What does a General Contractor do?

General contractors are responsible for the overall administration of a construction project and managing the day-to-day activities of the job site operation. They coordinate and supervise the work of subcontractors, trade professionals, and other workers involved in the project and often serve as a liaison between the customer and other parties. They are accountable for ensuring quality standards are met and all work is done safely and according to specifications. They oversee the ordering and delivery of materials and supplies and approve payments to vendors.

General contractors have an extensive background in the construction industry or building trades, including hands-on experience managing all phases of a project. They must have excellent project management skills and in-depth knowledge of all of the trades involved in the project. These roles require strong attention to detail.

Education--
Work/Life Balance
3.6 ★
Total Pay--
Career Opportunity
3.3 ★
Avg. Experience8+ years

How much does a General Contractor make?

Confident
$69,996 /yr
Total Pay
$63,009
 /yr

Base Pay

+
$6,988
 /yr

Additional Pay

$69,996

 / yr
$44K$112K
Most Likely Range
Possible Range
See More Insights

General Contractor Career Path

Learn how to become a General Contractor, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.

General Contractor

Years of Experience Distribution

0 - 1
6%
2 - 4
8%
5 - 7
17%
8+
69%
Not including years spent in education and/or training

General Contractor Insights

Read what General Contractor professionals have to say about their job experiences and view top companies for this career.
USHEALTH AdvisorsUSHEALTH Advisors
Independent Contractor
Feb 13, 2021

“I gave up my great salary and my 40 hour a week job and have not looked back once.”

Insight GlobalInsight Global
Contractor
Nov 16, 2022

“She is a fantastic recruiter and I am lucky that we were able to work together.”

AgeroAgero
Independent Contractor
May 28, 2021

“The issue was that this tech support team was not answering and I needed advise on what to do.”

Resource LogisticsResource Logistics
Contractor
Apr 15, 2022

“There aren't any paid holidays and the benefits are way below what is average in the workforce.”

Visionaire PartnersVisionaire Partners
Contractor
Jul 7, 2021

“I do wish that the job came with PTO and the pay was a little higher.”

erica lane enterpriseserica lane enterprises
Contractor
Aug 15, 2021

“Nothing I can think of off the top of my head my entire job is wonderful”

Loyal SourceLoyal Source
Contractor
Aug 19, 2021

“The pay is decent as a contractor while I was working there but at what cost”

HuntwoodHuntwood
Contractor
Oct 5, 2020

“rate is lower than market however this was secured during covid so see how it looks in the future”

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General Contractor Interviews

Frequently asked questions about the roles and responsibilities of a General Contractor

The most similar professions to General Contractor are:
  • Warehouse Manager
  • Technical Project Manager
  • Program Manager
  • Project Manager

Related Careers

Warehouse Manager
$55,273
No skills overlap
Technical Project Manager
$139,856
No skills overlap
Program Manager
$99,021
No skills overlap
Project Manager
$85,142
No skills overlap

General Contractor Jobs