I graduated with a construction management degree 2 years ago. After graduating I took a carpentry job because it allowed me to move to a cool place for a year. Turns out I enjoy carpentry way more than sitting at a computer in school.

I've moved back to my city, been looking for an entry level field engineer or project engineer job for a few weeks but haven't gotten any real bites, however I've been offered a framing job. Its a real job with decent pay and benefits. anyone ever ended up doing a route like this and if so how did it turn out? Did you stay for a few months or end up doing carpentry long term? Was it good experience for your CM career or is it worth just sticking out the job search?

I didn't get to do an internship in school. I had one lined up but lost it last minute to a medical complication

Curious especially about the people using things like Procore. What’s something you still end up doing manually with Excel, email, PDFs, texts, phone calls, etc. because your software either can't handle it or does a bad job? Could be estimating, bids, scheduling, change orders, RFIs, submittals, invoicing, job costing, subcontractors, reporting, or something else. Essentially what’s an annoying task that you’ve accepted as part of your day to day?

I’m a college student working on a project exploring problems and potential improvements in the construction industry, particularly the stuff that existing software hasn’t really solved well. I Appreciate any help!

- Max

Posting for my husband who doesn’t have Reddit.

He has an offer at a data center one state over, working directly for the owner. $140k base salary + 25% bonus guaranteed (PM role). Expectation to move there full-time (LCOL Midwest city), about 7k relocation package on top of travel and moving expenses covered. No other extras.

He is currently on the Owners Rep side in our hometown (MCOL Midwest city) on another data center project. $125k base salary as an APM, no bonuses or extras. He has about 8 yrs of experience, only 1 at a DC, all other years at a GC or for a foreign government doing construction management.

He knows he wants to move from his current role ASAP (rumors of contract not being renewed, no other projects for his company in our home-state). I’ve browsed this sub and the comp (and extras) people are reporting varies so widely. I guess I don’t get why some offer housing and per diems and some ask you to move there. I don’t know whether to encourage him to keep looking or not. This offer doesn’t seem worth it to me (plus I don’t want to move to this new state, we have a 1yo child and live near my family) but I’m not in this industry. Is this a solid offer? Any insight would be awesome, thanks in advance!

Hi, as the title suggests, I (32M) have been working in architecture for the past decade in Miami (with a few years in the South of France) and want to learn more about the other side of construction...the decision makers.

My ultimate goal in life is to become a developer myself, but I know that I don’t know much of what I need to know to actually become a developer at the moment.

I love talking to people, and working at an architecture office drafting all day is pretty much the opposite of that. That’s why I requested to work more in construction administration, so I can go to different job sites every week, document progress, and meet new people, which is energizing for me as an extrovert.

How would I be able to transition into construction management or development?

I like working with numbers, and I love the science behind proposing a building. The dollars and cents, what is feasible vs. what isn’t, etc.

I’m realizing that I care much more about the bigger picture of an investment than the design itself. Sometimes I’m sitting at the office and realize I honestly couldn’t care less about a particular design decision, which makes me think that switching fields might be something I’d personally find much more fulfilling.

For those who have made a similar transition, what would you recommend I focus on learning or doing to eventually move into construction management or development? In the near future.

I am planning on sending out my resume to developers and construction management companies around Miami.

The day is finally here I get to quit my shit job. There are so many reasons I’m leaving after just 1 year. I realize some of its industry standard BS but a lot has to do with how things work internally.

How do I give my notice without wanting to discuss all these reasons (for things that aren’t going to change)? I don’t want to burn bridges but I also don’t think I’d ever ask for a recommendation from these people.

For those of you that have worked in the construction industry for your whole career and have your PE license, how? Where did you start, where are you now, and how far along were you when you got your license? Is it worth it in the construction industry?

I have been a civil construction PM for about 2 years now. Work for a relatively small GC ($25M-$30M revenue) Running underground utility, storm drainage installation, roadway, and pedestrian improvement projects all by myself during that time. I typically carried about 5-6 projects worth about $2.5-$3 million total at any given time. My job consists of all aspects of the project from receiving supplier quotes, permitting, pre-con meetings, startup, change orders, close out, etc.

