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The differences between project superintendents and managers, project director can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a manager, project director has an average salary of $104,614, which is higher than the $97,517 average annual salary of a project superintendent.
The top three skills for a project superintendent include OSHA, construction management and general contractors. The most important skills for a manager, project director are project management, infrastructure, and construction management.
| Project Superintendent | Manager, Project Director | |
| Yearly salary | $97,517 | $104,614 |
| Hourly rate | $46.88 | $50.30 |
| Growth rate | 8% | - |
| Number of jobs | 71,449 | 162,781 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 46 | 47 |
| 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.
A manager, project director monitors building progress, oversees finances, and ensures project quality. They make strategic decisions and provide leadership and direct project managers with feedback to put those decisions into practice. Project directors update project managers, stakeholders, and clients about project progress. Besides building robust working relationships and liaising with clients, these professionals also enable successful project completion by creating cost-effective plans. Manager, project directors manage risks to prevent reputational damage and delays. Moreover, these professionals ensure legal papers and permits get secured before starting the project.
Project superintendents and managers, project director have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Superintendent | Manager, Project Director | |
| Average salary | $97,517 | $104,614 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $133,000 | Between $67,000 And $161,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | The Weitz Company | Cambridge Associates |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Finance |
There are a few differences between a project superintendent and a manager, project director in terms of educational background:
| Project Superintendent | Manager, Project Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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 managers, project director' demographics:
| Project Superintendent | Manager, Project Director | |
| Average age | 46 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% | Male, 69.8% Female, 30.2% |
| 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, 7.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 10% |