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The differences between project superintendents and project managers & leader 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 project manager & leader takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a project manager & leader has an average salary of $102,092, 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 project manager & leader are project management, infrastructure, and post implementation.
| Project Superintendent | Project Manager & Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $97,517 | $102,092 |
| Hourly rate | $46.88 | $49.08 |
| Growth rate | 8% | - |
| Number of jobs | 71,449 | 190,600 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| 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 project manager & leader is responsible for monitoring the overall project management and staff operations, ensuring the efficiency and accuracy of project deliverables to meet the client's requirements, and achieving the highest customer satisfaction. Project managers/leaders implement strategic procedures to minimize costs while maximizing operational productivity. They identify business opportunities by analyzing the current market trends to develop services that would meet the clients' demands and the public's interests. A project manager & leader also handles the department budget, allocating adequate resources, and maintaining an organized delegation of tasks for the employees.
Project superintendents and project managers & leader have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Superintendent | Project Manager & Leader | |
| Average salary | $97,517 | $102,092 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $133,000 | Between $74,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | The Weitz Company | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a project superintendent and a project manager & leader in terms of educational background:
| Project Superintendent | Project Manager & Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between project superintendents' and project managers & leader' demographics:
| Project Superintendent | Project Manager & Leader | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% | Male, 72.0% Female, 28.0% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 11% |