As the demand for many different construction leadership positions like construction project managers continues to grow, a number of hiring managers are partnering with construction search firm to help them land top talent. The role of project manager is integral to the success of any company. Construction firms that lack skilled project managers typically result in higher employee turnover rates and increased costs. Hiring the right project managers upfront is a strategic investment that will ensure companies maintain their client relationships and a competitive edge with more projects completed successfully. Construction Salary Ranges for Project Managers vary by region. Below are Construction Project Engineer salary ranges and Assistant Construction Project Manager salary ranges, and Construction Project Manager salary ranges.
General contractors are looking for project manager candidates that have skills and expertise in the following areas:
- Planning and forecasting – PMs need to be able to accurately estimate the time and cost of a project using estimating and scheduling software.
- Resource allocation – One of the main goals of PMs is to distribute all labor and materials so that there are no shortages or overages that negatively impact both the schedule and the budget.
- Staffing – They ensure that their teams are adequately staffed at all times and confirm that they are completing their jobs effectively.
- Progress observation – PMs monitor the progress of their respective projects and respond to any changes or challenges they may encounter.
- Budget – PMs collaborate with project stakeholders the architects and engineers to create a reasonable budget.
- Delegation – The best PMs are aware each individual’s strengths and weaknesses so that they are able to effectively assign tasks.
- Communication – Having excellent communication skills is the foundation of any construction leadership position.
Companies that tend to struggle in hiring and retaining candidates for their most important positions are encouraged to assess how competitive their salaries are and if there’s room for improvement.
Avoid quick fixes; pay proper salaries and generous benefits upfront to retain top talent. Companies that focus more on building a strong retention program are able to maintain a competitive advantage versus those that don’t because they are able to build teams that have a long-term impact on their business goals. To learn what companies are doing to retain their top managers, reach out to Brian Binke directly.
Construction Project Engineer Salary Ranges and
Assistant Project Manager Salary Ranges
| Region | 20th Percentile | 80th Percentile | Mean | Median |
| Midwest | $67.3 | $93.7 | $84.4 | $84.4 |
| Mid-Atlantic | $73.4 | $103.8 | $92.3 | $88.8 |
| Northeast | $72.7 | $115.4 | $99.0 | $96.1 |
| Northwest | $77.8 | $104.0 | $67.0 | $93.8 |
| Southeast | $70.5 | $94.6 | $86.4 | $84.2 |
| Southwest | $72.7 | $95.7 | $89.0 | $87.6 |
*salaries do not reflect bonuses
Project Engineer/Assistant Project Manager is typically responsible for projects in the range of $5 to $15 million. Most have a minimum of 3 years’ experience. They often work as the lowest level of the project management team, and are responsible for the overall direction, supervision, and daily operations of the project. They are often the touchpoint between multiple parties, including subcontractors, owners, unions, and other key members of the construction team.
Construction Project Manager Salary Ranges
| Region | 20th Percentile | 80th Percentile | Mean | Median |
| Midwest | $84.7 | $116.5 | $105.5 | $103.9 |
| Mid-Atlantic | $83.9 | $122.2 | $107.2 | $103.2 |
| Northeast | $94.0 | $142.4 | $122.7 | $122.3 |
| Northwest | $91.6 | $126.7 | $112.5 | $110.1 |
| Southeast | $84.3 | $115.8 | $104.7 | $101.9 |
| Southwest | $87.2 | $116.1 | $105.9 | $104.1 |
*salaries do not reflect bonuses
Project Manager is typically responsible for projects in the range of $10 to $49 million. Most have between 5 and 10 years’ experience. Job responsibilities are somewhat similar to Project Engineer, with an increased level of accountability regarding the operation priorities, timeline, direction, and financial outcome.
The construction salary data generated above is compiled from multiple industry and salary sources, coupled with real-time data compiled by The Birmingham Group. As one of the leading recruiters in the nation, construction executive search firm, The Birmingham Group, interviews over 300 construction professionals each week.
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This is an exciting time in the world of construction. With this rapid turnaround over the past few years, many construction general contractors are being forced to reevaluate their construction salaries to stay competitive. We have compiled data from 4600+ individual construction management interviews performed by our staff.
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