Construction Management


We're looking for people who:

are natural leaders with an aptitude for construction.

What you will do:

You will manage  construction projects from  beginning to end, including budgeting and handling  contractors, subcontractors, and  project staff.

Some specific tasks you will be asked to complete include:

  • Head up projects to purchase land on which to build
  • Meet with all staff to resolve problems
  • Hire and assign workers for  construction projects
  • Obtain all necessary licenses and permits and follow inspection procedures
  • Obtain, inventory, and then monitor the use of building materials
  • Prepare and administer contracts with all job personnel

Knowledge required for this job:

  • The tools of the trade, appropriate materials for each project, and the best  building methods
  • Understanding how to read  technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • Understanding local, state, and national job safety policies and procedures for construction sites
  • How the principles of mathematics can be applied in various situations
  • Ability to communicate using different languages commonly spoken on construction job sites

Skills required for this job:

  • Ability to teach others how to perform their jobs
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work  documents.
  • Using mathematics to solve problems

What education you need:

Most construction managers' positions do not require college experience. A majority (40.9%) of people ages 25-44 who currently hold this kind of job have a high school diploma or lower. About one-third (29.5%) have an associate's degree or lower, and another third (29.6%) hold a bachelor's degree.

Salary:

Nationally, people working in this job earn between $20.78 and $65.28 an hour. In Maryland, the pay scale ranges from $24.88 - $70.01+ an hour. (Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) 2007)

Future job prospects

Nationally, all construction managers' jobs are expected to increase from 430,600 positions in 2004 to 475,300 in 2014. (+10%) In Maryland, jobs numbers are expected to increase, with 12,400 positions in 2004 and 14,640 in 2014. (+18%)


Watch a video that shows what a construction manager does.

According to the Maryland Commission on Higher Education, training for this career is available through these resources:

  • The keywords CONSTRUCTION, CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY located this private training program
  • The keywords CONSTRUCTION, CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY located the community colleges listed here and here 
  • The keywords CONSTRUCTION, CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY located the four-year colleges, listed here and here

The Maryland Career Clusters help students prepare for their future education and careers while they are in high school.  The job of Construction Managers is part of the Construction and Development Career Cluster.

You can explore other careers in the Construction and Development Career Cluster here.