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Job outlook for job superintendents in the United States
Job superintendent job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected job superintendent job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 36,400 new jobs for job superintendents are projected over the next decade.
Job superintendent salaries have increased 8% for job superintendents in the last 5 years.
There are over 4,482 job superintendents currently employed in the United States.
There are 45,689 active job superintendent job openings in the US.
The average job superintendent salary is $97,979.
Are job superintendent jobs in demand?
Job superintendent job and salary trends over time
Job superintendent jobs over time
Job superintendent job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,482 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 4,133 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 4,215 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 4,027 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,744 | 0.00% |
Average job superintendent salary over time
Job superintendent salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $97,979 | $47.11 | +2.5% |
| 2025 | $95,625 | $45.97 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | $94,210 | $45.29 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $92,534 | $44.49 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $90,960 | $43.73 | +1.5% |
Job superintendent jobs by state
Most common states for job superintendents
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 38 | 5% |
| 2 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 34 | 3% |
| 3 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 159 | 2% |
| 4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 148 | 2% |
| 5 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 131 | 2% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 115 | 2% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 71 | 2% |
| 8 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 71 | 2% |
| 9 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 56 | 2% |
| 10 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 54 | 2% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 31 | 2% |
| 12 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 16 | 2% |
| 13 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 10 | 2% |
| 14 | California | 39,536,653 | 460 | 1% |
| 15 | New York | 19,849,399 | 192 | 1% |
| 16 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 110 | 1% |
| 17 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 95 | 1% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 64 | 1% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 27 | 1% |
| 20 | Alaska | 739,795 | 10 | 1% |
Job Superintendent job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of job superintendent experts
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Kennesaw State University
Arizona State University
National Tile Contractors Association
University of Texas
Dr. John Cabage
Chair, Associate ProfessorSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
What Job Superintendent skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. John Cabage: The Construction Industry is robust and vital for the health of our nation. The industry is growing and will continue to grow in the future. Projects are becoming larger and more complex requiring teamwork and collaboration from partners of all walks both internal and external to the construction community.
Neil Opfer
Assoc. Professor - UNLV Civil & Environmental Engineering & Construction DepartmentWhat Job Superintendent skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Neil Opfer: First off, know what competitive salaries are in your area of the country for the type of job you want as you never have to recover from a good start. Some companies, for instance, will offer salaries that are simply not competitive. As an example, a few years ago, we had one CM graduate starting at $70K per year at one firm (heavy-highway contractor) whereas another grad had been offered $42K per year for a commercial flooring contractor. That $42K was simply not competitive with the market whether that employer offering that salary knew it or not. Also, compare offers versus area living costs. Use cost-of-living calculators such as at bankrate.com If you, using this bankrate.com tool, were offered one job in Las Vegas NV at $80,000 per year versus another job opportunity in Los Angeles CA, you would need $122,000 per year as a comparable salary. Remember to measure yourself as to earning that salary on a regular basis. Don't take jobs where a bonus is promised to make up for a bad salary. Example here is taking a Superintendent Job where your Job ended up profitable but other jobs run by others overall didn't so taking that lower salary and not getting that bonus didn't work out so well. Again, benchmark yourself against what others in the industry in that same area are actually getting paid. If you truly feel you deserve a raise where you're at but can't get it you may need to change jobs to get to a higher salary scale. But that firm offering above-market salaries may be doing so because of internal problems (bad bosses, poor working conditions, insane hours, insane understaffing, etc.) so look before you leap. It's a given that to be successful as a working professional in construction, one cannot just work a 40-hour week. But you shouldn't be working 7-10s or more on a regular basis either. Again, through networking you perhaps can find out who are the 'bad employers.'
What general advice would you give to a Job Superintendent?
