Yearly salary$48,517$82,458
Hourly rate$23.33$39.64
Growth rate-3%5%
Number of jobs49,87522,580
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4647
Years of experience-4

What does a general foreman do?

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.

What does a superintendent do?

Superintendents oversee the administration of schools in a specific school district. They manage the educational programs of each school and create strategic decisions to ensure that the students are learning important subjects. They also supervise school administrators or principals and are responsible for hiring and guiding them. Superintendents should be familiar with their constituents and must always be ready to listen to their needs. It is important that superintendents are good decision-makers and communicators. They are expected to lead their respective districts in achieving their vision. Superintendents drive the team towards their goals and create strategic steps to ensure success.

General foreman vs superintendent salary

General foremen and superintendents have different pay scales, as shown below.

General ForemanSuperintendent
Average salary$48,517$82,458
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $62,000Between $57,000 And $119,000
Highest paying CitySaint Louis, MOSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutRhode Island
Best paying companyPacifiBP America Inc
Best paying industryConstructionConstruction

Differences between general foreman and superintendent education

There are a few differences between a general foreman and a superintendent in terms of educational background:

General ForemanSuperintendent
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college-University of Pennsylvania

General foreman vs superintendent demographics

Here are the differences between general foremen' and superintendents' demographics:

General ForemanSuperintendent
Average age4647
Gender ratioMale, 97.0% Female, 3.0%Male, 93.3% Female, 6.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 21.6% Asian, 1.4% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.6% Asian, 4.2% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage2%16%

Differences between general foreman and superintendent duties and responsibilities

General foreman example 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
  • Clean and maintain seal coat rig including removing and replacing gaskets, spools and pipe.
  • Work involve using of hand and power tools, wedges, dogs, and turnbuckles.
  • Show more

Superintendent example responsibilities.

  • Manage, coordinate, plan and provide oversight for all nuclear work perform during PSA's.
  • Manage $9.1M budget; 28,000 grind and flight training requirements and 2,400 hr flying training program.
  • Manage a team of 30 operators and maintenance personnel producing extrusion and blown polypropylene shrink film on a unionize site.
  • Lead and facilitate meetings; oversee implementation of OSHA and company safety regulations.
  • Manage complex logistics, including procuring materials and navigating space constraints, to successfully complete project amid concurrent construction of building.
  • Coordinate and oversee commercial roofing projects.
  • Show more

General foreman vs superintendent skills

Common general foreman skills
  • Safety Procedures, 11%
  • OSHA, 9%
  • Safety Rules, 8%
  • Quality Standards, 6%
  • Oversight, 5%
  • Safety Policies, 5%
Common superintendent skills
  • OSHA, 11%
  • Quality Standards, 7%
  • Construction Management, 7%
  • Logistics, 6%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%

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