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The differences between project superintendents and project supervisors 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 supervisor takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a project superintendent has an average salary of $97,517, which is higher than the $53,609 average annual salary of a project supervisor.
The top three skills for a project superintendent include OSHA, construction management and general contractors. The most important skills for a project supervisor are project management, customer service, and safety standards.
| Project Superintendent | Project Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $97,517 | $53,609 |
| Hourly rate | $46.88 | $25.77 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 71,449 | 20,450 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| 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.
A project supervisor is someone employed in industries like engineering, construction, manufacturing, as well as design and marketing industries to coordinate all aspects of a project. Common duties include participating in project planning, acting as a communication liaison, coordinating labor needs, and training employees. They meet with the account manager to assess and understand the client's needs and budget for the project. Together with the supply chain manager, they facilitate the purchasing and delivery of supplies needed to complete the project. Additionally, they make sure the project is completed on time and within budget.
Project superintendents and project supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Superintendent | Project Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $97,517 | $53,609 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $133,000 | Between $29,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | Union City, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | The Weitz Company | Pacific Gas and Electric |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Retail |
There are a few differences between a project superintendent and a project supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Project Superintendent | Project Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | - |
Here are the differences between project superintendents' and project supervisors' demographics:
| Project Superintendent | Project Supervisor | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% | Male, 79.4% Female, 20.6% |
| 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, 5.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 23.0% Asian, 1.4% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 2% |