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Land development manager vs general contractor

The differences between land development managers and general contractors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a land development manager and a general contractor. Additionally, a land development manager has an average salary of $92,079, which is higher than the $66,602 average annual salary of a general contractor.

The top three skills for a land development manager include civil engineering, project management and construction management. The most important skills for a general contractor are plumbing, safety regulations, and contract negotiations.

Land development manager vs general contractor overview

Land Development ManagerGeneral Contractor
Yearly salary$92,079$66,602
Hourly rate$44.27$32.02
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs67,35966,218
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age4646
Years of experience88

What does a land development manager do?

The primary role of a land development manager is to approve and review land development requirements in a real estate business. The land development managers supervise field and section engineering operations. They handle engineering and construction professionals to meet corporate and project goals in time. It is their job to find and negotiate land acquisition for the property development programs of businesses. The skills necessary in carrying out this job include communication, negotiation, marketing, and knowledge in real estate.

What does a general contractor do?

The job of general contractors is to oversee the day-to-day operations of projects in the organization. General contractors are considered seasoned experts when it comes to home improvement. They provide the material, equipment, labor, and services for a construction project. Often, they hire specialized subcontractors who will be working on some part of the construction work. They should have attained a bachelor's or associate's degree in construction management. Their experience in the industry is highly coveted.

Land development manager vs general contractor salary

Land development managers and general contractors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Land Development ManagerGeneral Contractor
Average salary$92,079$66,602
Salary rangeBetween $67,000 And $126,000Between $41,000 And $107,000
Highest paying CityRoseville, CA-
Highest paying stateConnecticut-
Best paying companyAmazon-
Best paying industryManufacturing-

Differences between land development manager and general contractor education

There are a few differences between a land development manager and a general contractor in terms of educational background:

Land Development ManagerGeneral Contractor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorCivil EngineeringBusiness
Most common collegeCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Land development manager vs general contractor demographics

Here are the differences between land development managers' and general contractors' demographics:

Land Development ManagerGeneral Contractor
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 89.6% Female, 10.4%Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between land development manager and general contractor duties and responsibilities

Land development manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage HOA's from inception to assigning management control to resident board.
  • Lead development efforts with aggressive time-lines on many web-base java projects in a dynamic environment concluding in successful on-time deliveries.
  • Handle payroll for staff and workers.
  • Collaborate with CPA for year-end tax reporting.
  • Assist company CPA on tax planning for all partners.
  • Operate and maintain skid steer, trailers, and mowing equipment.
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General contractor example responsibilities.

  • Manage the repair/replacement of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and structural of primarily historical residences.
  • Manage third party contractors including safety oversight, environmental design specification compliance, and similar construction specifications and requirements.
  • Perform electrical, mechanical (HVAC), plumbing, framing, roofing and finishing construction for residential and commercial buildings.
  • Remodel restaurants, which include painting, dry wall, tiling, plumbing, electrical and laying carpet.
  • Assist and perform all duties with installation of cabinets, flooring, sheetrock, framing, concrete, and basic plumbing.
  • Experience in roofing, painting, digging of footers, and tile setting.
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Land development manager vs general contractor skills

Common land development manager skills
  • Civil Engineering, 12%
  • Project Management, 11%
  • Construction Management, 7%
  • Development Projects, 7%
  • Due Diligence, 7%
  • Site Development, 4%
Common general contractor skills
  • Plumbing, 17%
  • Safety Regulations, 12%
  • Contract Negotiations, 11%
  • Drywall Installation, 7%
  • Construction Projects, 4%
  • Payroll, 4%

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