Is Construction Management a Good Career in 2020? Even during an economic recession, qualified construction managers are in demand. In case you haven’t heard, there’s a major shortage of skilled workers in the trades. As new project manager over about 7 mil worth of projects right now with goals to run my own company I feel it was very relevant to what I do. At a large (national) CM firm in a major metro area, you can expect to make $60-65k at the entry level, $110 - $150k at the project manager level (which you can reach by your late 20s or early 30s, salary will rise with experience), and over $200k if you reach the executive level. Construction requires travel and long hours. Additionally, construction managers earn significant incomes and assume a large leadership role in building projects. Unfortunately I've recently hurt my back and do not wish to pursue a physically intensive job, and I don't want to sit in an office all day either. Press J to jump to the feed. Find Training Programs and Jobs Google: For jobs that require training or an apprenticeship, you can often find programs in your area using Google.Search for jobs using the terms "apprentice" or "trainee" and the location where you want to work. You have to wake up early and the hours can be long (50-60 hours / week), but not overly so. Press J to jump to the feed. Do you like to wake up early as shit to deal with a bunch of fucking morons and assholes fucking up stupid shit all day? Start looking at ENR magazine's top firms for your area and start checking their internship openings. I have a two year diploma in civil engineering and a carpentry ticket, worked on sites my whole working life (6 years), and in my opinion that theoretically should be enough to walk into an entry level management job, however now I'm honestly confused if one even has to have any field experience to be a manager, since the job mostly entails being a bookkeeper. In your shoes, I would do some research on local colleges with CM programs, and go to their career fairs. Is that true about Vancouver? A place for professionals to discuss the construction industry. CM definitely narrows your options, at least starting out. Everyone from residential contractors to commercial construction companies are looking for young people that are will… Pretty much everyone I know in the program has had the same experience. Tal… It is also a well-paid job, with median salaries 30% above the average wage in Australia. Specifically, jobseekers with a bachelor’s degree in construction science, construction management, or civil engineering, coupled with construction experience, will have the best job prospects. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Also, I would try and get experience (I cannot fucking say this enough, GET INTERNSHIPS) with vertical rather than horizontal construction firms (heavy civil). Cookies help us deliver our Services. There’s good job security. If the answer to these questions is yes, then a career as a Construction Manager could be right for you. This list isn’t comprehensive, because it’s going to be different for each person. What major would do me best as far as flexibility in the job market? Learn More About Upcoming Programs With the degree you can relocate and with all of your experience can easily land an assistant project manager job paying @90K right away, Or even a superintendent job at well over 100K, You already have credits so they should help you get some of the classes waived. Construction managers oversee the overall construction project. I think there's a lot more versatility if you learn the craft of how a 16 story high rise is built, rather than how highway's are paved. 1. Armed with the above, here is our take on the fastest growing careers in the construction industry. If you’re in the process of studying to become a construction manager, definitely check out this book. If you were some kid who wanted to be a project engineer, absolutely you'd need a CM degree. Of course having hands on experience is always a plus.....several routes to get into CM work....engineering and architecture to actual CM degrees....The best CMs I have worked with over the years have been civil engineers, architects, and construction people who went got a degree in CM. What's the salary like for a PC with 5yrs experience? Construction management is ideal for someone who has a general interest in building and design. I love it, that's why I'm still in construction management. Its a stressful field and you MUST be able to multitask as well as be a "people person". Do you think construction management is a good field as far as demand, stability, and pay? According to the BLS, employment of construction managers is projected to grow 11 percent from 2016 to 2026 , faster than the average for all occupations. There was never downtime, and construction managers were always moved to a new project when their last one ended. Construction managers and professionals are highly employable because any delays in either public or private building projects can cost far more than leaving them unfinished. Here’s a look at what’s involved in some of the most popular project management career paths – Construction. Starting salaries are generally high, but you can expect an extra $3k or so in per diem. The U.S. Department of Labor: The DOL maintains career resources that can help you start a career in many fields, including construction. It sounds like you have plenty of experience to at least get a project engineer gig with a GC today. It can be stressful depending on your personality and the team around you - there will be pressure to meet deadlines and stay under budget, but it can also be very enjoyable if the people around you don't take themselves too seriously. Agreed - assuming this includes utility work. Construction Managers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the activities of a construction company, or a construction department within a company, under the direction of a general manager or other senior manager. After the economic recession, careers in construction management have taken a significant hit, as companies have implemented budget cuts that eliminate staff and contract work. Many in the workforce agree that email occupies a significant amount of time spent during the workday. A place for professionals to discuss the construction industry. To me its a very good field and those who excels at it make very good incomes. You can still become a CM or construction project manager with an engineering degree, and it'll give you the added flexibility of a design path, if construction doesn't pan out. This course is designed to give you an advanced knowledge of building projects to allow you to provide advisory, administrative and management services for the construction of large, high-rise and complex buildings. Construction Management is a Job that Changes Daily. If you're considering CM vs engineering, personally, I'd go for the engineering degree. Project management is a good career choice as being a project manager you can have a good living. Don't forget about industrial. It's more versatile and a lot of jobs call for either a CM or CE degree. From putting up new shopping malls to fixing the nation’s aging infrastructure, an abundance of construction projects means a need for competent construction project managers. You won't sit in an office all day, since you will need to walk the field frequently, but I'm not going to lie - it's still an office job, and 80+% of your time will be spent in meetings, making phone calls, sending emails, or doing something else at your computer. I know for a fact that when people are looking at hiring project managers, estimators, or superintendents they see a construction management degree as a huge plus. The good news for those considering a construction job is that the industry is hitting its stride. So my main questions are: Do you think construction management is a good field as far as demand, stability, and