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Senior site manager vs general contractor

The differences between senior site managers and general contractors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a senior site manager and a general contractor. Additionally, a senior site manager has an average salary of $122,901, which is higher than the $66,602 average annual salary of a general contractor.

The top three skills for a senior site manager include informed consent, clinical trial management and clinical trials. The most important skills for a general contractor are plumbing, safety regulations, and contract negotiations.

Senior site manager vs general contractor overview

Senior Site ManagerGeneral Contractor
Yearly salary$122,901$66,602
Hourly rate$59.09$32.02
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs12,26566,218
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age4646
Years of experience88

What does a senior site manager do?

A senior site manager oversees construction sites to ensure projects are completed on time. They create budgets, coordinate with clients, and supervise workers. They must also maintain quality control procedures and minimize risks.

What does a general contractor do?

The job of general contractors is to oversee the day-to-day operations of projects in the organization. General contractors are considered seasoned experts when it comes to home improvement. They provide the material, equipment, labor, and services for a construction project. Often, they hire specialized subcontractors who will be working on some part of the construction work. They should have attained a bachelor's or associate's degree in construction management. Their experience in the industry is highly coveted.

Senior site manager vs general contractor salary

Senior site managers and general contractors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Site ManagerGeneral Contractor
Average salary$122,901$66,602
Salary rangeBetween $80,000 And $188,000Between $41,000 And $107,000
Highest paying CitySan Bruno, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyWalmart-
Best paying industryTechnology-

Differences between senior site manager and general contractor education

There are a few differences between a senior site manager and a general contractor in terms of educational background:

Senior Site ManagerGeneral Contractor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Senior site manager vs general contractor demographics

Here are the differences between senior site managers' and general contractors' demographics:

Senior Site ManagerGeneral Contractor
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 64.3% Female, 35.7%Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 2.8% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between senior site manager and general contractor duties and responsibilities

Senior site manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage non-compliance material returns, QA reports and receiving reports resolving any issues quickly and efficiently.
  • Manage computerized time card system including reviewing time cards daily for accuracy to process payroll every week.
  • Provide site management support to ensure adherence to FDA regulations, ICH/GCP, and ISO standards.
  • Participate in the OSHA's VPP program and are instrumental in helping the client gain star status.
  • Assure that all subcontractors are working within OSHA standards for construction, hold weekly meetings for safety, production and documentation.
  • Perform QA reviews of facility and customer installations.
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General contractor example responsibilities.

  • Manage the repair/replacement of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and structural of primarily historical residences.
  • Manage third party contractors including safety oversight, environmental design specification compliance, and similar construction specifications and requirements.
  • Perform electrical, mechanical (HVAC), plumbing, framing, roofing and finishing construction for residential and commercial buildings.
  • Remodel restaurants, which include painting, dry wall, tiling, plumbing, electrical and laying carpet.
  • Assist and perform all duties with installation of cabinets, flooring, sheetrock, framing, concrete, and basic plumbing.
  • Experience in roofing, painting, digging of footers, and tile setting.
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Senior site manager vs general contractor skills

Common senior site manager skills
  • Informed Consent, 12%
  • Clinical Trial Management, 10%
  • Clinical Trials, 9%
  • FDA, 8%
  • IRB, 7%
  • QA, 6%
Common general contractor skills
  • Plumbing, 17%
  • Safety Regulations, 12%
  • Contract Negotiations, 11%
  • Drywall Installation, 7%
  • Construction Projects, 4%
  • Payroll, 4%

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