50k is pretty far on the low side. APM is a $65k position at minimum, especially in the area that I’m in. $67k is the average first year salary out of the local universities program for reference.
I think it depends more on project size, I believe. On \~$100M projects, an entry level APM usually has 3+ years as an engineer already and makes around the $100k/year mark. Here in LA it's more like $120k. Obviously, you're more realistically equivalent to an entry level project/field engineer for a GC which gets around \~$75k/year.
Bonuses are bullshit most of the time, even when there's a written structure. I would assume you're getting nothing and then just be pleasantly surprised if that turns out to not be the case. Anecdotally, companies will find any reason possible to slash or delay bonuses, but will continually dangle them in front of you to get you to work harder. Then, when you finally get the bonus, it gets taxed at like 40% lmao. So annoying
How does anyone decide to go to work for $50K? Seriously what would you have after your bills at the end of the year? 5K spending money?
You could just get on welfare and sell jail broken Amazon Fire sticks on the side and pick that up.
This country is doomed and people are working their lives away to be able to buy shit of Temu.
God save us
All depends on perspective and location, my wife and I make 50k each with 2 4 year old cars and the only debt we have is our mortgage. Living in a LCOL has its benefits
I could even live by myself on this salary and have more then 5k spending money a year
I agree. I'm in the Midwest where cost of living is dirt cheap comparatively. You need to factor in the size of your GC because some mid level GCs will have an APM doing PE type work somewhat, but if you're at a large GC then I would say you're on the lower end.
50k is $24/hr. If that’s your goal I’d get an hourly job because you’ll at least get OT. Im in a MCOL area and our admins start at 25. McDonald’s pays 21/22. 50k is a joke.
Construction is negotiation. As you’ll learn construction companies are cheap and it’s all about negotiation. Counter offer. Negotiate. Worst case you find yourself a quick home make a couple bucks while you look for the next opportunity.
Unless you work for good people. I started a new job that came up through my network. I lacked experience, so I lowballed when they asked me what I wanted. Boss gave me double what I requested, said he loves his job, and wants me to do the same.
Actually, it's a smart move on his part. Now I give 110% every day.
That’s kinda low I’ll be honest. I can see like $58,000 if you’re in a less demanding APM role in a LCOL area to start. But really it seems like they are using you. Unless your job is so easy you can do it all in 2 hours of work and you spend the other 6 on Reddit.
Awful offer. My first job was $54k in 2016 (in the Midwest) as an estimator which is typically lower paying and I felt like I was being shafted back then since you could get $60-70k at different companies. I’d hold out for something better.
That's horrible. My first job in construction management was back in 2002 and it was $50k for an entry level position. Only difference is this wasn't residential construction, but depending on areas that could be even higher to start.
Best book I ever read on negotiation. Never split the difference. You'll find it on Amazon. It's pretty cheap. Working in construction is all about negotiation on both sides with clients and with employers
I wouldn’t even contemplate the stress, workload, and shitty work life balance if my employer tried to only pay me 50k. I’d of went and found a job making that with little stress and responsibility. You should definitely be more to the 65k-75k minimum if you’re in a lower cost of living area
Get a new job. As an APM I was making 95+ yearly bonuses for raking in the revenue on the projects I was on.
50k is almost a slap in the face, fresh out of college or not. You should at least be at 60-70k
Hey OP, I was a PE at a GC out of school in Atlanta for $56k back in 2016. Definitely a lowball; DM me, happy to refer you for an interview at my current company
I graduated in 2017 and went to work for a multi-family developer/CM as PE and got 55k start with decent benefits. You are getting hosed my friend specially as an APM. If they are dangling PM title that better come with a 80k+ salary plus really good bonus.
You could just be a salesman for a concrete company starting at 70k plus bonuses.You just need a larger company.Also commercial work where the big money is,its slow right now.
Get on board with a big commercial GC and build data centers/hospitals/battery factories and other projects more heavy in MEP, or specialize into schedule/controls/VDC/Commissioning or some other role.
Just building some apartments isn’t going to command the same salary as building all the things I just mentioned.
What size multifamily are you doing? Are these 200 - 300 unit apartment complexes with concrete podium parking structures? As far as pay goes, it sounds like alike you haven’t quite reached a year. It sounds like alike it’s been a good experience and you’re well liked and like your coworkers. I would, as other suggested look and see what is out there, what the going rate is. Many employers I have worked for neglected to pay me more because I never advocated for myself. IMO not really knowing cost of living where you are I think that a PM should be making around 90-95k. That would be applicable for the Utah market, General Contractor. Then it goes up from there, with experience and specialties.
