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What is a senior construction manager and how to become one
A senior construction manager oversees construction projects from start to finish. They lead teams and ensure project completion while staying on time, within budget, and up-to standards. Senior construction managers have strong communication skills, as they work with clients, architects, engineers, and contractors. They also need to have extensive knowledge of construction methods and materials, as well as experience with project management software. Overall, a senior construction manager promotes the successful completion of construction projects.
What general advice would you give to a senior construction manager?
Becky Serbin
Director of Education and Curriculum, National Tile Contractors Association
Avg. Salary $110,926
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 8%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.56%
Asian 2.85%
Black or African American 3.74%
Hispanic or Latino 17.65%
Unknown 4.45%
White 70.75%
Genderfemale 5.03%
male 94.97%
Age - 46American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 46Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a senior construction manager?
Pros
High salary
Opportunity for career advancement
Job security
Constant learning and development opportunities
Potential for international work experience
Cons
Responsibility for project success or failure
Risk of injury or accidents on job sites
Dependence on weather and other external factors beyond your control
Potential for conflicts with contractors, clients, or other stakeholders
Difficulty maintaining work-life balance
Senior construction manager career paths
Key steps to become a senior construction manager
Explore senior construction manager education requirements
Start to develop specific senior construction manager skills
Skills Percentages OSHA 15.10% Project Management 8.50% Construction Projects 7.75% Design 7.48% Oversight 6.11% Complete relevant senior construction manager training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 2-4 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior construction managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior construction manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior construction manager resumes.Research senior construction manager duties and responsibilities
- Conduct safety meetings, SWPPP inspections, and manage RFI systems.
- Manage complete design and construction coordination of company's retail properties throughout the Washington/Baltimore area market.
- Review RFI, payment application, change orders and perform budget and cost analysis.
- Provide safety raining to all construction personnel, which comply with safety protocols for the job site and OSHA.
Get senior construction manager experience
Generally, it takes 6-8 years to become a senior construction manager. The most common roles before becoming a senior construction manager include construction manager, project manager team lead and senior project manager.Prepare your senior construction manager resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior construction manager resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior construction manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable senior construction manager resume templates
Build a professional senior construction manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior construction manager resume.
Apply for senior construction manager jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a senior construction manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first senior construction manager job
Are you a senior construction manager?
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Average senior construction manager salary
The average senior construction manager salary in the United States is $110,926 per year or $53 per hour. Senior construction manager salaries range between $70,000 and $174,000 per year.
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How do senior construction managers rate their job?
Updated January 8, 2025
