What are the Salary Ranges for Senior Project Managers and Project Directors?

Some of the higher paying and most rewarding construction careers are currently in demand. With the current labor shortage, vital positions such as Senior Project Managers and Project Directors are among the most needed in the construction industry. As commercial construction recruiters, we know the true construction salary ranges for construction jobs.  Salary ranges for Senior Project Managers and Project Directors vary according to region and other factors. Below are Construction Senior Project Manager salary ranges, Construction Project Director salary ranges, and Construction Project Executive salary ranges.

Construction Senior Project Manager

Senior Project Managers handle everything from plan review and financial projections to schedule creation and assuring work is completed and on time and on budget. Their contributions are essential to projects success since they work with everyone involved including the contractor and the client. Some additional responsibilities can include:

• Scheduling
• Design and plan review
• Technical support to construction team
• Assessing contractor bids
• Overseeing the progress of construction
• Managing scope and timing of the project
• Monitoring costs and project progress
• Aiding in the development of estimates

Candidates interested in becoming a Senior Project Manager or Project Director should consult with an expert construction recruiter about potential opportunities. A bachelor’s degree is often required for these roles. If your organization is struggling to attract and retain talent, you should review your construction salary ranges to ensure that they are competitive with the current market.

Construction Project Directors

Project Directors/Project Executives are the most senior project managers within a construction firm. They are the individuals that lead the largest projects within their organization. They are the face of the company in the owner’s eyes. In most cases, the Project Director is the main individual that is ultimately responsible for planning, organization, and leadership of the construction project. They maintain efficiency throughout the process.

In addition to a proven track record of success on previous projects, candidates interested in becoming Project Directors need thorough knowledge and sharp skills to set them apart from other project managers. Some additional job responsibilities include:

• Head up the entire project management team
• Coaching and guidance of the team
• Making sure the project comes in on time, within budget, and is run safely
• Keeping the owner happy

The most effective way to attract and retain Senior Project Managers and Project Directors is by providing them with a strong career track, a positive product culture, excellent communication with senior leadership competitive construction salaries and benefits. Due to the skilled labor shortage, hiring managers that collaborate with experienced, successful construction recruiters have the most success in landing the best candidates.

Construction Senior Project Manager Salary Ranges

*Salaries do not reflect bonuses. Percentile multiplied by 1000 reflects annual salary.

Senior Project Manager is typically responsible for projects in the range of $20 million to $100 million. Most have a minimum of 10 years’ experience. Due to the size, scale, and scope of their projects—they often have far more variables to manage. Their staffing levels are higher, and the position requires an increased level of expertise in order to successfully navigate the complexities of managing operation priorities, timeline, direction, and financial outcome.

Construction Project Executive Salary Ranges &
Construction Project Director Salary Ranges

*Salaries do not reflect bonuses. Percentile multiplied by 1000 reflects annual salary.

Project Executive/Project Director are typically responsible for projects in the range of $100 million to $250 Million. Most have a minimum of 10 to 15 years’ experience. Job responsibilities are similar to Senior Project Manager, but with increased responsibility. Managing budgets, timeline, increasing staff levels, and project complexities vary greatly when projects exceed the $100 million mark—requiring a specialized skillset, and a superior ability to manage multiple aspects of the project at once.

Construction Project Director Salary Ranges and
Construction Project Executive II Salary Ranges

*Salaries do not reflect bonuses. Percentile multiplied by 1000 reflects annual salary.

Project Director/Executive II are typically responsible for projects in excess of $250 million. Most have a minimum of 20 years’ experience. Job responsibilities are similar to Project Executive, but with increased levels of management and executive decision-making skills. Project Directors often have a junior team who is responsible for smaller segments of the project. However, the Project Director’s responsibility is to manage the ‘big picture’ or the entire project, including multiple budgets, timelines, connected relationships, and extended complexities of their high-budget project.

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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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