Construction Manager
Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish.
What the job is
- The work
- Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish.
BLS
Construction Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Construction managers may have a main office but spend most of their time in a field office onsite, where they monitor projects and make decisions about construction activities. Their schedules may vary.
BLS
Construction Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Organized leaders who like budgets, schedules and solving problems on a busy site.
- Career cluster
- Construction
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (construction managers).
- Median pay
- $114,990 a year ($55.28 an hour)
BLS
Construction Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 609,100
- Typical entry
- Bachelor's degree
- Training after hire
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +9%, which BLS calls "much faster than average"
BLS
Construction Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +55,200 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- Construction managers typically need a bachelor’s degree, and they learn management techniques through on-the-job training. Large construction firms may prefer to hire candidates who have both construction experience and a bachelor’s degree in a construction-related field.
BLS
Construction Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- In short
- Construction managers typically need a bachelor's degree in construction, business, engineering or a related field, then learn management on the job, often for up to a year as an assistant. Years in a trade can also lead there, but more often to running your own contracting business.
- License
- Some states. Some states require construction managers to be licensed; each state's licensing board sets the rule.
- By state
- State rules on the roadmap
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
-
StateChoose a state
- AlabamaState guide
- AlaskaState guide
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- ArkansasState guide
- CaliforniaState guide
- ColoradoState guide
- ConnecticutState guide
- DelawareState guide
- District of ColumbiaState guide
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- HawaiiState guide
- IdahoState guide
- IllinoisState guide
- IndianaState guide
- IowaState guide
- KansasState guide
- KentuckyState guide
- LouisianaState guide
- MaineState guide
- MarylandState guide
- MassachusettsState guide
- MichiganState guide
- MinnesotaState guide
- MississippiState guide
- MissouriState guide
- MontanaState guide
- NebraskaState guide
- NevadaState guide
- New HampshireState guide
- New JerseyState guide
- New MexicoState guide
- New YorkState guide
- North CarolinaState guide
- North DakotaState guide
- OhioState guide
- OklahomaState guide
- OregonState guide
- PennsylvaniaState guide
- Rhode IslandState guide
- South CarolinaState guide
- South DakotaState guide
- TennesseeState guide
- TexasState guide
- UtahState guide
- VermontState guide
- VirginiaState guide
- WashingtonState guide
- West VirginiaState guide
- WisconsinState guide
- WyomingState guide
Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Construction manager: bachelor's degree, then on-the-job training
See the roadmap
Route 1: Bachelor's degree, then assistant manager · Route 2: Associate degree + work experience · Route 3: Years in a trade
More careers in Construction
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 21 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.