Why We Love It
-
$97,510Potential Avg. Salary
-
4.8%Job Growth Rate
-
Growing DemandJob Outlook
-
Don't Take Work HomeCareer Attribute
A construction foreman or manager is in charge of supervising, leading, and managing a construction crew while working on a job. The foreman ensures job materials are available to conduct work, ensures work is completed properly, and ensures job site and construction workers adhere to safety protocols.
Recommended Schools
What is a Construction Foreman or Manager?
The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in construction foreman or manager roles:
- Supervise, coordinate, and manage a crew of construction workers who’ve been assigned to a specific job
- Ensure materials needed to complete a job are delivered and available when needed
- Train new construction workers and explain project specifications to workers to ensure jobs are completed correctly
- Oversee overall job site safety by monitoring setup of the job site and use of equipment by construction workers
A Day in the Life
Construction foremen or managers are typically senior-level construction workers who were promoted into management roles because of their advanced knowledge and their leadership abilities. They are responsible for overseeing all construction workers that have been assigned to a specific job or project. In many ways, construction foremen are responsible for the success or failure of the project because they’re accountable for monitoring workers and work progress and reporting issues to leadership.
Construction foremen and managers supervise all construction workers. This requires them to handle many different responsibilities: they train new employees, explain project details and specifications to workers to ensure projects are completed per designs, and make sure safety protocols are being observed. The construction foreman makes sure employees work as safely as possible to prevent worksite accidents that could harm workers or members of the public that are near job sites.
Construction foremen and managers also orchestrate the work conducted on a project. They make sure materials are delivered and available when needed so work can progress smoothly. They evaluate ongoing and completed work to ensure safety of structures/repairs and accuracy of completed work to project specifications. They also report progress and issues to company leadership in order to secure more budget when needed, request overtime, or resolve project impediments.
Typical Work Schedule
Most construction foreman and manager jobs are full-time. Because many jobs are outdoors, they generally work day shift, Monday through Friday. Overtime may be required occasionally when projects are behind schedule, or for projects that need to be expedited.
Career Progression
- Early Career: Construction Helper, Construction Worker
- Mid-Career: Construction Foreman, Construction Manager
- Late Career: General Contractor, Assessor, Estimator
Typical Employers
Construction foremen and managers typically work for construction companies such as steel erectors and real estate developers. Foremen in specialized fields may also work for carpenters, electricians, and plumbers—more commonly for specialized companies that work on large, commercial projects that require multiple workers to complete projects.
Recommended Schools
How To Become a Construction Foreman or Manager
Postsecondary education certificates or degrees are not required to work as a construction foreman or managers. In general, most foremen start off as construction workers and perform that role for many years before being promoted into foreman or manager roles. Companies typically look for experience, work ethic, adherence to best practices and safety protocols, and leadership skills when appointing new foreman and managers, so hard-working construction workers are most likely to land foreman positions.
As a construction manager, you’ll be in charge of training new employees, so formal training in certain fields or for certain equipment can be useful. For example, employees may need to become licensed by the state to handle hazardous materials or operate certain heavy equipment. Many foremen obtain these licenses and certifications themselves as construction workers in order to be able to complete all tasks that are required on the job site.
Some training and licensure can be earned on the job, but many aspiring construction foreman opt to attend trade or vocational schools to become certified. Some employers may even pay for employees to attend the training, especially if the worker is someone they’re considering for a management position later in their career. Programs may be available to certify construction workers for operating heavy equipment, handling hazardous materials, and may even teach leadership skills needed for foremen.
Construction Foreman or Manager Salary Data
We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.
National Anual Salary
Low Range
$66,680Average
$97,510High Range
$155,200National Hourly Wage
Low Range
$32/hrAverage
$47/hrHigh Range
$75/hrHow do Construction Foreman or Manager salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Construction Foreman or Manager's can make an average annual salary of $97,510, or $47 per hour. On the lower end, they can make $66,680 or $32 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.
Salary Rankings And Facts
#72 Nationally for All Careers
Above Average Salary Nationally
Programs and Degrees
Here are the most common degrees for becoming a Construction Foreman or Manager. a is usually recommended and specifically a degree or coursework that prepares you for the particular field, see below.
Highest Education Among Construction Foreman or Managers
- 0.8% Doctorate
- 5.3% Masters
- 27.9% Bachelors
- 8.5% Associates
- 24.3% College
- 26.3% High School
- 6.9% Less than High School
Job Growth Projections and Forecast
2014 Total Jobs
373,2002024 Est. Jobs
391,100Job Growth Rate
4.8%Est. New Jobs
17,900How does Construction Foreman or Manager job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of 17,900 jobs for a total of 391,100 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a 4.8% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Above Average.
Growth Rankings And Facts
#445 Nationally for All Careers
Above Avg. Growth Nationally
What Companies Employ The Most Construction Foreman or Managers
| Industry | Current Jobs | New Jobs Needed | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 142,000 | 6,700 | 7% |
| Nonresidential building construction | 55,500 | -2,000 | -2% |
| Residential building construction | 33,800 | 2,200 | 2% |
