Describe the Job of a Building Contractor
Building contractors, also known as general contractors and project managers, oversee the construction of building projects. They may be responsible for designing, planning, organizing and implementing the construction of apartment buildings, civic government buildings, homes, offices or any other type of construction project. They negotiate their management fees with building owners and then hire and manage specialized laborers to complete the project.
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Responsibilities
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Building contractors bring their knowledge and proficiency of building management to a job and oversee the construction procedure. They manage the meticulous details and logistics of getting materials, equipment and laborers to the construction site in an efficient and properly organized manner. They ensure that the project is being constructed according to the local safety and building codes. A great deal of their time is spent planning a project, negotiating costs and fees with laborers and building owners, filing construction permits and arranging construction inspectors to inspect the building project.
Education Requirements
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To be competitive in the field of construction management, building contractors should obtain a bachelor’s degree in construction science or other similar degree. Larger construction companies that oversee the construction of complex projects generally require a bachelor’s degree for employment, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For construction manager and building contractors interested in building conventional homes and small business projects, construction experience, an associate degree or a combination of the two may be sufficient. Some states in the U.S. only require building contractors to achieve a passing score on a state administered exam to acquire a building contractor’s license. A few states in the U.S. allow individuals to act as their own building contractor when managing the construction of their personal house.
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Other Skills
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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 61 percent of building contractors are self employed. It is beneficial to obtain financial record keeping, business management and marketing skills. Building contractors spend a great deal of a time negotiating and communicating with owners and laborers. It is valuable to develop excellent communication skills. Building contractors must also possess a thorough understanding of building procedure and materials.
Job Outlook
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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 all construction managers, which includes building contractors, held 551,000 jobs. Job growth in this field is expected to occur at a rate of 14 percent to 19 percent from 2008 to 2018. This is faster than the national average when compared to all jobs in the U.S. Job growth is expected as a result of an increasing population in the U.S. and the resulting increase in home and business development.
Job Salary
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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, all construction manager jobs, which includes building contractors, earned a median annual salary of $82,330 in 2009. The best paid positions as a building contractor in 2008 were in the field of nonresidential contracting. In 2009, building contractors made a median hourly wage of $39.58.
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