pay? So it can be done! Now whether you should do it after a 2 year civil engineering diploma and years of field experience all depends on how high you want to go. High school students or construction professionals looking for their next step should seriously consider a construction management degree . The career paths of construction management vs. civil engineering are also different. It's all about coordination - at the end of the day your job is to make sure that everything and everyone shows up in the right place at the right time, so it's a bit like conducting a large orchestra. Careers in Building and Construction are a great place to develop your technical, negotiation and time management skills, work on a variety of exciting projects and even build your own business. If you want to be based in the field, I probably wouldn't go for the degree. A construction engineer can work as a construction project manager, a construction manager, or a construction engineer manager. The work and academic experience of construction engineers lead them into construction jobs. You are going to get paid extremely well. Small town here- completely worthless id rather have hands on experience than a degree. It's more versatile and a lot of jobs call for either a CM or CE degree. The industry puts an emphasis on experience so you might not hit a lower ceiling than you want to, but then again it could happen since you don't have a 4 year degree, depends on the company. I guess the level of complexity and involvement totally depends on the type of project. Anybody working in this field is welcome! I do linear projects (underground transmission lines), and I have to be knowledgeable in geotech/foundations, survey, CIP & precast concrete, general civil/earthwork, seismic, steel structures, trenchless, some transportation and electrical. Construction management has experienced strong growth over the past decade and the Australian Jobs Outlook predicts it will continue to grow moderately over the next few years. It just depends on your capabilities and the contractors that you want to work for. Being A Construction Worker The Good, The Bad, The Ugly & The Great. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing your replies! Having a tangible body of work is the most frequently cited reason for enjoying construction. If you're in a city with a good economy or are willing to move you shouldn't have trouble finding a job, but then again the construction industry fluctuates a lot. Just about every potential employer lists a bachelor’s degree in their job requirements, including those looking to hire construction managers.But, do you really need a construction management degree to get ahead in this industry?. If you're in a city with a good economy or are willing to move you shouldn't have trouble finding a job, but then again the construction industry fluctuates a lot. The demand and stability vary by your location, the type of work you are focused in( heavy civil vs commercial), and how well the economy is. A good construction manager is constantly on top of costs and makes the necessary adjustments when unexpected complications or issues arise. There are two paths- one is through engineering (or perhaps quantity surveying/ contract administration,) the other is on the tools. When you are working in a construction management job, you will usually have somewhat of an idea of what is coming, but it can change very quickly. Companies like AECOM (which /u/EyeGot5OnIt mentioned) as well as Bechtel, Fluor and KBR are major players in this field. There is a big boom in construction right now that is being fueled by the low oil prices. Anybody working in this field is welcome! This article from Huffington Post found that workers spend 3.2 hours on average on work emails per day.The construction project managers we interviewed fell in line with this finding.Of the 17 project managers who responded to the question “How many hours per day do you spend on emails to and from your team?”, the average response was 3.02 hours. Construction Management JumpStart: The Best First Step Toward a Career in Construction Management by Barbara J. Jackson. The median response was 3 hours flat. Out of curiosity, where are you seeing job listings for apms starting at 90k? Construction or Project Manager – 11% Growth through 2026. My Construction Management Degree felt like half business degree, half construction related. Carpentry, concrete, steel, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, landscaping, equipment operators, etc. If you already have an associate's in CE I would just get a bachelor's in it. Think twice... 15000 for 4 years is a great price. For example, one day a project may close successfully without any issues. Has anyone ever worked as or with project managers? My university hosts one per semester, and you're pretty much guaranteed an internship assuming you can hold a conversation. I also looked through the classes in the program, and half of them in my opinion are useless (environmental, English, ethics, leadership, etc), so clearly if I study, I'll study for the paper. Lots of them move on to make bank. Even if the degree isn't 100% related. Hey everyone, I'm currently a freshman in college having an incredibly hard time deciding a career path. Pay will always be good. Construction management is one of the fastest growing careers in America. Construction Management does not require a specific degree although in South Africa certain institutions such as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology offers a BTech in Construction Management. It also depends on what you want to end up doing. Would you recommend it now? Safety management. Construction management, or CM, is a complicated and constantly evolving field. Would you say that having a degree was still beneficial? By the time you graduate there might not be many jobs. Construction managers, also called general contractors, are responsible for planning, budgeting and supervising construction projects. Specifically, jobseekers with a bachelor’s degree in construction science, construction management, or civil engineering, coupled with construction experience, will have the best job prospects. Do you think construction management is a good field as far as demand, stability, and pay? I love that you can indulge your interests in weird cat memes … Facilities Manager. But since you have good experience and some sort of a degree from somewhere then you should be fine. It’s certainly not a decision to make lightly; a four-year construction management degree can cost anywhere from $28,000 to $116,000. If travel is required and they pay for COL and/or you're in a high COL area I could see those numbers, otherwise those numbers seem pretty high to me. He did receive bonuses for jobs completed early or on which they made a good … The most flexible major would be civil engineering. Also- student loans will rape you. But if you do decide to go for the 4 year CM degree it definitely wouldn't be irrelevant and would make you a more valuable hire. They act as an interface between the owners or architects and the construction workers. There are some 4 year CM degrees that are available 100% online as well that you can work full time and do (but the workload would probably be miserable unless you only took 2-3 classes at a time). Carpentry, concrete, steel, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, landscaping, equipment operators, etc. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projected that between 2018 and 2028, construction management jobs will increase by 46,200 jobs, which is … If someone is willing to hire you and you can do the job without a degree then win/win. Spend some time on an experience based resume, and be honest with the employers. By the time you graduate there might not be many jobs. He did very well financially at both companies, but the hours were very long. 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