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The differences between site/project 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 site/project manager and a general contractor. Additionally, a site/project manager has an average salary of $85,701, which is higher than the $66,602 average annual salary of a general contractor.
The top three skills for a site/project manager include project management, infrastructure and oversight. The most important skills for a general contractor are plumbing, safety regulations, and contract negotiations.
| Site/Project Manager | General Contractor | |
| Yearly salary | $85,701 | $66,602 |
| Hourly rate | $41.20 | $32.02 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 120,282 | 66,218 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
Site/project managers are professionals who are responsible for managing construction projects and ensuring that these projects are completed on time and within budget. These managers must make sure that the projects are following the specifications and requirements of their clients while liaising with quantity surveyors to monitor costs. They must supervise construction as well as select tools and materials to be used in completing construction projects. Site/project managers must also conduct safety inspections to ensure that construction sites are following health and safety protocols.
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.
Site/project managers and general contractors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Site/Project Manager | General Contractor | |
| Average salary | $85,701 | $66,602 |
| Salary range | Between $61,000 And $119,000 | Between $41,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Meta | - |
| Best paying industry | Finance | - |
There are a few differences between a site/project manager and a general contractor in terms of educational background:
| Site/Project Manager | General Contractor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between site/project managers' and general contractors' demographics:
| Site/Project Manager | General Contractor | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.5% 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 Percentage | 4% | 4% |