The graying of the industry is having an impact on the job market. “It's a huge misconception that there are a lot of great candidates,” Jones says. “The best are closely guarded and employed by current employers, and some have retired or left the industry with no one replacing them,” he says. “The industry is staying afloat by keeping A-plus contributors.”

Contractors that have cut to the bone finally are starting to add people or replacing those not performing up to par, says Bess Cadwell, executive recruiter at Govig & Associates, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Expertise in three growth sectors—solar, wind and cloud computing—is hot, Cadwell says. Despite federal stimulus money running out, some funds for renewable energy are still coming in through the states, she notes. “People with Army Corps of Engineers experience are really sought out,” she says.

2Q COST REPORT Compensation

CONTRACTOR AND CM PAY
    GENERAL
  POSITION CONTRACTORS CM FIRMS
  SUPERINTENDENT $81,532 $86,284
  ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT $63,828 $65,546
  PROJECT SUPERINTENDENT $98,538 $108,479
  PROJect MANAGER/ESTIMATOR $87,454 $103,110
  CONSTRUCTION MANAGER $126,398 $133,532
  PROJECT MANAGER $100,090 $109,088
  FIELD ENGINEER  
  INEXPERIENCED $56,719 $55,932
  EXPERIENCED $67,238 $66,477
  CHIEF $97,828 $96,218
  PROJECT ENGINEER $55,703 $56,499
  ESTIMATOR  
  INEXPERIENCED $56,862 $57,776
  EXPERIENCED $75,008 $78,699
  SENIOR $100,152 $104,848
  CHIEF $139,175 $143,515
  COST ENGINEER  
  INEXPERIENCED $50,222 $53,087
  EXPERIENCED $64,725 $68,961
  SENIOR $77,606 $83,788
  COST ENGINEERING MANAGER $101,610 $103,421
  SCHEDULING ENGINEER  
  INEXPERIENCED $54,232 $53,293
  EXPERIENCED $79,730 $81,784
  SENIOR $93,598 $96,012
  SCHEDULING MANAGER $105,302 $118,927
  CONTRACT ADMINISTRATOR  
  INEXPERIENCED $44,965 $47,555
  EXPERIENCED $55,084 $57,518
  SENIOR $74,814 $81,097
  QUALITY CONTROL  
  SPECIALIST $70,371 $72,159
  MANAGER $96,352 $97,105
  ASSISTANT SAFETY DIRECTOR $69,751 $71,940
  SAFETY DIRECTOR $93,575 $99,442
  BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT  
  MANAGER $106,162 $107,403
  DIRECTOR $146,955 $156,167
  SALES REPRESENTATIVE $66,315 $72,254
  ACCOUNTING MANAGER $88,460 $97,149
  HUMAN RESOURCeS MANAGER $90,318 $103,151
SOURCE: PAS INC.