Is 40 Too Old To Get a Degree in Construction Management?

If you're concerned about the question 'Is 40 too old for a construction management degree?' let us reassure you.

Being in your 40s is an ideal age to become a construction manager.

According to Zippia, the average age of construction managers is 46 years old. At 40, you still have decades of career growth ahead of you.

What's more, the profession needs you. A shortage of qualified construction managers is hurting the industry.

Construction management is a leadership role. As such, it typically requires a bachelor's degree and does not require work experience in a related occupation.

For this reason, regardless of what jobs you held in your 20s and 30s, making the transition into the construction management field should not present many barriers.

At 40 or so, with a newly minted bachelor's degree in construction management plus 20 years of experience in the workforce behind you, you will be in a prime position not only to find any job but to command a desirable management position with the salary and benefits that likely exceed what you could make without a degree.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the 2022 median pay for construction managers to be $101,480 per year and almost $50 per hour.

Now that you know that 40 is not too old to jumpstart a new career by earning a degree in construction management, read on to learn more.

What Do Construction Managers Do?

You'll find that many skillsets construction project managers need are likely related to skills you've already learned in your previous occupational roles.

Even if you worked outside the construction field, many skills such as leadership, supervision, planning, and project management are transferable.

What do construction managers do?

Their overall job is overseeing and supervising all phases of construction projects both onsite and off in conjunction with client desires.

As such, construction managers work with architects and engineers to develop design plans and budgets, acquire materials from vendors and suppliers, hire construction crews, establish timelines, and ensure the safety of workers and others.

Is There a Demand for Construction Managers With Bachelor's Degrees?

If you're considering whether 40 might be too old for a construction management degree, consider the demand for this career field.

According to an article from the National American University, 'Four out of five organizations say they are struggling to find construction project managers.

With current managers getting ready to retire, a rebounding economy, and an influx of federal funding for infrastructure repairs, the demand for construction managers is on the rise.'

This dire need is supported by a recent Project Management Institute White Paper on 'Building High-Performance Project Talent,' which reports that 83% of companies 'report difficulty in finding qualified project management candidates to fill open PM positions in the past year.'

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a faster-than-average 5% growth in this profession from 2022 to 2032, with about 38,700 new openings for construction managers projected each year.

With an annual median pay of $101,480 per year or nearly $50 per hour, being a construction manager is a coveted job niche.

Reasons Behind the High Demand for Construction Managers

An article from the National American University explains the reasons why there is such demand for construction managers:

Aging Workforce and a Failure to Prepare for Replacing The Retirees

With one out of five current construction managers approaching retirement, the loss will create a vacuum that needs to be filled.

However, the industry has not invested enough in promoting the profession or developing a pipeline of new construction managers, both men and women (the latter of whom are still a vast minority in this profession).

Federal Infrastructure Funding

Thousands of new construction projects are arising from the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by the US Congress in 2021, which provided funding to upgrade the nation's water and sewer systems, roads, railways, bridges, power lines, and airports.

Construction Boom

An interesting byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic starting in 2020, which kept a majority of Americans working from home, has been a significant spike in home construction and renovations for single and multi-family homes and apartments.

During and since the pandemic, the nation has seen a rise in the construction of healthcare facilities, senior and assisted living centers, and commercial office space.

Climate Change

The ongoing concern about climate change and the 'green' environmental movement has created a desire to make not only new but also existing buildings more energy efficient or net zero energy.

Construction managers have been needed to oversee solar and wind energy projects as well as geothermal heating and cooling.

Construction Processes Becoming More Complex

The increasing complexity of construction processes and building technologies is requiring construction managers with specialized expertise.

These include specialists in multipurpose and electronically controlled 'smart' buildings as well as those who can assure compliance with new laws and standards regarding construction materials, safety, and environmental impact.

How to Become a Construction Manager at Age 40

To become a construction manager for an employer (rather than starting your own general contracting business), you will most likely need a bachelor's degree in construction management or a related field.

Since the role of construction manager is as much about business management as it is about the mechanics and technologies of building, bringing a background knowledge of management techniques in addition to your degree will enhance your desirability as a job candidate.

Construction firms prefer to hire candidates both with a bachelor's degree in a construction-related field and construction experience or project management expertise.

What Education, Training, and Certifications Should I Get to Become a Construction Manager?

Construction project managers do best by starting with a bachelor's degree in a field like construction management, construction science, building science, architecture, structural engineering, or civil engineering.

Participating in an internship or apprenticeship program while in school is highly desirable to help you gain employment directly after graduation.

You can find more than a hundred accredited colleges and universities across the United States that offer Bachelor of Science degree programs in construction-related fields.

These STEM programs usually include courses such as design, construction methods and materials, project control and management, building codes and standards, cost estimation, and contract administration.

Specialized courses in areas such as code compliance, plumbing codes, accident prevention, and civil construction may be taken either within your degree program or in addition to your bachelor's program to enhance your credentials.

In addition, you may want to continue to build credentials after graduation by earning professional certifications such as Certified Construction Manager (CCM) or Certified Commercial Building Inspector (CCBI).

A few universities also offer master's degree programs in construction management.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Starting a Construction Management Career After 40?

The greatest advantage of starting a construction management career in your 40s is undoubtedly the wisdom and authority that come from your lifetime experience of managing and dealing with people, regardless of what field you were previously in.

A manager in their 40s or 50s will garner more respect than one at age 23, regardless of how good an education the young graduate has received.

On the other hand, the biggest disadvantage to starting a construction management career in midlife is the inevitable process of physical aging, which affects some of us more than others.

The ability and strength to do heavy physical work diminishes with age.

However, in your early 40s, you should be in pretty peak form, and if you are athletic or have lived a fit and healthy lifestyle, this should not be an issue.

Don't forget that, in most cases, construction managers are no longer the heavy lifters — the very nature of being a manager means that you do the planning and supervision and delegate younger and stronger workers to work under your oversight.

Is 40 Too Old for a Construction Management Degree?

All in all, your early 40s are a perfect age to go back to school to earn a construction management degree and then start a new career as a construction manager.

If you do this, you should be a job candidate who can bring the best combination of both theoretical knowledge and lived experience to this much-needed career role.