Construction Manager: What is the cost of hiring?
2025-10-0141000.00153789.44300000.00YEARLY
Construction Manager: What is the cost of hiring?
What is a construction manager?
A construction manager is a professional responsible for planning, coordinating and supervising construction projects from start to finish. They work closely with architects, engineers, contractors and clients to deliver projects on schedule and within scope. Construction managers also manage budgets, ensure safety standards are upheld and troubleshoot any issues that arise during the building process.
Defining your hiring needs for a construction manager
Start by assessing the scope and complexity of your current and upcoming construction projects. Do you need someone who can manage residential developments, commercial builds or civil engineering works? Also consider whether the role requires travel, on-site presence or remote coordination.
Be clear about the project scale, required qualifications such as licences or safety certifications and the types of software or tools you expect your building manager to use. Determine how independently they will work and whether they will report to executives or collaborate with other project managers.
If you are unsure whether a construction manager, site supervisor or project manager is the right fit for your needs, think about the level of oversight needed. Construction managers are typically fully responsible for the planning and execution of entire builds, while site supervisors generally focus on day-to-day tasks and operational details.
Why hire a construction manager?
Whether you are developing residential properties, commercial buildings or large-scale infrastructure, hiring a construction manager ensures that your project progresses smoothly. Construction managers can help you to mitigate risks, avoid delays and manage costs effectively.
You may need a construction manager if your projects involve multiple subcontractors, require careful scheduling or demand strict compliance with building codes and safety legislation.
Contributions of a great construction manager:
- Coordinates construction activities and resources to meet project goals
- Maintains safety compliance and quality standards on-site
- Manages budgets, schedules and subcontractor performance
What are the types of construction managers?
Construction managers may vary by specialisation, experience or project focus. Depending on your business needs, you may consider hiring one of the following:
- Residential construction manager: Oversees housing and small-scale developments
- Commercial construction manager: Specialises in office, retail or hospitality builds
- Civil construction manager: Experienced in infrastructure, roads and public works
- Contract construction manager: Offers short-term or project-based oversight
- Licensed builder: Holds required credentials for compliance and supervision
When writing your construction manager job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on construction manager jobs, according to Indeed data:
- Construction manager
- Site manager
- Project manager
- Residential construction
- Commercial building
- Civil infrastructure
- Construction supervisor
- Building project manager
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Where to find construction managers
Construction managers are often connected with trade associations, licensing authorities and training providers. Many also attend safety courses, industry events or software workshops, which can be useful places to engage with potential candidates. Using a mix of specialised and general job platforms can help you reach a wider range of applicants.
To find the right construction manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:
- Professional associations: Organisations such as Master Builders Australia and the Australian Institute of Building offer member directories and support industry-accredited professionals.
- Vocational and tertiary institutions: To connect with graduates, partner with TAFEs and universities offering qualifications in construction management or building and construction.
- Industry events and expos: Construction managers often attend safety, software and trade expos, which offer strong networking opportunities.
- Internal candidates: Consider upskilling experienced tradespeople or site supervisors already familiar with your operations.
- Job boards and hiring platforms: Post your job on Indeed to attract applicants who are actively looking for construction manager roles in your area.
Post your job online: Try posting your construction manager job on Indeed to find and attract quality construction manager candidates.
Skills to look for in a construction manager
A successful construction manager candidate will typically have the following skills and competencies, which may be gained through a variety of experiences, training or education:
- Strong understanding of building codes, OH&S regulations and compliance
- Ability to create and manage budgets, schedules and resource allocations
- Experience coordinating subcontractors, suppliers and stakeholders
- Proficiency in construction software such as Procore, Buildertrend or MS Project
- Strong leadership and decision-making skills under pressure
- Clear communication and documentation skills
Writing a construction manager job description
Now that you know the key skills, salary expectations, popular job seeker search terms and hiring insights for a construction manager, you’re ready to write a job description.
A construction manager job description typically includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities, and the required and preferred skills for the position. You may also want to include information about your company culture, benefits and perks to attract candidates to your vacant role.
Ready to get started? See our full guide for writing construction manager job descriptions.
Interviewing construction manager candidates
Strong candidates for construction manager positions will be confident answering questions regarding:
- Experience managing building sites, teams and project milestones
- Handling compliance issues or safety incidents on-site
- Coordinating subcontractors and communicating with stakeholders
- Solving delays, design changes or unexpected disruptions
- Using project management software and reporting tools
Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of construction manager interview questions for examples (with sample answers).
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.
