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Construction projects are often too complicated. However, there are always two people on any construction site that you must have: first, the project manager and second, the superintendent. For the inexperienced, it does not look like there is much difference. But there is. We will explain in detail why you need both for a successful project. Short answer below:
Project managers manage projects from start to finish and take care of all the small details and ongoing problems. Superintendents are onsite supervisors who manage workers’ daily tasks and construction operations. Both work together to ensure the project is completed on time and within budget.
There are often 4 reasons why we need both project managers and superintendents:
First is safety, as superintendents ensure all onsite works are safe by directly managing workers and construction operations.
Second is that there is a gap in experience and skills between workers, engineers and project managers, which is why you need a superintendent and a project manager to breach those gaps in knowledge.
Third, you need a diplomatic approach in construction which project managers are excellent at by meeting the client’s expectations.
Finally, you can not start and finish a project without a coordinated plan that takes both project managers, who have a theoretical approach by setting schedules and superintendents, who have a realistic approach based on the resources available to finish a project.
In short, the above is the short answer. The long answer below includes detailed role, education, salary, work hours and job difficulty.
What Is The Role Of A Project Manager?
The project manager oversees the entire construction project from start to finish and sometimes might be managing several construction projects simultaneously.
You might see project managers on site from time to time, but the job is mostly offsite.
We can sum up the main tasks of a project manager into a few bullet points:
- Commercial: Project managers take care of the commercial side of the project by hiring contractors and negotiating future work with the client
- Project Budget: Project managers are in charge of allocating the budget to different construction activities, while project engineers are in charge of executing the project management plan.
- Project Timeline: Project managers create the project Gantt Chart and flow chart and break down the construction project into activities that ensure the most optimal critical path.
- Quality Work: Project managers maintain positive communication with project engineers to ensure that quality documents are completed.
This is, in general, the main task of a project manager. You can read more on those tasks in detail here: What Are The Daily Tasks Of A Project Manager?
What Is The Role Of A Superintendent?
The superintendent, also known as the foreman, manages the onsite project and daily activities. They manage workers and materials supply. They work closely with project managers, project engineers and site engineers.
Superintendents usually look after one construction site as they are very much involved in the project’s daily operations. Their presence is always required.
They are quite knowledgeable in construction work due to their years of working in the industry. They are in charge of hiring onsite workers and have the highest authority onsite.
Why Do We Need Both Project Manager & Superintendent For Every Project?
Project managers and superintendents do different things but share the same goal. Project managers manage the project from start to finish from a budget and timeline standpoint. The project manager has no time and experience to manage the project from an operation standpoint, where the superintendent comes in.
The superintendent work with project engineers, site engineer and workers to execute the project scope and finish the project. In most cases, project managers will be busy dealing with the client while the superintendent finishes the project onsite.
Who Has More Authority Project Managers Or Superintendents?
In short, project managers have authority above all. However, in most cases, superintendents have some authority on site and the daily construction operation. Superintendents can stop work if it seems unsafe or inconsistent with the design drawings. Both project managers can exercise their authority for the benefit of the project, but still, the project manager has the highest authority.
Education Requirements For Project Managers & Superintendents
Project managers can either have a degree in civil engineering or project management. Superintendents usually do not have any higher education degree a simple diploma usually suffice. Even if you do not have a degree, you can still be a superintendent; the same can not be said about project managers, as they must have a degree.
4 Differences Between Project Managers & Superintendents?
1- Superintendents Are Based Onsite; Project Engineers Can Work Anywhere
Superintendents are usually limited to one site and only work onsite, while project engineers have a dynamic work environment between office and site.
2- Superintendents Are Paid More Than Project Managers
Superintendents and project managers make around the same. Superintendents make slightly more, with an average of $105,000, while project managers make $101,000.
| Entry Level | Mid-Career | Senior Level | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superintendents | $88,000 | $105,000 | $162,000 |
| Project Managers | $86,500 | $101,000 | $158,000 |
We gathered the results by asking many project managers and superintendents. Read full results: We Asked 80 Project Managers: What Is Their Annual Salary?
3- The project Managers Job Is More Challenging Than Superintendent
Project managers have a lot of things to do at the same time. From meetings to site visits, to zoom calls to sending emails and taking phone calls, there is not enough time to do actual project management work.
Superintendents only need to worry about the things happening on site, but project managers have to worry about everything. That does not mean that superintendents have an easy job. It is just less complex than project management.
4- Project Managers Have More Authority Than Superintendents
Project managers have the final say on the project. They factor in the opinion of the superintendent and the engineers, but the project manager always makes the final decision.
2 Similarities Between Project Managers & Superintendents?
1- They Both Have Stressful Jobs
There is a lot of work in construction projects, and the people who manage those projects are usually overworked because they always need to know everything to manage. Both project managers and superintendents have very stressful careers when you factor in the amount of work they do.
2- They Both Work Long Hours
Both project managers and superintendents are overworked. On average, they work close to 50 hours a week. Project managers have a lot of things to do which usually makes them work overtime. Superintendents are busy onsite managing people and allocating activities, which can be time-consuming.
In a study we did, we asked 80 project managers how many hours they worked. We found that project managers, on average, work a minimum of 44.2 hours a week. See the full results here: We Asked 80 Project Managers: How Many Hours Do They Work?
FQA Project Managers & Superintendents
Is A Superintendent A Boss?
On-site, the superintendent, is treated like a boss. They have the final say and give orders to everyone onsite.
Is Superintendent Stressful & Hard?
The superintendent’s job is quite challenging when you factor in the hours they do and the daily problems they have to solve. Most work under a tight schedule, making the job very stressful and hard.
Superintendent Vs Project Engineer: What Is The Difference?
Superintendent is an onsite position to manage workers and daily construction activities. The project engineer is the head of the technical engineering team on site to help the superintendents and the project manager to finish the project on time and within budget by solving ongoing issues on site.
Superintendent Vs Site Engineer: What Is The Difference?
Superintendent is an onsite position to manage workers and daily construction activities. The Site engineer is an onsite position that works with the project manager and superintendents to execute the construction project to the highest quality by giving instructions to the workers to solve problems and finish the project on time and within budget.
