The construction industry in Australia is incredibly dynamic. In the residential sector, there’s massive pressure to alleviate the housing crisis. Current and planned solutions include public and social housing construction, strategic development approval fast-tracking, and more. Public infrastructure projects across the country, including everything from hospitals to rail works, require tens of thousands of skilled workers – both on site, and behind the scenes. Long story short, there’s a lot going on.
If you’ve been thinking about becoming a construction manager, you’ve picked a good time. According to many projections, construction activity is going to pick up pace in late 2025 and 2026. This will mean an increased demand for competent construction management professionals. Now is a great time to start studying, upskilling, and gaining experience in this field.
A construction manager oversees and coordinates construction projects from start to finish, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and according to specified plans and quality standards. This role involves planning and managing schedules, resources, and budgets, as well as supervising contractors, ensuring safety compliance, resolving any issues that arise, and communicating regularly with clients and stakeholders to keep them informed of progress. With this level of responsibility and skill involved, it’s easy to see why:
- The average construction manager salary in Australia is $140,000
- Over 134,000 construction managers are currently employed in Australia
- According to government stats, employment growth is projected at 7,000 per year
In the rest of this article, we’ll look at the basics of what it’s like to work as a construction manager. We’ll also explore the steps you can take to get started and launch a successful career in this field.
What’s it like to work as a construction manager?
The answer to this question boils down to “depends what type of construction manager you are”. Within this profession, there are a few main specialities; civil, commercial, and residential. Within these specialities, experienced construction managers often have subspecialities. For example, a civil construction manager may specialise in healthcare or transport projects. A commercial construction manager may specialise in office buildings, or manufacturing facilities. A residential construction manager may specialise in luxury residences, or sustainable development projects.
Civil construction managers
Working as a civil construction manager typically involves overseeing large-scale infrastructure projects such as bridges, roads, highways, and water treatment plants. This role requires close coordination with engineers, government agencies, and subcontractors, and involves managing complex schedules, navigating environmental regulations, and ensuring public safety standards are upheld. The work environment is often a mix of office-based planning and on-site management, which can involve long hours and adapting to challenging weather conditions.
Commercial construction managers
A commercial construction manager focuses on managing the construction of commercial buildings like office complexes, retail centres, and industrial facilities. This role demands strong knowledge of building codes and regulations, as well as proficiency in managing budgets and schedules for large, often high-stakes projects. The work environment is dynamic, requiring frequent site visits, collaboration with architects, and the ability to coordinate multiple teams and contractors to deliver projects on time and within scope.
Residential construction managers
In contrast, a residential construction manager oversees the construction of single-family homes, multi-family units, or residential developments. The job involves working closely with homeowners, developers, and subcontractors to ensure that design plans are executed correctly, with attention to quality and customer expectations. Residential construction managers often juggle multiple projects at once and must handle frequent communication with clients, including change requests and customisation details. The work environment involves both on-site supervision and office work, with a strong emphasis on problem-solving and customer satisfaction.
That said, construction managers from all different branches of the profession have certain general tasks and responsibilities in common.
- Project planning: developing detailed plans for construction projects, including schedules, resource allocation, and budgeting, to ensure work is completed efficiently and in line with project goals.
- Budget management: preparing and managing budgets, monitoring expenditures, and making cost-effective decisions to keep the project within financial constraints.
- Resource coordination: organising and managing labour, materials, and equipment to ensure all resources are available and used efficiently during construction.
- Compliance and safety: ensuring that construction activities comply with Australian building codes, health and safety regulations, and environmental standards. This includes conducting regular safety inspections and implementing safety protocols.
- Team management: leading and supervising construction teams, including contractors, subcontractors, and site workers, to ensure work is completed to quality standards and on time.
- Quality assurance: monitoring and inspecting work throughout the project to ensure it meets specified quality standards and addressing any defects or issues that arise.
- Client and stakeholder communication: keeping clients and stakeholders informed about project progress, addressing concerns, and ensuring that their requirements are met.
- Problem-solving: identifying and resolving issues that arise during construction, such as delays, equipment failures, or supply shortages, to minimise disruptions.
- Contract management: overseeing contract negotiations and administration, ensuring all terms are fulfilled by contractors and suppliers, and managing any disputes or changes.
