How To Become a Contractor: Career Path, Salary, and Professional Tips from Builder Jordan Smith
Jul 02, 2020

The construction industry is incredibly exciting for those who are ambitious, entrepreneurial, and eager to see the fruit of their work in the real world Job growth in construction is expected to be significantly above average in the near future, thanks to a significant gap between the number of workers employed in the sector and the need for them The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that employment within construction will grow by 10 percent over the next decade—and that’s coming on top of steady growth that started around 2010
Demand from both the public and private sectors fuels the construction industry The United States must upgrade or replace aging infrastructural buildings, and incorporate the latest advances in construction materials and technology into existing buildings The COVID-19 pandemic—while forcing a pause in the global economy—may also lead to new streams of construction work, as commercial and residential real estate will need to adapt to new realities The constantly evolving preferences of American homeowners also assure a steady supply of work, both building new houses and adapting older ones
Among the different roles in the construction industry, general contractors are central to turning plans into completed projects They oversee construction sites with responsibilities (alongside the architect) for the building schedule, coordinating with subcontractors such as MEP engineers, and managing the site’s crews
In this article
How to become a general contractor
While many building contractors have bachelor’s degrees in related fields (such as engineering or construction management), a degree in construction management is not required for the position—in fact, on-the-job experience is generally valued more than a diploma Most general contractors learn their trade on site, observing how successful general contractors assure that their projects run smoothly and safely
A typical career path to becoming a general contractor might look like this:
- Get a job as part of a crew on a construction site, and learn about how a building site operates by framing, pouring foundations, putting up siding, and installing windows
- With time—and by demonstrating you are capable and interested in moving up the ladder—you might advance on to a role within a construction company that includes coordinating with subcontractors or supervising the crew on some tasks You’ll come to develop relationships with the best subcontractors in your area and learn the fastest ways to get building permits from your local authorities
- When the day comes to take on the lead role on a site, as the project manager who coordinates everything, you’ll be prepared for the challenge and can confidently sign deals for your own projects At this point, you can also launch your own contracting business as a general contractor
As professional builder Jordan Smith explains, the path to becoming a general contractor can begin with simply demonstrating initiative
“If you’re not currently working in the trades, but you’re looking at making that transition into becoming a tradesman in residential construction, and you’re looking to get a job,” he says, “my highest recommendation is go out, talk to builders on their projects You’re going to be able to look over the project manager’s shoulder and see how the prints relate to an actual build You’re going to be able to learn a ton ”
What does it take to be a successful general contractor?
- Organizational skills The general contractor’s principal role is to oversee the site and keep track of every detail of construction You’ll need to assure that the crews and contractors have the materials they need, that they and subcontractors are paid on time, and that you can respond quickly to the inevitable surprises, from discovering an unexpected pipe to a tropical storm delaying work
- Communication skills It’s not enough that you have a plan, to be a successful contractor you need to communicate it to your crew and subcontractors As the leader of the site’s team, you’ll have to make sure that all the other players understand what is expected of them
- Construction knowledge While you will have architectural prints and structural plans to follow, you’ll be a better general contractor the more you understand about construction materials and how buildings are built Architects and engineers are not perfect, and a general contractor who can identify a problem and propose a solution is invaluable One way to begin building your knowledge of construction starting today is with Jordan Smith’s Introduction to Reading Blueprints course which will provide you with an essential and basic skill expect of all contractors, being able to quickly make sense of architectural plans