What does it take to become a construction project manager? Turns out there are many paths that lead to this career: you may already be on the right track.
The construction project manager career pathway is not straightforward; there are many ways to get started in this career and work your way up to your ideal job.
What is the career path for a Construction Project Manager?
Most PMs begin with a degree in Construction Management or Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Architectural, etc). Others work their way up from the trades or on-site roles. While timelines and titles may vary, this is a common path:
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Field Engineer
0 to 2 years
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Project Engineer
2 to 6 years
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Assistant PM
4 to 8 years
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Project Manager
6 to 10 years
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Senior PM
10+ years
While becoming a Construction Project Manager is accomplished through a wide variety of paths, the most common places to start are earning a degree from a traditional college, attending a trade school to get started in a trade to work your way up to becoming a Project Manager, or starting as an apprentice in a trade. Find out more about how to become an apprentice in the trades: How to Become an Apprentice
FAQs
Here we provide the answers to the many frequently asked questions regarding how to become a construction project manager, what it pays, and what to expect from the career.
How many years does it take to become a construction project manager?
The career path for a construction manager has many routes. A fair generalization is to expect it to take 4 to 7 years. This may include college, trade school, or an apprenticeship, then gaining on-the-job experience to rise through the ranks.
Can construction project managers make $100,000 a year?
Yes. Most Construction Project Managers make at least $100,000 a year. Senior Project Managers earn well over the $100k mark. Even Assistant Construction Project Managers can earn a six-figure salary depending on their location, the company, and the nature of the work involved. If you’re looking for a high-paying trade, this fits the bill and pays all the bills, too!
Why are construction project managers paid so much?
It’s a complex job with lots of responsibilities, including managing plans, schedules, teams, safety, and budgets. There’s a lot of potential for things to go wrong, so a capable construction project manager who keeps everything going right is worth their hefty salary.
What is the fastest way you can become a construction project manager?
Getting a 4-year degree in Construction Management or Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Architectural, etc.) is usually the fastest way to become a construction project manager. However, plenty of people work their way up, starting off as an apprentice in a trade and proving themselves as they take on more and more responsibility. This takes at minimum 5 years, but more commonly a decade or more (though it varies widely depending on the company you work for), but you’d be getting paid the whole time without any student loan debt, so this alternative path has its upside despite taking longer.
Are construction project managers still in demand?
Yes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the need for construction project managers to grow by 9 percent by the year 2033. Construction is a strong career field with many opportunities to manage new builds for businesses, public use, residential houses, and more.
Is it too late to become a construction project manager in your 30s or 40s?
Not at all. But where you are in your career makes a huge difference in how long it will take for you to become a construction project manager. If you are currently working in a trade, you may be able to work your way up based on your experience and reputation with your employer. Most people will need to earn a degree in construction management or engineering to start a career as a construction project manager, but it’s not too late to do that in your 30s or 40s.
Will construction project managers be replaced by AI?
No. However, AI will automate many office tasks, freeing up construction project managers to focus on what they do best: communicating. All of the planning and strategizing it takes to successfully manage a construction project all comes down to communication. Being a leader who can easily get others to understand their vision (and stay on task and within budget) is essential to this job, not something AI is capable of doing.
Is being a construction project manager a hard career?
It is a challenging career, for sure, but it’s not as physically demanding as many trade jobs. The majority of the job is spent communicating with crew members and clients, managing plans and budgets, and ensuring safety. It is necessary to be at the jobsite often, so you’re on your feet a lot, but being a construction project manager is more demanding mentally than physically.
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