- Risk management: identifying potential risks to the project (e.g., weather, financial issues, or logistical challenges) and developing strategies to mitigate these risks.
These responsibilities are central to ensuring that construction projects are completed successfully, on time, and within budget.
Steps to becoming a construction manager
Amongst established construction managers in Australia, you’ll find a variety of different qualifications and training backgrounds. Whilst many (especially those working on high-value projects) have university degrees, there is more than one study pathway to get into this line of work.
- University degrees: a common route is earning a Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, which typically takes three to four years to complete. This degree covers topics like construction technology, project management, building codes, sustainability, and safety. Some universities also offer degrees in Civil Engineering or Architecture with a focus on construction management.
- Vocational education and training (VET): for a more hands-on approach, you can complete a Diploma or Advanced Diploma in Building and Construction Management through TAFE or other registered training organisations. These courses usually take one to two years and cover practical skills in project management, estimating, site supervision, and building laws.
- Postgraduate studies: for those looking to advance their careers or specialise further, options like a Master’s degree in Construction Project Management are available. These programs are suitable for graduates or professionals seeking advanced knowledge in complex construction projects.
- Apprenticeships and on-the-job training: some construction managers start their careers through apprenticeships in trades like carpentry or plumbing, gaining valuable industry experience before pursuing further qualifications in construction management.
It’s worth noting that unlike some careers, construction management isn’t just about the qualification, or the job-specific technical skills. There are several transferable skills you may be able to apply from your current or previous careers. These transferrable skills make it easier to adapt to the responsibilities of a construction manager and succeed in the role. In addition, developing these skills (wherever you’re at right now) can help boost your chances of gaining an entry-level role.
- Leadership and team management: experience in leading teams or managing groups of people is highly valuable, as construction managers need to coordinate and motivate workers on-site to ensure projects run smoothly.
- Project management: skills in planning, organising, and overseeing projects are important, especially if you have experience handling schedules, budgets, or deadlines in other fields, like business or logistics.
- Problem-solving: the ability to think quickly and solve issues effectively is essential, as unexpected problems often come up during construction projects. People from careers involving troubleshooting or crisis management will find these skills useful.
- Communication: strong verbal and written communication skills are key, as construction managers must clearly explain plans, give instructions, and keep clients and workers informed. Previous roles in customer service, sales, or administration can help.
- Budgeting and financial skills: experience managing money or budgets, such as in finance or retail, is helpful, since construction managers need to monitor project expenses and make cost-effective decisions.
- Attention to detail: previous jobs that required careful attention to details, like quality control or compliance, prepare you to ensure projects meet quality and safety standards.
- Technical knowledge: people with a background in trades (like carpentry or electrical work) or engineering bring useful technical skills that help them understand building processes and construction plans.
Similar career paths
If you’ve read this far and you’re still keen on a career in construction management, congratulations! You’ve got a bright potential future ahead of you, and a variety of ways to get there.
If you’ve decided construction management isn’t quite for you, but you like the idea of running the show on other kinds of projects, then project management could be for you. Project managers are responsible for planning, executing, and completing projects successfully by managing tasks, resources, budgets, and timelines. They define project goals, create detailed work plans, allocate resources, and oversee team members to ensure work progresses as planned. They also monitor and mitigate risks, resolve any issues that arise, and keep stakeholders informed and engaged throughout the project.
While prospective project managers have similar learning options to construction managers, the Diploma of Project Management is a particularly great way to get a head start. This hands-on course will have you developing and practicing a variety of those key responsibilities. You’ll also get to know industry-relevant software, like Microsoft Project.
If it’s the budget aspect that you’re drawn to, you’re not alone. Residential construction costs are a hot topic of conversation, everywhere from dinner tables to online forums. Civil construction budgets frequently make headlines. It’s normal to be curious about how construction projects end up with budget blowouts, and who’s keeping track of it all.
Accounting courses can be a great lead-in to exploring this aspect of construction project work. By studying accounting or bookkeeping, you’ll get a feel for some of the administrative aspects of construction budgets, including the way that commercial construction companies report on income and expenditure.
Still not sure which pathway may be right for your interests and goals? Book a time to chat to one of our friendly course consultants today.
