A construction manager plays an important role in ensuring that construction projects go smoothly from start to finish. He or she will need to manage a group of construction workers and ensure that they are operating equipment in a safe manner. You should enjoy working on construction sites if you are thinking about becoming a construction manager. It is also essential that you understand how to keep a construction project under budget at all times.
Construction Manager Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a construction manager is about $83,000 a year. The demand for construction managers is expected to grow by 17 percent in the next ten years.
Education Requirements
To become a construction manager, you do not need to have any formal education requirements. The BLS reports that the majority of individuals who become construction managers are actually self-employed individuals. Construction managers tend to be very driven and entrepreneurial. It can be helpful to obtain an associate's degree or a certification in zoning regulations and construction laws. Understanding the regulations that impact your industry is essential. You should try to gain job experience in this field. The most valuable experience that you can gain is shadowing a construction manager and seeing what he or she does on a daily basis. You will learn that construction managers often deal with all aspects of the construction of a building. They may need to deal with the investors who are behind the project, as well as the construction workers who are actually being paid for the physical construction of the building.
Skills Required
To be a successful construction manager, you should be someone who enjoys working in a construction atmosphere. You should feel confident in managing employees who operate large pieces of machinery. In addition to being comfortable in this type of atmosphere, you should also be comfortable in affluent types of atmospheres. You should be able to explain the benefits of your project to potential investors. You may need to play a role in securing funding for the project that you currently manage. Many construction managers are also great sales people. They know how to persuade people and get them to fund their projects. It is essential that a construction manager also have strong accounting skills. He or she will need to make sure that the costs of a project are not exceeding the expected profitability of the project.
Responsibilities
One of the major responsibilities of a construction manager is ensuring that a project is being completed in accordance with safety codes. He or she will need to make sure that the construction project is not violating any city ordinances. As a result, a construction manager may need to work with a lawyer who has a specialty in zoning ordinances. The lawyer may need to obtain a permit so that the construction manager can continue to pursue his or her construction project. It is important for a construction manager to also be someone who can manage a large group of employees.