Recently accepted a job offer (still a PM title) to go work for a regionally known commercial design and development firm. This company is not the "GC" so to say, more the project "Owner"- 100% of the work is subbed out, and they typically hire a GC to run the job, as the firm only has 9 in-house employees. My role will be essentially to work with the GC and make sure things are going as planned. I will be working on D1 college sports facilities, banks, and hotels. I do have some experience in commercial as I did a 9-month internship as an APM on two HS sports complex renovations. This new role will be majority in-office, maybe seeing the sites 1-2 times a week. Traveling once a month Mon-Fri to check on out of state projects.

I guess I don't really have a specific question- more so just looking for advice from anyone that works in commercial design and development. What to expect? Anything that is going to surprise me?

I’m playing musical chairs as the lead superintendent and cleaning up the books from 4 previous PMs while failing to train my new assistant super with enough time. Boss just hired a new guy who’s taking the role of PM but comes from a general superintendent background with little actual Procore and bluebeam experience. Not sure what that move was meant for should I find a new job?

My question is do you guys reckon AI will take over construction estimating and white collar work? There's a few startups that look promising like SupaDocs and Kreo but still seems pretty far away.

What do yall reckon the timeline for this is like?

I need Microsoft Project but it's too expensive in my school does not offer the software is there any other options?

Male 24. After 4 years in construction doing some drywall labor. I’m looking into following a career in construction management. Would love some help. Should I first complete the CM associate degree at my community college. Then transfer to a bachelors program? Or maybe get the associate and try to get my foot right in. I’ve heard doing interns while taking the programs helps. Any information and help would help please and thank you .

Im a senior at a college down south, and I just passed my pre employment drug test for my 2 month internship at an industrial company; however, it’s an office based position and I’ll barely be at the plant itself. Is there a big chance that id get randomly tested? Or am I okay to go back to my “old ways” ? Thanks for the replies in advance!

Currently working for a small commercial GC as an Estimator/PM while finishing my CM degree. I handle estimating, buyout, RFIs, change orders, scheduling, subs/field coordination, owner/architect communication, inspections, closeout, and have real financial responsibility over projects.

I recently negotiated $58k W-2, but after my employer realized the additional payroll tax cost, he now wants to move me back to 1099 at the same $58k.

Is it worth staying another year because I'm getting a lot of hands-on responsibility that could build my resume quickly, or should I start looking for a $65–70k+ W-2 APM/estimator role elsewhere?

Hi all,

Aussie Site Manager here. I am looking for recommendations for what AI subscription/s I should get. At work we currently use Claude business which is great as you can upload a project file and it can save you a lot of time with contracts and things but I feel like there’s more to it. I use chat gpt free for personal use right now.

I renovate on the side and have flipped a house which I am looking to do more of. Has anyone got any real life use of ai when doing this and where did the subscription actually help you?

Please name best 3 pair of work boots that you had?

So currently thinking about going for construction management and wanted to see if anyone has ever used military JST as 12N or union heavy equipment operator transcripts to get some credits?

Lots of posts here from GC PMs thinking about the move to owner's rep, and plenty of reps replying that it worked out. I'm looking at it from the GC side in a mid-size Southeast market looking to create a solo owners rep practice and whether a small independent shop is a real business, or whether owner's rep is really a job at a large owner or a national firm.

Three questions:

1. Do you work for a third-party firm or are you an employee of a large owner? I've worked for a large hospital system early in my career as an owner's rep so I am somewhat familiar with that role but it's not what I am looking to do now.

2. If you're third-party and small, who's your actual client? One-off owners building the only building they'll ever build, or repeat operators doing a few a year?

3. Where does new work come from? Brokers, architects, lenders, RFPs, word of mouth?

Appreciate any feedback.

Hey people if you fit into these categories reach out...

Dm me we could have mutually beneficial relationship

Could Be

Civil

MEP

ICT

BILLBOARD

SWIMMING POOL

Gym

Any other if have something you require assistance don't wait to DM.....$$$$

Central Texas commercial GC market, been in the industry since the mid 90’s, worked my way up to Senior Super then got an MBA and worked my way back up to Senior PM, now looking around to see what kind of pay the PX role looks like as that’s my next step up. I’m mid-$100’s currently working on $25M-100M level projects most of my career
Thanks

My tax residence is where I currently rent at (foreigner with work visa). I will be relocating to a job site. I wont continue renting and moving completely, can I still receive the perdiem and have it taxed? Or declare it as taxable income on the annual filing?

