Construction Contractor Job Description

A construction contractor oversees crews working on commercial and residential buildings.

Construction contractors manage and coordinate residential or commercial building projects. They manage their own staff or farm out parts of the job to sub-contractors, but take final responsibility to see that it is completed on time and on budget.

Types

Construction contractors specialize in different parts of the industry. A general contractor is the manager over projects involving buildings, while civil engineering projects like bridges and roads require a contractor who works in that specialty. Construction jobs also involve sub-contractors who focus on parts of the process, like plumbing or electrical work. These contractors work under the direction of a general contractor and oversee just their part of the job.

Identification

Many contractors are the owners of their own business, while others work for developers in salaried positions. Self-employed contractors are involved in the development and planning of the projects on which they work and sometimes even have a financial stake in the project.

Considerations

Contractors typically have at least a bachelor's degree, if not a master's degree, in construction management or civil engineering. Some contractors work their way up through apprenticeships and on-the-job training, or get training through unions and industry associations. Salaries for self-employed contractors vary greatly. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2008, contractors who work for developers average about $80,000 per year.

References

• Burean of Labor Statistics: Construction Managers
• State University.com: General Contractor Job Description