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The differences between material project managers and project superintendents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a material project manager, becoming a project superintendent takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a project superintendent has an average salary of $97,517, which is higher than the $86,465 average annual salary of a material project manager.
The top three skills for a material project manager include asphalt, project management and construction materials. The most important skills for a project superintendent are OSHA, construction management, and general contractors.
| Material Project Manager | Project Superintendent | |
| Yearly salary | $86,465 | $97,517 |
| Hourly rate | $41.57 | $46.88 |
| Growth rate | -6% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 127,323 | 71,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 47 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 8 |
A material project manager acts as the contact person for various projects of a company. This person is responsible for providing information, updates, and reports on the status and progress. The material project manager also monitors the project from start to finish and ensures that all materials needed for the project are available, delivered on time, and is according to the quality set by the company's quality assurance team. Aside from this primary task, the material project manager also oversees the employees working under the production department and ensures optimal productivity and constant output.
The construction or project superintendent's role is to oversee the operations of construction sites, from the planning phase to completion. They have varied duties and responsibilities based on specific projects that include scheduling and budgeting, communicating and negotiating with external partners, and acquiring materials and equipment. A construction superintendent also earns construction permits, resolving on-site emergencies and issues, and supervising staff. This position requires several skills, including a degree in construction management or a similar field, relevant experience, and in-depth knowledge of construction processes and operations.
Material project managers and project superintendents have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Project Manager | Project Superintendent | |
| Average salary | $86,465 | $97,517 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $116,000 | Between $71,000 And $133,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Applied Materials | The Weitz Company |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Construction |
There are a few differences between a material project manager and a project superintendent in terms of educational background:
| Material Project Manager | Project Superintendent | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between material project managers' and project superintendents' demographics:
| Material Project Manager | Project Superintendent | |
| Average age | 47 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.4% Female, 26.6% | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.4% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 4% |