General Contracting
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Overview
General Contracting
The scale of building activity across the United States is creating sustained demand for skilled construction professionals.
This is driven by multifamily residential development and the continued build out of data center infrastructure, alongside manufacturing and energy projects all competing for the same talent. At the same time the workforce is aging, with around one in five workers now over 55, and retirements account for the majority of new hiring needs.
Developers are chasing experienced people faster than the industry can train and replace them, and pay for specialist trades in the busiest markets is running well ahead of the national average.
For candidates this means a market weighted firmly in their favor, with strong opportunities across estimating, project management, site supervision, engineering, operations, and asset management.
The sector is also more open than it has been to people from adjacent industries, with employers valuing transferable experience from logistics, energy, manufacturing, and industrial operations. For anyone considering a move into construction, the timing is rarely better.
Careers and Salaries in General Contracting
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VP of Construction / Director of Construction
Owns delivery across a portfolio, profit and loss, and client relationships, and sets contract strategy.
Base salary $180,000 to $350,000 per annum, with total compensation often above $400,000.
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Project Executive
Runs multiple project teams and acts as the senior client point of contact, accountable for margin and schedule across several jobs.
Base salary $160,000 to $300,000 per annum.
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Senior Project Manager
Leads the largest or most complex single projects end to end, controlling budget, programme, subcontractors, and client communication.
Base salary $130,000 to $200,000 per annum.
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Project Manager
Owns delivery of a project or smaller group of projects, managing cost, schedule, procurement, and the field team.
Base salary $90,000 to $160,000 per annum, with data center and advanced facility PMs at the top of that range.
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Assistant Project Manager
Supports the PM on submittals, change orders, billing, and subcontractor coordination, typically the step before running jobs solo.
Base salary $70,000 to $105,000 per annum.
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General Superintendent
Oversees field operations across multiple sites, managing supers, safety, quality, and self perform crews.
Base salary $130,000 to $200,000 per annum, plus allowances.
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Superintendent
Runs the day to day on site, sequencing trades, controlling the schedule in the field, and holding safety and quality at the point of work.
Base salary $85,000 to $150,000 per annum.
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Project Engineer
The field and office bridge, handling RFIs, submittals, drawings, and trade coordination, often an early career path into project management.
Base salary $70,000 to $105,000 per annum.
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Preconstruction Manager / Director
Leads the work before a project is won, covering budgeting, value engineering, bid strategy, and client pursuit. Directly affects win rates and starting margin.
Base salary $130,000 to $250,000 per annum, with director and chief roles higher.
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Chief Estimator
Heads the estimating function and owns pricing accuracy and risk across the bid pipeline.
Base salary $140,000 to $250,000 per annum.
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Estimator
Prepares takeoffs, pricing, and bid packages, and protects margin by flagging cost and scope risk early.
Base salary $75,000 to $130,000 per annum.
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Scheduler / Planner
Builds and maintains the project programme, models critical path, and tracks progress against baseline, valued heavily on complex and infrastructure work.
Base salary $85,000 to $140,000 per annum.
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MEP Manager
Coordinates all mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection scopes on the GC side, managing specialty subcontractors, sequencing, and systems integration. One of the highest demand roles given data center and advanced facility growth.
Base salary $100,000 to $170,000 per annum.
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Mechanical / Electrical Project Manager
Sits on the specialty contractor side, running delivery of a single trade package including labor, procurement, and installation.
Base salary $95,000 to $165,000 per annum.
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Mechanical / Electrical Engineer
Provides design, systems, and technical engineering input, often PE licensed, supporting both estimating and delivery.
Base salary $80,000 to $135,000 per annum.
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VDC / BIM Manager
Leads virtual design and construction, running clash detection, model coordination, and digital workflows that catch problems before they reach the field.
Base salary $90,000 to $150,000 per annum.
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Safety Manager / Director
Owns site safety programs, OSHA compliance, and incident prevention, with rising influence as enforcement and insurance pressure grows.
Base salary $80,000 to $145,000 per annum, directors higher.
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QA/QC Manager
Sets and enforces quality standards, inspections, and closeout documentation, critical on healthcare, industrial, and data center work.
Base salary $85,000 to $140,000 per annum.
Speak to one of our expert consulatants for more information on salaries and general contracting recruitment.
Resources
Further insights
Expert Consultants
We have several select consultants that are experts in recruiting for general contracting roles since 2020
Industry Knowledge
Our knowdlege of building a general contracting comes from our related experience in the built environment, real estate and related assets, broadening our expertise in sourcing talent from these sectors
Ongoing Support
When partnering with us, you can expect ongoing support beyond your placement and help with further hiring instructions at any point of the project - from construction delivery to management and operations.
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