Building Your Future: How to Become a Construction Manager
From our homes to our favorite restaurants to our workplaces, the impact of construction managers’ work extends beyond structures and shapes our daily lives. Their ability to carefully orchestrate complex building projects that are functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing helps grow and improve our communities.
Pursuing a career in construction management opens a world of opportunities, which include reliable employment, increased earning potential, robust skill acquisition, and more. As you examine your professional options, review our comprehensive guide to learn more about:
- Job responsibilities
- Career benefits
- Steps to become a construction manager
- Employment and industry salary outlook
Keep reading about the construction management career path and how Northampton Community College (NCC) can help you reach your goals.
What Does a Construction Manager Do?
Construction managers play a pivotal role in keeping building projects on track. While their responsibilities vary based on the sector in which they work—industrial, residential, commercial, or infrastructure—they are typically responsible for planning and coordinating construction projects from start to finish.
Their roles are highly collaborative and require them to partner with architects, engineers, contractors, vendors, and clients to complete projects efficiently, within budget, and in compliance with safety regulations and building codes. Their day-to-day responsibilities usually include:
- Developing project timelines and budgets according to client requirements
- Hiring and managing subcontractors, laborers, and tradespeople
- Ensuring their worksite complies with safety and legal requirements
- Communicating project progression and updates with clients and stakeholders
- Managing materials, resources, and equipment and implementing cost controls whenever necessary
- Securing any required permits or licenses
- Inspecting builds for quality control
- Resolving any issues that arise during construction
Career Benefits for Construction Managers
When determining whether a construction career is right for you, consider the long-term advantages. As a construction manager, you can look forward to the following benefits:
- Reliable employment: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), construction managers’ employment rates may increase by 9% over the next decade, more than double the national average of 4%. Nationally, that translates into almost 46,000 new openings each year, creating a healthy job market and opportunities for professional growth.
- Diversify your expertise: From residential to industrial to commercial builds, the construction field has a range of sectors that require specialized knowledge and management techniques. As you gain experience, you learn how to manage different types of projects, meet zoning specifications and codes, adhere to industry standards, and more.
- Meaningful work: Construction managers’ impact extends beyond their projects. Through their careful work and oversight, they play an integral role in driving community development, building safe homes for families, utilizing sustainable building practices, and making other lasting contributions.
- Robust technical skills: To successfully oversee building projects, construction managers rely heavily on their well-rounded competencies, such as their knowledge of technical building specifications, schematics, information technology, and more. With more experience and time spent working in the field, construction managers refine their skills and deepen their industry expertise, which helps them to advance to higher positions and tackle more complex projects.
How to Become a Construction Manager in Four Steps
1: Earn Your High School Diploma or GED®
To become a construction manager, you must earn your high school diploma or pass the General Educational Development (GED®) test. While a diploma or GED® is typically a prerequisite for enrolling in a construction management program, this secondary education lays the foundation in core subjects, such as math, science, and English, which will support your academic and career success.
2: Complete a Construction Manager Degree Program
The next step to jump-start your career is to find a construction management degree program at a community college or university. As you’re deciding which construction management program is right for you, consider how it can fit your practical needs and support your professional goals:
- Degree completion time
- Available program formats
- Enrollment options
- Tuition costs and fees
- Curriculum, including hands-on experiences, learning outcomes, etc.
- Community partnerships
If you plan to study at a community college, you’ll likely enroll in an associate degree program. Taking this route, you may either enter the workforce and begin your career upon graduation or transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a bachelor’s degree.
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Construction Management at NCC offers an immersive two-year course of study that equips you with a solid technical foundation and real-world experience. You learn how to plan, schedule, and manage a construction site, navigate business law, enforce health and safety regulations, and more
3: Secure Professional Certifications and Licensures
While Pennsylvania does not require most construction managers to obtain state-issued certificates or licenses, there are several exceptions for those working as:
- Crane operators
- Home improvement contractors
- Manufactured housing installers
For more details regarding the state and local requirements, review Pennsylvania’s contractor licensing information.
If you plan to work in construction management in another state, we recommend researching any certifications or licensures you may need to launch your career.
4. Sharpen Your Competitive Edge by Continuing Your Education
If you want to establish yourself as a leader in the construction industry, you must prioritize continuing education. Whether that means returning to school to earn a bachelor’s degree or pursuing additional professional certifications, this ensures that your industry knowledge remains relevant, connects you to other construction professionals, and solidifies your expertise.
How Much Do Construction Managers Make?
Nationwide, construction managers earn a stable income. The BLS reports that their median annual salary is nearly $105,000, more than double the national average of $48,060. Additionally, this can extend upwards of $172,040 if they have advanced education and experience. The state of employment and the industry sector can also contribute to salary variances.
In Pennsylvania, construction managers typically make $115,790, slightly exceeding the national average.
Become a Construction Manager at NCC
Take the first step toward a career in the construction industry at Northampton Community College. Our associate degree in construction management empowers you with relevant industry knowledge, hands-on training that strengthens your technical skills, and personalized faculty support.
In just two years of full-time study, you graduate well-versed in all aspects of the building process and ready to lead. If you want to continue your education, our AAS in Construction Management allows you to transfer to Pennsylvania College of Technology to earn a bachelor's degree in construction management. Or, you may transfer to another four-year college or university to pursue a degree in a related field.
Excited about the opportunities ahead? Apply to NCC today!
Review Northampton’s admission information and contact us to learn more about NCC.
