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The differences between project superintendents and general 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 a general superintendent takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a project superintendent has an average salary of $97,517, which is higher than the $75,102 average annual salary of a general superintendent.
The top three skills for a project superintendent include OSHA, construction management and general contractors. The most important skills for a general superintendent are OSHA, construction management, and project management.
| Project Superintendent | General Superintendent | |
| Yearly salary | $97,517 | $75,102 |
| Hourly rate | $46.88 | $36.11 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 71,449 | 92,424 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 6 |
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.
A general superintendent is primarily in charge of overseeing projects and programs, ensuring operations adhere to standards and requirements. In the construction industry, a general superintendent supervises the daily procedures in a construction site to ensure the project's completion within budget, schedule, and quality standards. They also have other administrative duties, such as coordinating with contractors and suppliers, monitoring the inventory of materials, purchasing supplies according to project requirements, developing reports, conducting inspections, and implementing safety policies and regulations.
Project superintendents and general superintendents have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Superintendent | General Superintendent | |
| Average salary | $97,517 | $75,102 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $133,000 | Between $52,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Delaware |
| Best paying company | The Weitz Company | Southern California Edison |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Energy |
There are a few differences between a project superintendent and a general superintendent in terms of educational background:
| Project Superintendent | General Superintendent | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between project superintendents' and general superintendents' demographics:
| Project Superintendent | General Superintendent | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% |
| 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, 6.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 6.3% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 10% |