How to hire a site/project manager

How to hire a site/project manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step site/project manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a site/project manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new site/project manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a site/project manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the site/project manager you need to hire. Certain site/project manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a site/project manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a site/project manager that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of site/project managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Site/Project Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Site/Project Manager	Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish.	$29-57
   Construction Superintendent	A construction superintendent's role is to oversee all construction plans and operations, ensuring quality completion within a specified timeframe. Some of their responsibilities are to inspect all sites, coordinate with contractors and engineers, manage the budget and expenditure, purchase necessary materials and equipment, and make schedules... Show more	$29-59
   General Contractor	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... Show more	$19-51

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • Infrastructure
   • Oversight
   • General Contractors
   • Construction Management
   • Construction Projects
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Real Estate
   • Logistics
   • Project Completion
   • OSHA
   • HVAC
   • Project Scope
   • Status Reports

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Supervise employees to achieve maximum quality control and customer satisfaction.Employee HR management, inventory control, payroll and expense management.
   • Verify compliance with plans (prints), specifications, and all OSHA requirements.
   • Execute many hands-on carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and site preparation aspects of projects.
   • Communicate and/or partner with other engineering disciplines (electrical, HVAC, structural and mechanical) to complete design or installation.
   • Develop and introduce a comprehensive safety program per OSHA standards.
   • Direct oversight of construction, commissioning, turnover and transition to operation of each facility.

   More site/project manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your site/project manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A site/project manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, site/project managers' average salary in vermont is 41% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level site/project managers 49% less than senior-level site/project managers.
   • Certifications. A site/project manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a site/project manager's salary.

   Average site/project manager salary

   $85,701yearly

   $41.20 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level site/project manager salary

   $61,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average site/project manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$122,813	$59
   2	Washington	$96,432	$46
   3	New Jersey	$95,546	$46
   4	New York	$91,364	$44
   5	Maryland	$90,722	$44
   6	Arizona	$90,497	$44
   7	Massachusetts	$86,982	$42
   8	Texas	$85,526	$41
   9	Indiana	$85,048	$41
   10	Wisconsin	$84,981	$41
   11	Virginia	$81,080	$39
   12	Ohio	$80,716	$39
   13	North Carolina	$78,099	$38
   14	Colorado	$76,325	$37
   15	Florida	$75,506	$36
   16	Maine	$75,052	$36
   17	Illinois	$73,050	$35

   Average site/project manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$141,085	$67.83	107
   2	American Tower	$122,770	$59.02	17
   3	ConocoPhillips	$119,498	$57.45
   4	Novartis	$109,468	$52.63	2
   5	Novo Nordisk	$105,618	$50.78	1
   6	Sacramento Native American Health Center	$102,401	$49.23
   7	Energy Inc.	$102,003	$49.04
   8	Woods Services	$101,998	$49.04
   9	Randstad North America, Inc.	$101,988	$49.03	8
   10	Estée Lauder	$101,075	$48.59	1
   11	Siemens	$98,623	$47.41	61
   12	Pape-Dawson Engineers	$96,068	$46.19	7
   13	Stantec	$94,647	$45.50	651
   14	Dewberry	$94,210	$45.29	101
   15	Jacobs Engineering Group	$94,110	$45.25
   16	ATCS	$93,280	$44.85	6
   17	Black Box	$93,080	$44.75	8
   18	Fuss & O'Neill	$92,871	$44.65	3
   19	POWER Engineers	$92,561	$44.50
   20	Hanson Professional Svc Inc	$92,074	$44.27	4

4. Writing a site/project manager job description

   A site/project manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a site/project manager job description:

   Site/project manager job description example

   POWER Engineers' Environmental Division provides planning, permitting, engineering, site assessment and corrective action services to clients worldwide. Across multiple industries, our diverse staff specialize in the areas of air, water, waste, ecological and cultural resources throughout our 45 offices located across the country and internationally.
   
   We are seeking a highly motivated Project Manager, Siting & Routing Specialist for full-time employment in support of our Central Environmental Services Project Management and Planning Group.
   
   The selected candidate would join a team of more than 230 environmental professionals across the U.S. This position will report to the Fort Lauderdale or Orlando, Florida office with the ability of a hybrid schedule of work from home and office.
   Roles and Responsibilities
   
   The primary focus for this Project Manager, Siting & Routing Specialist will be on electric transmission line and substation routing and siting, along with renewable energy development projects, in Florida and Southeastern states.The ideal candidate will be a collaborative and responsive professional, with strong communication and organizational skills.Responsibilities include but may not be limited to:
   Managing and directing routing/siting studies, analyses and associated reports Working collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams which could include engineers, attorneys, planners, permitting and environmental specialists, and real estate experts Preparing and monitoring project scope, schedule, and budget Attending and participating in open-houses and public meetings Providing advice and direction on state filing requirements Preparing PUC, SCC, and/or TSLA applications Leading and supporting business development efforts Developing and maintaining client relationships Up to 25% travel is expected
   Required Education/Experience
   B.S. or B.A. in Landscape Architecture, Environmental Planning, Geography, Environmental Science, or related degree Eight (8)years of successful experience performing routing and siting studies and state applications for energy related projects Florida expertise in siting/routing, environmental planning and analysis, state applications, public involvement Experience preparing applications for submittal to the Florida Siting Board Extensive knowledge and demonstrated expertise in federal and state environmental policy and regulation is required Strong written and verbal communication skills, defining and understanding client requirements, managing expectations, communicating with clients and project staff
   Preferred Education/Experience
   Master's degree in Landscape Architecture, Environmental Planning, Geography, Environmental Science, or related degree Project Management Professional certification; other professional certifications as applicable to technical expertise Experience preparing and providing expert witness testimony Expertise and understanding of permitting requirements in GA, AL, and SC
   At POWER Engineers, you can have a rewarding career on every level. Our philosophy is simple: Do Good. Have Fun. Build Success.
   
   You'll work on fun and challenging projects and initiatives. You'll have the chance to make a positive impact on society and the environment. And you'll find the support, coaching and training it takes to advance your career.
   
   Since we're employee-owned, we get to make POWER a great place to work. That includes providing competitive compensation, professional development and a full benefit package:
   Medical/Dental/Vision Maternity Leave Parental Leave Paid Holidays Vacation/Paid Sick Leave Voluntary Life Insurance 401K
   POWER is a fun engineering firm. That might seem contradictory to some, but it works for us!
   
   EOE, including disability/vets
   
   #LI-DC1 #LI-Hybrid

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right site/project manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your site/project manager job on Zippia to find and recruit site/project manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit site/project managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new site/project manager

   Once you've selected the best site/project manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new site/project manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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