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Project superintendent vs project manager/design manager

The differences between project superintendents and project manager/design managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a project superintendent and a project manager/design manager. Additionally, a project superintendent has an average salary of $97,517, which is higher than the $83,794 average annual salary of a project manager/design manager.

The top three skills for a project superintendent include OSHA, construction management and general contractors. The most important skills for a project manager/design manager are project management, CAD, and construction management.

Project superintendent vs project manager/design manager overview

Project SuperintendentProject Manager/Design Manager
Yearly salary$97,517$83,794
Hourly rate$46.88$40.29
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs71,449139,531
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4646
Years of experience88

Project superintendent vs project manager/design manager salary

Project superintendents and project manager/design managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Project SuperintendentProject Manager/Design Manager
Average salary$97,517$83,794
Salary rangeBetween $71,000 And $133,000Between $55,000 And $126,000
Highest paying CityHartford, CTSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutHawaii
Best paying companyThe Weitz CompanyIntuitive Surgical
Best paying industryConstructionManufacturing

Differences between project superintendent and project manager/design manager education

There are a few differences between a project superintendent and a project manager/design manager in terms of educational background:

Project SuperintendentProject Manager/Design Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorBusinessArchitecture
Most common collegeCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoHarvard University

Project superintendent vs project manager/design manager demographics

Here are the differences between project superintendents' and project manager/design managers' demographics:

Project SuperintendentProject Manager/Design Manager
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 97.3% Female, 2.7%Male, 66.0% Female, 34.0%
Race ratioBlack 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, 3.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 2.9% White, 70.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between project superintendent and project manager/design manager duties and responsibilities

Project superintendent example responsibilities.

  • Manage design build, MEP, metal frame, dry wall, paint, high end cabinetry, turn- key project.
  • Initiate and manage RFI's between owner/engineer/architects.
  • Manage third party contractors including safety oversight, environmental design specification compliance, and similar construction specifications and requirements.
  • Lead safety compliance by conducting regular safety meetings with subcontractors and strictly enforcing safety policies and procedures, including OSHA regulations.
  • Develop and establish project safety guidelines adhering to OSHA standards and daily procedures.
  • Design products in AutoCAD base on field measurements for CNC machines.
  • Show more

Project manager/design manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage and approve all changes to the project along with all AIA document approvals.
  • Involve in Unix shell script development to automate ETL jobs by using Informatica sessions and workflows.
  • Manage the schematic phase and generate all the necessary documents to be submit to the structural and MEP consultants.
  • Manage internal prototype injection molding operations on a project basis.
  • Lead efforts to redesign and convert existing self-pace and instructor-le course materials into eLearning and web-base formats.
  • Lead safety compliance by conducting regular safety meetings with subcontractors and strictly enforcing safety policies and procedures, including OSHA regulations.
  • Show more

Project superintendent vs project manager/design manager skills

Common project superintendent skills
  • OSHA, 12%
  • Construction Management, 8%
  • General Contractors, 7%
  • Construction Projects, 7%
  • Quality Standards, 7%
  • Safety Program, 6%
Common project manager/design manager skills
  • Project Management, 20%
  • CAD, 6%
  • Construction Management, 5%
  • Fire Protection, 5%
  • Project Scope, 5%
  • Revit, 4%

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