Construction Management Programs with Strong Job Outcomes
Construction Management Programs with Strong Job Outcomes
Post updated on 2/21/2024
Strong Job Prospects for Construction Management Graduates
For students with an interest in construction, business, or engineering, construction management may be a good fit. Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from development to completion. Some construction managers focus on the supervision of the building process while others focus on cost estimation and quality control.
The job outlook for construction managers is strong. Boston area construction management jobs have doubled in the last 10 years. Statewide, jobs grew by over 40% (see chart below).
Construction management jobs also pay well. The median salary for Boston area construction managers was $126,770 in 2022, well above the median salary of $61,090 for all jobs. Statewide, construction managers earned a median salary of $122,750.
Four-Year Programs to Prepare for Construction Management Careers
Construction management jobs typically require a bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, or a related degree. Two Massachusetts public universities offer BS degrees in Construction Management – UMass Amherst and Fitchburg State University. Wentworth Institute of Technology, a private non-profit college, also offers a program. The two programs with publicly available earnings data from College Scorecard – UMass Amherst and Wentworth – show strong job outcomes for program graduates. Wentworth program graduates earned a median salary of $93,500 four years after graduating. UMass Amherst program graduates earned a median salary of $69,800. Below are brief descriptions of the three programs.
Wentworth Institute of Technology – BS in Construction Management
Wentworth’s construction management program combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training through co-op placements with area employers. The program also pairs students with a mentor from one of its partner companies. Through this combination of classroom and workplace learning, students gain a clear understanding of the construction process, learn about state-of-the-art construction methods and materials, and develop skills in management, budgeting, cost control, cost estimation, scheduling, team building, and communication. The co-op and industry mentoring experiences also provide students with a strong network of contacts to help them secure employment upon graduation. Half of 2022 program graduates received job offers from their co-op employers according to the college’s survey of graduating seniors.
UMass Amherst – BS in Building and Construction Technology
UMass Amherst’s program in Building and Construction Technology prepares graduates for careers in construction and project management, sustainable design, green building and energy conservation, wood design and building, as well as sales and marketing of building materials. The program also helps connect students to internship opportunities. According to the program website, 90% of undergraduate and graduate degree students completed at least one internship.
Fitchburg State University – BS in Construction Management
Fitchburg offers a small Construction Management program within its Engineering Technology department. The program focuses on skills required for roles in construction project management and implementation, including the ability to prepare construction documents, cost estimates, and project schedules; perform site inspections; and work with local, state, and federal regulatory agencies. Completion of an internship is a program requirement. The program helps students identify and secure placements.
Associate Degree Option
While most employers prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree, a shortage of construction managers has created an opportunity for associate degree candidates, according to Michael Goldstein, the Chief Innovations Officer at Franklin Cummings Technical Institute. Franklin Cummings Tech offers a two-year associate degree program to prepare students for entry-level construction management roles. Students learn project management, planning, scheduling, and budgeting skills. Students also learn green building practices, building information modeling, and estimating. Franklin Cummings Tech continues to forge strong ties with local employers to help graduates land their first jobs.
Notes on Data Sources
Employment and Average Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2022 Occupational and Employment Statistics for state of Massachusetts and Boston Metropolitan Area (https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm).
Education requirements for Construction Managers derived from Boston Metro area Job Posting Data: Burning Glass Technologies: Labor Insight™. 2021 and federal ONET Education Requirements data.
Projected Job Growth: Massachusetts Department of Economic Research, Projected Statewide and Boston WDA Growth in Occupational Employment, 2020 – 2030. (https://lmi.dua.eol.mass.gov/lmi/LongTermOccupationProjections).
Earnings of Program Graduates: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard data on earnings of graduates four years after graduating in 2021 dollars. (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/).