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The differences between project superintendents and assistant superintendents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a project superintendent, becoming an assistant superintendent takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a project superintendent has an average salary of $97,517, which is higher than the $77,284 average annual salary of an assistant superintendent.
The top three skills for a project superintendent include OSHA, construction management and general contractors. The most important skills for an assistant superintendent are customer service, quality standards, and OSHA.
| Project Superintendent | Assistant Superintendent | |
| Yearly salary | $97,517 | $77,284 |
| Hourly rate | $46.88 | $37.16 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 71,449 | 11,734 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 8 | - |
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.
In a construction setting, an assistant superintendent is primarily in charge of supervising workers to ensure that the construction project's completion will be within the expected time and allotted budget. Most of their responsibilities revolve around assisting the superintendent with their tasks, creating schedules, and meeting with clients. Furthermore, an assistant superintendent must also coordinate with all construction workers and build rapport with them, all while implementing the safety policies and standards for a safe and productive work environment.
Project superintendents and assistant superintendents have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Superintendent | Assistant Superintendent | |
| Average salary | $97,517 | $77,284 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $133,000 | Between $46,000 And $127,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | The Weitz Company | Brookfield Properties |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Professional |
There are a few differences between a project superintendent and an assistant superintendent in terms of educational background:
| Project Superintendent | Assistant Superintendent | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | - |
Here are the differences between project superintendents' and assistant superintendents' demographics:
| Project Superintendent | Assistant Superintendent | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% Asian, 1.5% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 2% |