re: project managers for construction companies in BR

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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.

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My son graduated in CM last year and started over $60k with per deim/Salary.

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government contracting

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All I needed to read.

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when I worked in the northeast

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Where cost of living was 3x's what is is in south La? Good for you.

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Because I'm the owner. Bitch

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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

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This is where the experienced guys I'm CM at LSU have a real issue with LSU's particular program.

Most of the instructors we have don't explain what the expectations are for an entry level CM grad. A lot of kids that have never worked in the field that graduate think they are going to get an office job working 40 hour weeks. Then they get out of school and after 6 months of working 5 and 6 10's they get burnt out. They job hop to find that "ideal job" that was preached about while they were being indoctrinated in undergrad.

That's just not the case. Fresh out of school, people are hiring for entry level field positions to get you that first hand experience. The guys that have field experience in the industry in my class collectively sit back and laugh at all the 21-22 year olds that talk about how they are going to get a job in an office working 4 10's.

That just isn't what the Industry is. LSU has a pretty solid program. However they really shite the bed when it comes to maintaining realistic job expectations because all they've talked about (in my last 4 years) is how the market is booming and the positions are there for the taking.

Hell, I just listened to a professor tell our class the other day that if we go to interview day and perform well your basically guaranteed 60-65k salaried plus perks. That's just flat wrong. Especially if you stick around BR.

I asked this on MT but didnt get much action.

I know its pretty standard that the feeder route/desire of a CM graduate is project management, but does anyone use the degree to intentionally go another direction like material or equipment sales, or is that viewed more like a fallback plan?

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that talk about how they are going to get a job in an office working 4 10's.

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Some projects actually do this btw.

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

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everyone who works for me above carpenter/foreman makes over 100K (thats only 4 ppl though). ive had a job listing open on ziprecruiter for another for months now and cant find shite

its an employee market like ive never seen

I guess it depends on what your interested in. By and large at lsu, the goal is some form of PM role. Some people do go into sales, either equipment or material. But, like any sales position, it's more a feast or famine gig. If that's something that would suit your tastes and you have sales experience I'd say go for it.

I wouldn't shite on anyone that chooses to go into sales over working for a contractor. You have the opportunity to make more money than me right out of school.

It's just like any job. If your good at it you will get paid. The benefit I can see to the sales route is you will probably work more regimented hours, plus you have the opportunity to move up quicker, get better perks, etc.

Then again, if you don't sell, you don't eat. I have done the whole service industry thing while in school. I'm ready to have a steady, set rate of pay.
Eta: spellcheck is a whore

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That's just not the case. Fresh out of school, people are hiring for entry level field positions to get you that first hand experience. The guys that have field experience in the industry in my class collectively sit back and laugh at all the 21-22 year olds that talk about how they are going to get a job in an office working 4 10's.

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This. I didn't graduate in CM or Engineering, nor have I had field experience, but I was very fortunate to land in Estimating at a very large industrial/EPC outfit. I had worked the previous 7 months doing systems engineering for E&I systems so I guess that helped a bit. I'd love to get into an E&I manager position down the line, as it's very lucrative.