Neil Opfer: Remember that in a CM Program you have spent 4 years of your life (or more) studying books and learning the "theory of construction." But this is the start of your education and not the end. The best quote here (not from me) is "Success is a journey, not a destination." Sadly I have classmates that I graduated with years ago who, once they graduated, never cracked a book. Also remember that construction in many respects is an incredibly-varied field and you will, perhaps if working for a GC or a CM firm, never know as much as that electrician or plumber knows about their craft or that trade contractor knows about their specialty. But insofar as possible you need to learn and absorb as much as possible about these other areas. Otherwise you'll lead a life of ignorance and designers and contractors will, sadly, take advantage of your ignorance. When I was in college (1974), my Dorm President told me, "Everyone is ignorant about something but the stupid person works at being ignorant." Don't work at being ignorant. Also, respect everyone on the job from laborer, carpenter, on up because you can learn something from everyone along the way in your career. You, remember, are lucky in that as a college grad you're in the 37% or so of the U.S. population with a college degree but CM is a STEM field because of the math, physics, and construction-science coursework you take. Only 18% of the U.S. population have STEM degrees so you're in even a more select field with your technical education. But those on the construction site who did not have an opportunity to go to college may resent you or they've had bad experiences with college grads who "lorded over them" the fact that they were a college grad and the craft personnel on the job were not. Advice to a new college graduate in CM would be to remember (not original with me but a great axiom) that (1) you are hired for your technical skills, (2) promoted for your leadership/managerial skills, and (3) fired for your lack of people skills. Do a good job at whatever you do and look for opportunities to improve processes when possible. Realize that as a new grad you'll often get the jobs that more senior people don't want. Also, realize that your job is partly "paying your dues" to get the chance at more interesting jobs in the future. Learn to network with others in your firm and those at other firms including being involved in professional associations and civic/charitable work. Ensure that your supervisors know the extras (prof associations, civic work) you are doing outside of work. Finally the old adage of a "sound mind in a sound body" means to continually improve yourself on both a mental and a physical basis.
Irish Horsey Ph.D.
Interim Chair of the Department of Construction Management and Assistant ProfessorKennesaw State University
Department of Construction Management
What skills stand out on Job Superintendent resumes?
Irish Horsey Ph.D.: Construction Managers are problem solvers. Employers seek analytical, technical, and effective communication skills from potential employees for construction management positions. Whether building a skyscraper or single-family home, there are always groups of people performing numerous construction activities and tasks simultaneously on a construction site. Therefore, resumes that show time, cost, and, most importantly, safety management skills are most desired by employers.
What soft skills should all Job Superintendents possess?
Irish Horsey Ph.D.: Leadership and communication are among the most essential skills of a construction manager. Construction managers are responsible for ensuring that projects are built safely on schedule, within budget, and to the quality outlined in the drawings and specifications. To fulfill these responsibilities, construction managers must lead multiple teams, including primary, secondary, and third party players, on a construction project through effective oral and written communications.
What's a good job out of college for Job Superintendents?
Kristen Parrish Ph.D.: I think a good job out of college, regardless of industry, is one that leverages your skills and compensates you for those skills. I think that in construction, the industry I'm most familiar with, there is no shortage of good jobs. You can work onsite, as an assistant superintendent or a project engineer, after college. If you're more interested in the office side of the construction industry, then a good job may be in the estimating department, or in the business development and marketing departments. I think new graduates will see that, unlike in 2008-2009, the requisite experience for joining a new company is pretty minimal. During the Great Recession, most companies prioritized hiring people with existing relationships in the construction industry, so students faced a tough market. However, today, if a graduate is entering the construction industry in a market that is healthy (like Phoenix), then being "green" is not an impediment -- plenty of companies are hiring young talent.
What general advice would you give to a Job Superintendent?
Becky Serbin: Skill requirements are stated on our recruitment flyer, attached, but will ultimately be decided on by the hiring contractor. Beyond our flyer, many also require a valid drivers license.
What type of skills will young Job Superintendents need?
Becky Serbin: Tile contractors are hiring across the U.S. and using several different online job posting sites. We even have an online form that those interested in the trade can fill out. When we receive them, they are forwarded to members in their area. If the person is located in an area where there is a union presence, they can even contact that office for job opportunities.
What Job Superintendent skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Adeeba Raheem Ph.D.: Prioritize obtaining relevant certifications early on in your career. These credentials can enhance your qualifications and marketability, potentially leading to higher starting salaries. As you gain experience, strive to take on leadership roles and demonstrate your ability to manage projects, teams, and resources effectively. Leadership skills such as decision-making, problem-solving, and conflict resolution are highly valued in the construction industry. Ultimately, remember that success in construction is not solely about expertise; it also hinges on upholding integrity, diligence, and ethical standards.