Employers
Approximately 520,900 construction managers are employed in the United States. Employment opportunities exist in a variety of settings. Many construction managers work for small construction companies that specialize in residential homes or small commercial projects. They are often in charge of the entire project from start to finish.
Construction managers employed by larger firms, real estate developers, or engineering firms may only be assigned to work on a particular phase of the project, such as the structural framework, or specialize in a certain area such as fireproofing, or a specific type of construction such as bridges.
Starting Out
Jobs are located nationwide, but may be more plentiful in areas experiencing high growth. Managers who wish to work with larger companies and more visible projects may need to relocate to major metropolitan areas.
Traditionally, construction managers were promoted into managerial positions after many years of work experience in the construction industry. That is still possible today, but is more common in smaller construction firms. Larger construction companies or major developers demand managerial candidates with construction experience as well as a college degree. Jobs can be found via school career services offices, newspaper and Internet job advertisements, employment agencies, and unions, or by applying directly to contracting company personnel offices. Professional organizations, such as the Construction Management Association of America, also list job listings at their Web sites.
- Advertising Managers
- Agile Coaches or Trainers
- Animal Trainers
- Antiques and Art Dealers
- Architects
- Aromatherapists
- Artists
- Asbestos Abatement Technicians
- Assessors and Appraisers
- Auctioneers
- Automotive Dealership Owners
- Automotive Dealership Sales Managers
- Barbers
- Bed and Breakfast Owners
- Bloggers
- Boilermakers and Mechanics
- Brewers
- Bricklayers and Stonemasons
- Building Automation Systems Engineers
- Building Automation Systems Technicians
- Building Performance Diagnosticians
- Carpenters
- Caterers
- Cement Masons
- Ceramics Engineers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Chief Executive Officers
- Child Care Service Owners
- City Managers
- Civil Engineering Technicians
- Civil Engineers
- Cleaning Service Owners
- Computer Support Service Owners
- Computer-Aided Design Drafters and Technicians
- Construction Inspectors
- Construction Laborers
- Cosmetics Shop Owners and Managers
- Cosmetologists
- Cost Estimators
- Drafters
- Driving School Owners and Instructors
- Drywall Installers and Finishers
- Edupreneurs
- Electricians
- Elevator Installers and Repairers
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Entrepreneurs
- Environmental Engineers
- Environmental Planners
- Ergonomists
- Export-Import Specialists
- Farmers
- Film and Television Producers
- Financial Planners
- Financial Services Brokers
- Floor Covering Installers
- Franchise Owners
- Furniture Designers
- Gallery Owners and Directors
- General Maintenance Mechanics
- Geodetic Surveyors
- Geologists
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Glass Manufacturing Workers
- Glaziers
- Green Builders
- Green Products Manufacturers
- Gunsmiths
- Health Club Owners and Managers
- Heating and Cooling Technicians
- Home Stagers
- Illustrators
- Indoor Environmental Health Specialists
- Industrial Designers
- Information Brokers
- Information Technology Consultants
- Information Technology Project Managers
- Insulators/Insulation Workers
- Interior Designers and Decorators
- Internet Consultants
- Internet Developers
- Internet Marketing and Advertising Consultants
- Internet Store Managers and Entrepreneurs
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Landscape Architects
- Lathers
- Lawn and Gardening Service Owners
- Life Insurance Agents and Brokers
- Literary Agents
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Marble Setters, Tile Setters, and Terrazzo Workers
- Marketing Managers
- Materials Engineers
- Medical Billing Service Owners
- Millwrights
- Motivational Speakers
- Occupational Safety and Health Workers
- Operating Engineers
- Painters and Paperhangers
- Personal Chefs
- Pet Sitters
- Photographers
- Plasterers
- Plumbers and Pipefitters
- Podcasters
- Product Owners
- Project Managers
- Property and Real Estate Managers
- Quality Control Engineers
- Quality Control Technicians
- Real Estate Developers
- Renewable Energy Site Assessors
- Retail Business Owners
- Roofers
- Scrum Masters
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Smart Building Systems Designers
- Songwriters
- Sports Agents
- Stationary Engineers
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians
- Surveyors
- Swimming Pool Designers
- Traffic Managers
- Urban and Regional Planners
- Wedding and Party Consultants
- Welders and Welding Technicians
- Wind Energy Project Managers
- Writers