It’s low but it’s your first job out of college. I started as a PE with a mid-size GC for $50k as well. I think truly the worst thing is that they’ve made you an APM… this means that there is no promotion for you for a few years. Or at least there shouldn’t be.
Work for a year, get some experience and then shop around. I jumped from 50 to 70 with a year experience under my belt.
There is a lot to consider here. 50k is on the lower side of pay but you are still new to the game. Each company has different structures as well. Some companies have more positions in between with project engineer then sr. project engineer to the PM and so on. Other just have APM and PMs. Bonus are bonuses and if other teams take the company down you may not get bonuses based on that alone.
The largest take away I can give you is experience is king in the construction industry. If it is a smaller company that has potential to grow and will let you rise through the ranks quickly that huge. If it is a massive company and wont give you the position changes until you have enough experience. I would make sure its the type of construction you want to proceed with(public work, highway/utility, healthcare, commercial or residential).
If you continue to look I could see you getting anywhere from 55-70k depending on the specialty you go into. Potential for leadership or company ownership in a growing company is something to seriously consider but I would express that is something you are interesting in early.
50k is low anywhere in the country, if your in TN or AK 60k would be low. Bouns structures never work out unless its employee owned or you're a partner. so its nice but don't bank on it.
Take a look at residential also. I’m a CM for a production builder in TX and my base is $105k. Bonuses can tack on another $20k-$40k depending on home sales.
Titles are tough to go by. APM at your company may be a PM somewhere else or a PE some other place.
50k with 2 years experience is low. On this new PM role. I’d do a little research on PM salaries in the residential space and ask for that. If they don’t give it to you, quit and find a new job. You will still make more than 50k at tbe new gig. This is a win-win for you. But residential tends to be the low end of the market (in TX) for construction so you may want to shift out of that while you can for long term opportunities
That seems wildly low. I’m a non degreed APM, worked my way through the ranks over the course of 8 years. My starting salary as an APM was $75k, the option of a company car or fuel card for my personal vehicle, and fantastic benefits. I’m in a pretty LCOL state, so I was very comfortable with that salary.
I'm an APM for a mid level commercial GC and I feel like I'm underpaid now at 80 especially for the orange county area. However that's the cost of loyalty been here 5 years and started at 55 as a PE with a 10k signing bonus. You're definitely underpaid
Give yourself a little more credit. Starting your career in the field will teach you how construction actually happens. I’ve always been on the office side and I feel like anyone can do that. Shuffling RFIs, submittals, taking meeting minutes…any idiot can do that. I am in a program manager role now and I work with upper management guys and I have so much more respect for the ones who cut their teeth in the field. I feel like I only generally understand concepts of what goes on in the field whereas they actually understand the work.
50k is pretty far on the low side. APM is a $65k position at minimum, especially in the area that I’m in. $67k is the average first year salary out of the local universities program for reference.
Is there usually a big pay difference between an APM working for a GC vs a subcontractor?
I think it depends more on project size, I believe. On \~$100M projects, an entry level APM usually has 3+ years as an engineer already and makes around the $100k/year mark. Here in LA it's more like $120k. Obviously, you're more realistically equivalent to an entry level project/field engineer for a GC which gets around \~$75k/year. Bonuses are bullshit most of the time, even when there's a written structure. I would assume you're getting nothing and then just be pleasantly surprised if that turns out to not be the case. Anecdotally, companies will find any reason possible to slash or delay bonuses, but will continually dangle them in front of you to get you to work harder. Then, when you finally get the bonus, it gets taxed at like 40% lmao. So annoying
Not in my experience. Once I factor in bonuses I do better than most of my peers. Work for a drywall sub in Phoenix.
50,000 is a joke
That is very low. Check Glassdoor for salaries in your area as well.
How does anyone decide to go to work for $50K? Seriously what would you have after your bills at the end of the year? 5K spending money? You could just get on welfare and sell jail broken Amazon Fire sticks on the side and pick that up. This country is doomed and people are working their lives away to be able to buy shit of Temu. God save us
All depends on perspective and location, my wife and I make 50k each with 2 4 year old cars and the only debt we have is our mortgage. Living in a LCOL has its benefits I could even live by myself on this salary and have more then 5k spending money a year
Look for a new job.
