Construction Supervisors

Construction supervisors oversee skilled and unskilled workers at construction sites. Construction supervisors ensure the workers efficiently use materials and equipment and their time. Supervisors of construction and extraction workers set priorities and delegate tasks. They plan and schedule work and keep records of the progress made on the site.

Some of the common job titles include construction superintendent, building construction superintendent, building contractor, building construction contractor, carpentry supervisor and construction foreman.

Construction supervisors report to site superintendents who oversee all of the crews on a construction job. On small construction jobs a supervisor, known as a working supervisor, works alongside the construction crew. With large construction projects, supervisors spend a lot of time with management activities.

They monitor the working conditions of the site and need to be aware of problems that occur and resolve them. Construction superintendents need to take actions and establish and enforce procedures to reduce the level of danger at a work site.

Construction supervisors need to be able to interpret blueprints and plans. They also provide advice to workers regarding how to perform specific tasks. They sometimes direct the training of new employees. Supervisors are typically experts in their craft.

Responsibilities

  • Keep records of the materials used for the construction job
  • Report on costs, safety and personnel
  • Ensure safety rules are adhered to by construction workers
  • Keep the project on schedule
  • Review company rules and policies with workers
  • Acquire knowledge about union contracts and procedures
  • Meet with union representatives to create solutions regarding worker complaints
  • Discuss the project with superintendents

Job Characteristics

Supervisors of construction and extraction workers should have good communication and interpersonal skills. They need to be able to give clear directions. Construction supervisors spend most of their time on the job site and are typically the last to leave the site each day. They are unable to work in harsh weather. Construction jobs are often short-term, thus supervisors may experience lulls in employment.

Employment Outlook

Employment of construction managers is forecasted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to increase by 17 percent from 2008 to 2018 which is faster than average for all occupations. The increase in demand for construction managers will probably increase the demand for construction supervisors.

The desire to make buildings more energy efficient will create more jobs for construction superintendents that are involved with retrofitting buildings. More demand for their services may occur due to replacing portions of the country's infrastructure including roads, bridges and water and sewer pipes.

Construction supervisors may move up to site superintendent positions or become contractors. The condition of the local economy is a significant factor regarding the job growth for construction supervisors in a particular area. Government spending on construction projects also has an effect on the number of construction supervisor jobs. In addition, the median annual salary of first-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers in 2008 was $58,140.

Education, Certification, and Licensing

Employers seek those that have experience and skills in construction trades and leadership ability. The majority of construction supervisors are former union members that have moved up through the construction trade.

Construction supervisors often begin their careers as apprentices and then become experienced craft workers before acquiring a supervisor position. This path allows them to be sensitive to the issues and complaints of construction workers and they acquire knowledge regarding union negotiations and grievance procedures.

A lot of construction supervisors do not have a college degree, however an increasing number of employees are seeking candidates that have some college training. Supervisors need to have a comprehensive knowledge of construction. Primarily through experience, they learn how the various jobs at a construction site should be performed.

Resources

Major Employers

The top job providing sectors are building equipment contractors, nonresidential building construction, specialty trade contractors; foundation, structure and building exterior contractors; and residential building construction.

Schools for Supervisors Of Construction And Extraction Workers are listed in the Browse Schools Section.

Supervisors Of Construction and Extraction Workers Skills

Below are the skills needed to be supervisors of construction and extraction workers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Skill NameImportanceCompetence
Active Listening3.883.88
Coordination3.883.75
Critical Thinking3.753.25
Speaking3.623.5
Management of Personnel Resources3.53.75

Supervisors Of Construction and Extraction Workers Abilities

Below are the abilities needed to be supervisors of construction and extraction workers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Ability NameImportanceCompetence
Oral Comprehension43.88
Oral Expression3.884
Problem Sensitivity3.883.25
Information Ordering3.753.12
Near Vision3.753.38

Supervisors Of Construction and Extraction Workers Knowledge

Below are the knowledge areas needed to be supervisors of construction and extraction workers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Knowledge AreaImportanceCompetence
Production and Processing3.934.42
Building and Construction3.884.68
Customer and Personal Service3.844.84
Administration and Management3.794.2
Public Safety and Security3.713.97

Supervisors Of Construction and Extraction Workers Work activities

Below are the work activities involved in being supervisors of construction and extraction workers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work ActivityImportanceCompetence
Getting Information4.323.96
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.14.64
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others4.084.72
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material4.033.9
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work4.034.72

Supervisors Of Construction and Extraction Workers Work styles

Below are the work styles involved in being supervisors of construction and extraction workers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work StyleImportance
Dependability4.67
Attention to Detail4.43
Leadership4.38
Cooperation4.33
Adaptability/Flexibility4.26

Metro Areas Sorted by Total Employment for
Supervisors Of Construction and Extraction Workers

Listed below are the 10 largest metro areas based on the total number of people employed in Supervisors Of Construction and Extraction Workers jobs , as of 2019

   
Metro AreaTotal EmploymentAnnual Mean Salary
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land22,550$72,000
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim18,320$82,870
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington16,620$64,090
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale12,620$67,300
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach12,260$66,550
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell11,650$67,990
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue9,850$92,420
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood9,300$76,290
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward8,420$99,580
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford7,850$62,270

Compare Total Employment & Salaries for Construction Supervisors

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Employment
Salary

Total employment and salary for professions similar to construction supervisors

Source : 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov; O*NET® 24.3 Database, O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, Employment & Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, onetonline.org

We have some additional detailed pages at the state level for Supervisors Of Construction and Extraction Workers.

Numbers in parentheses are counts of relevant campus-based schools in the state; online schools may also be available.