Career Information and Salary for a Construction Management Technology Professional
Job Descriptions December 27, 2012Construction management technology is a combination of different aspects of engineering and business, apart from construction. Several schools offer training programs in construction management technology and a graduate can launch themselves on a career in construction management. Small and large commercial or residential projects depend on construction managers to oversee their implementation. In this article, we will look at the career path of a construction manager and discuss what an aspiring construction manager must do in order to pursue their career.
Job Responsibilities
Construction managers are commonly known as construction supervisors, general contractors, project engineers or project managers. Their duties include the supervision of employees and overseeing of building projects’ construction. Their effective functioning depends on interactions with other professionals involved in the project; these include architects. Construction managers may be required to supervise part or the entire project; this will depend on the scope of the project. Such supervision will continue through the entire duration of the construction that begins with laying out the foundation stone of the project, and ending with its commissioning. As part of their duties, construction managers manage logistical details — to this end, they devise cost-effective plans, determine construction schedules and obtain necessary permits.
Prerequisites
Employers of construction managers seek prior work experience gained through construction trade jobs or via internships (source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (www.bls.gov)). Job seekers are required to have completed a bachelor degree program in construction or a related study area, such as civil engineering or building science. Schools offer degree programs in construction management technology; students enrolling in these programs have to complete coursework in areas such as project control, scheduling, surveying fundamentals and estimating techniques. Coursework also includes topics such as structural design, urban planning, employee relations, accounting, and microeconomics.
Certification Norms
Certification is becoming increasingly vital for those seeking rewarding careers as construction managers (source: BLS). Aspiring candidates can aim for the Certified Construction Manager designation offered by the Construction Management Association of America (www.cmaanet.org). To qualify, prospective candidates need to have completed a bachelor degree program in related fields, and a two-year program in related fields followed by four years of hands on experience; high school diploma holders with eight years of on-the-job experience can apply for certification.
Job and Wage Potential
Construction Management Technology Professionals are likely to enjoy a projected job growth of seventeen percent during the decade from 2008 to 2018 (source: BLS); this is a constant average growth rate compared to other professions. In 2010, construction managers earned an average annual salary of $83,860. In 2011, the average annual salary earned by entry level construction managers (holding a bachelor degree in management or construction science) was $46,926 (source: the Spring 2011 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) (www.naceweb.org)).
