Construction Manager Career Assessment
Leading building projects from plan to finish
Welcome
Construction managers plan and run building projects. They keep the work safe, on time, and on budget.
This is a leadership job in construction. You will explore whether it fits you and how people get there.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Construction Manager?
A construction manager is the leader of a building project. They plan the schedule, set the budget, hire and guide the crews, order materials, and talk with owners, architects, and inspectors. They may run homes, schools, roads, farm buildings, or oil and gas sites.
The Reality: This is a management job, not an entry-level job. Most people get here with a bachelor's degree in construction management, or after many years working in a trade and moving up. The phone rings a lot. Delays, weather, and cost problems land on your desk. Summer is the busy season in North Dakota, with long hours.
Your Responsibilities:
- Plan the project schedule
- Set and track the budget
- Hire and guide subcontractors and crews
- Order materials and equipment
- Keep the job site safe
- Meet with owners, architects, and engineers
- Make sure work passes inspections
- Solve problems when things go wrong
You turn plans on paper into real buildings.
A Day in the Life
6:30 AM — Arrive at the job site. Walk the site to check safety and progress.
7:00 AM — Short safety meeting with the crews.
8:00 AM — The concrete truck is late. Call the supplier and move the crew to another task.
10:00 AM — Meet the owner and architect to review a change to the plans.
12:00 PM — Lunch at your desk in the site trailer while you answer emails.
1:00 PM — Check the budget. Price the change order the owner asked for.
3:00 PM — Walk through with the city inspector.
4:30 PM — Update the schedule and plan tomorrow's work.
A busy mix of site walks, meetings, phone calls, and planning.
Training in North Dakota
Most need a degree or many years of trade experience. There are two main roads. One is college. The other is working your way up from a trade to foreman, then to manager. Many employers now want a bachelor's degree.
Training Pathways:
- Bachelor's degree (4 years): A B.S. in construction management, plus summer internships with builders. This is the most common path today.
- Two-year degree, then work up: An associate degree in construction management technology can lead to jobs as an assistant, estimator, or project coordinator. Many later move up or transfer to a bachelor's program.
- Up from the trades (many years): Start as a carpenter, electrician, or other trade worker. Become a foreman or superintendent, then a manager. This takes many years and strong leadership.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- North Dakota State University (Fargo) — Construction Management, B.S. (accredited by the American Council for Construction Education); includes a required business minor
- North Dakota State College of Science (Wahpeton) — Construction Management Technology, AAS (69 credits; some classes online); can transfer toward a bachelor's degree
- Bismarck State College (Bismarck) — Construction Management Technology, AAS (on campus)
- North Dakota State University — Master's and graduate certificate options in construction management for people who already have a degree
Before You Start: High school diploma or GED. Good math, reading, and computer skills. Strong people skills. Work experience in construction helps a lot.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, tools, work boots, or exam fees. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Registered apprenticeships let you earn a paycheck while you learn — see jobsnd.com/job-seeker/apprenticeships for ND programs.
Certification & Licensing
No personal license is required, but some credentials help. North Dakota does not license construction managers as people. But a construction company that takes jobs over $4,000 must hold a contractor license from the ND Secretary of State. Safety training and certifications can help you get hired and move up.
Licenses and Credentials:
- ND contractor license (for the business) — required for jobs over $4,000. Class A, B, C, or D, based on job size. Needs liability insurance and workers' comp.
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction — safety training that many employers expect of supervisors
- Construction Manager-in-Training (CMIT) — an entry credential from the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA). No experience needed, only a signature of support.
- Certified Construction Manager (CCM) — an advanced credential from CMAA. With a construction management bachelor's degree, you need 4 years of in-charge experience first.
The Exams: The CCM exam has 175 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours. You need 67% to pass. CMIT has a final online assessment.
Cost: ND contractor license: $100 (Class D) to $450 (Class A) to start. CMIT: $130 ($80 for CMAA members). CCM: $450 application ($350 members) plus $300 exam. Prices change, so check first.
Keeping It Current: ND contractor licenses renew every year by March 1. The CCM renews every 3 years with training or volunteer points.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Construction Manager Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $30.51–$37.56/hour ($63,470–$78,120/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $49.07/hour ($102,070/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $62.97–$81.04/hour ($130,980–$168,570/year)
What that means: This is one of the best-paying jobs in construction. New assistants and coordinators start lower. Managers who run big projects earn at the top. ND pay is a bit below the national median of about $55 an hour.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 1,350 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 1,500 (about 11% growth). Expect about 120 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 9% growth — much faster than average.
Outlook: Very good. About 120 openings a year in North Dakota, with growth faster than most jobs.
Who Hires in ND: General contractors, home builders, road and bridge builders, specialty contractors, energy and oil companies, school districts, hospitals, and government agencies.
Work Setting: Split between the job site and an office or site trailer. Outdoors in all weather. Long days in the summer building season. Some travel between sites, especially in western ND.
Physical Demands: Moderate. Walking job sites, climbing stairs and ladders, and standing in heat and cold. Less heavy lifting than trade work. Lots of phone and computer time.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 11-9021); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Assistant Project Manager — Learn the ropes under a senior manager.
Path 2: Project Manager — Run whole projects on your own.
Path 3: Superintendent — Lead the crews in the field.
Path 4: Cost Estimator — Figure out what jobs will cost.
Path 5: Operations Manager or Owner — Run a construction company.
Path 6: Owner's Representative — Watch over projects for a school, hospital, or city.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Very strong pay
- You lead people and projects
- You can see what you built
- Growing job field in ND
- Every project is different
- Many ways to move up
What's Hard:
- Usually needs a degree or many years of experience
- Long hours in building season
- High stress with deadlines and budgets
- You get the calls when things go wrong
- Outdoor work in all weather
- Lots of people to manage
Be Honest: Are you ready for a 4-year degree or years of trade work first? Can you handle stress, deadlines, and lots of phone calls? Do you like leading people?