re: project managers for construction companies in BR

In commercial, they just about call anyone who graduated from college and has been working a couple of years a "project manager"

Hey guys, I'm a project manager! I'm in charge of the drywall subcontractor!

Uh, no you're not.


Makes the rest of us look bad

Lot of bullshite in this thread. Lol.

07 CM Graduate. I've spent 10 years in commercial construction, last 7 in Project Management. Salary ranges mid $40k on graduation to $80ish with 10 years. There are no commercial GCs paying $100k + in BR.

As a PM, you are responsible for :
- setting up the project budget and preliminary schedule
- writing scopes of work for subcontractors
- buying out the project (some GCs have estimating/ purchasing Dept handle this, but you're still scoping work)
- all contract administration, owner billings (sometime sub billings)
- scoping, assembling, submission of change orders
- cost controlling and forecasting
- general project oversight, supporting superintendent in the field, making sure the jobs on schedule
- babysitting subs and resolving contractual issues
- close out and turnover at the end of a job.

I've also run equipment, pressure washed parking lots, repaired doors, etc to get work done. You do what you have to to meet schedule. It's a lot of work, long hours, and not a lot of compensation.

Industrial is so different. There's an entire department to do what I did by myself.

I wish we spent more time on oversight and support. It's insane to expect one person to handle the workloads on multiple project that is common in commercial. I mean, asking a guy to work 10-12 hrs a day and then weekends just to tread water while expecting him to be available 24/7 via mobile is insane and breeds inefficiency. It's no wonder why people get burnt out. It's the reason why I've kept 2 cell phones so when I go on vacation, my work phone stays at home.

But margins are so small in the industry it's really difficult to take risks with personnel. At least in a market like BR. And schedules continue to get more and more unrealistic.

Thinking of making a industry to a PM role but not to keen on having to take a pay cut.

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an associates degree in CM

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Just started this. Looking for an entry level position, just trying to figure out how in the frick im going to take daytime classes at 30 years old needing a full time job.

I would have thought you would have an easy time finding something. I guess Trump winning doesn't help your cause.

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Maybe not in BR, but certainly so in the NO market, both sides of the lake.

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Not for PMs, and definitely not on the north shore.

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A qualified, experienced, and educated Superintendent can easily make six figures in this market.

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PM Healthcare Construction, Dallas
120k/yr + bonus (15k-50kyr)

I put in time during buyout, a bi-weekly OAC, and an hour to bill once a month. Otherwise, Im really doing actual work about 10hrs/wk. my assistant handles most of the rest.

Have a PMP but no one cares and it definitely doesn't affect my pay.

If I could give a prospective PM advice I would say find a niche and run with it, it will make you more valuable. Also, if you can maintain an edge with subcontractors/suppliers and a little polish with clients and developers, you'll be better off than 75% of the guys doing this.

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Salary ranges mid $40k on graduation to $80ish with 10 years. There are no commercial GCs paying $100k + in BR.

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Then I think I'm doing damn well for myself as a low voltage wiring op manager. I've thought about jumping over to the GC side of things but not for what is obviously less money and a hell of a lot more hours.

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In other industries such as industrial and heavy civil, over 100k is easily made with about 10 years of experience.

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This. I am in pipeline construction and was a PM for about 15 years. My company has hired several CM degree kids, some from LSU, that we start out as Project Engineers. They are basically the grunts for the PM. They will stay in that role and move forward to a PM role if they have a clue, have a good work ethic, and can get along with their PM, upper management, and the guys in the field. However, it's a little rough for the CM guys that have zero field or hands on pipeline experience. I don't know if it's our particular field or what but more than half of the CM guys we hire with little to no field background wash out as Project Engineers. In fact, I try not to even hire a CM person without having spent some time on a pipeline ROW.