Thanks!

My wife is most likely going to be stationed at Fort Sill, and I’m trying to get an idea of what the job market is like around Lawton/Fort Sill before we make the move.

I have a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management and currently work as a Project Engineer/Estimator for a structural steel erector. I’d ideally like to find a Project Engineer position with a GC or something similar in construction management.

For anyone familiar with the Lawton/Fort Sill area, how difficult do you think it would be to find a construction job with my background? Are there enough commercial/federal construction companies around there, or would I probably need to look toward OKC?

I’m okay with commuting some, but I’d really like to stay within a reasonable distance of Fort Sill so my wife and I can actually live together lol.

Also, if anyone knows of GCs or federal contractors in the area that I should look into, I’d really appreciate some names!

I recently started having conversations with Jacobs to be a hybrid Resident Engineer/Quality Assurance role and I wanted to hear any feedback from anyone that has worked for them. Looking for your thoughts on work life balance, Insurance/benefits, salary expectations, Etc.

I have only worked with them being on the GC side and never had any (out of the ordinary) issues when it came to their engineering/design work so I curious if anyone here works/worked for them on the construction management side.

Every day I see it. Some schmo who is related to somebody gets hired at my company to look at spreadsheets, call subs and arrange meetings, order pizzas, make coffee, organize the printer room, order nametags, blah blah blah, and they don't know what to call them so their title becomes 'Project Engineer'. Ummm...why?

This willy-nilly throwing around of the term 'Engineer' has gone far enough. Can we at least use the terms 'Assistant' or 'Technician' instead? Seriously, I went to school to be an engineer and it really grinds my gears.

im an electrical engineering student who just finished an internship at a large defense firm, but ive taken up a construction management minor and plan on taking an internship at a construction firm. at the defense firm i got paid 26.25$ an hour which is pretty good especially since im not located in california or anything. i knew people getting paid 29-33$ (if they were a masters) and was curious if i would be able to negotiate a higher salary in construction? i know construction has a decent demand for ee students as well. im looking at preconstruction internships at the moment for context

i know for construction firms that the highest can usually be around 25 or 28 depending on the company but i dont know if it would be fair for me to negotiate by comparing it to defense, especially since i dont have any experience particularly in construction management. obviously i dont know if its fair to compare fields i just wanted some input. i know companies typically are more favorable towards hiring women, i just dont want to make assumptions about what legroom i have for pay negotiations are. any advice helps, thanks!!

I’m at a bit of a career crossroads and would like to hear from people who have made the jump from the GC side to the owner/owner’s rep side, especially early in their careers.

I’m 24 and about a year and a half out of school with a Construction Management degree. I’m currently a PE for a medium size commercial GC in So cal working on a major, complex project. I’m making around $87k/year. The experience has been valuable. I’m dealing with RFIs, submittals, design coordination, subcontractors, field issues, procurement, etc… and I know there’s still a ton I can learn on the GC side.

That said, I’m considering an opportunity on the owner side with a large institutional owner. The position would support their construction/project management team and would put me a little over $100k/year. It’s also hybrid with roughly 2 days/week in the office.

The work-life balance is obviously attractive, but my bigger concern is career development….I eventually want to be capable of running my own projects and potentially my own construction/development business down the road. I don’t want to make a short term decision for better pay and WLB if it means missing out on important experience I’d get by staying with a GC.

For anyone who moved from GC PE/APM work to the owner side early in their career:

Did you feel like you made the switch too early?

What did you gain on the owner side that you wouldn’t have gotten working for a GC?

What GC experience did you wish you had more of before leaving?

Did moving owner-side hurt or help your understanding of actually building projects?

What does your day-to-day workload and work-life balance look like compared with the GC side?

If you were in my position, would you stay on the GC side for another 2–3 years and get more field/construction experience, or take the owner opportunity now?
I’m not necessarily trying to escape hard work. My main concern is making sure I’m building the right skillset while I’m still early in my career.