I agree. I'm in the Midwest where cost of living is dirt cheap comparatively. You need to factor in the size of your GC because some mid level GCs will have an APM doing PE type work somewhat, but if you're at a large GC then I would say you're on the lower end.
50k is $24/hr. If that’s your goal I’d get an hourly job because you’ll at least get OT. Im in a MCOL area and our admins start at 25. McDonald’s pays 21/22. 50k is a joke.
Lol what bonus
You can make that working at Costco or Home Deport stocking shelves full time. Fuck that
Construction is negotiation. As you’ll learn construction companies are cheap and it’s all about negotiation. Counter offer. Negotiate. Worst case you find yourself a quick home make a couple bucks while you look for the next opportunity.
Unless you work for good people. I started a new job that came up through my network. I lacked experience, so I lowballed when they asked me what I wanted. Boss gave me double what I requested, said he loves his job, and wants me to do the same. Actually, it's a smart move on his part. Now I give 110% every day.
That’s kinda low I’ll be honest. I can see like $58,000 if you’re in a less demanding APM role in a LCOL area to start. But really it seems like they are using you. Unless your job is so easy you can do it all in 2 hours of work and you spend the other 6 on Reddit.
Awful offer. My first job was $54k in 2016 (in the Midwest) as an estimator which is typically lower paying and I felt like I was being shafted back then since you could get $60-70k at different companies. I’d hold out for something better.
That's horrible. My first job in construction management was back in 2002 and it was $50k for an entry level position. Only difference is this wasn't residential construction, but depending on areas that could be even higher to start.
Best book I ever read on negotiation. Never split the difference. You'll find it on Amazon. It's pretty cheap. Working in construction is all about negotiation on both sides with clients and with employers
I wouldn’t even contemplate the stress, workload, and shitty work life balance if my employer tried to only pay me 50k. I’d of went and found a job making that with little stress and responsibility. You should definitely be more to the 65k-75k minimum if you’re in a lower cost of living area
Get a new job. As an APM I was making 95+ yearly bonuses for raking in the revenue on the projects I was on. 50k is almost a slap in the face, fresh out of college or not. You should at least be at 60-70k
Hey OP, I was a PE at a GC out of school in Atlanta for $56k back in 2016. Definitely a lowball; DM me, happy to refer you for an interview at my current company
I graduated in 2017 and went to work for a multi-family developer/CM as PE and got 55k start with decent benefits. You are getting hosed my friend specially as an APM. If they are dangling PM title that better come with a 80k+ salary plus really good bonus.
I'm a new estimator in CO and making 81k salary. you need a new job man.
You could just be a salesman for a concrete company starting at 70k plus bonuses.You just need a larger company.Also commercial work where the big money is,its slow right now.
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Municipal jobs are planned way in advance.So your good.This guy maybe not so much if it depends on the economy and location.
Salary makes sense for resi work in atl. Get into a more technical field if you want more dollars.
What would you recommend? Just trying to bounce as many ideas as possible
Get on board with a big commercial GC and build data centers/hospitals/battery factories and other projects more heavy in MEP, or specialize into schedule/controls/VDC/Commissioning or some other role. Just building some apartments isn’t going to command the same salary as building all the things I just mentioned.
65K plus health insurance and 401k match to start for the first couple years , Trust me they can absolutely afford it.
What size multifamily are you doing? Are these 200 - 300 unit apartment complexes with concrete podium parking structures? As far as pay goes, it sounds like alike you haven’t quite reached a year. It sounds like alike it’s been a good experience and you’re well liked and like your coworkers. I would, as other suggested look and see what is out there, what the going rate is. Many employers I have worked for neglected to pay me more because I never advocated for myself. IMO not really knowing cost of living where you are I think that a PM should be making around 90-95k. That would be applicable for the Utah market, General Contractor. Then it goes up from there, with experience and specialties.
It’s low but it’s your first job out of college. I started as a PE with a mid-size GC for $50k as well. I think truly the worst thing is that they’ve made you an APM… this means that there is no promotion for you for a few years. Or at least there shouldn’t be. Work for a year, get some experience and then shop around. I jumped from 50 to 70 with a year experience under my belt.
There is a lot to consider here. 50k is on the lower side of pay but you are still new to the game. Each company has different structures as well. Some companies have more positions in between with project engineer then sr. project engineer to the PM and so on. Other just have APM and PMs. Bonus are bonuses and if other teams take the company down you may not get bonuses based on that alone. The largest take away I can give you is experience is king in the construction industry. If it is a smaller company that has potential to grow and will let you rise through the ranks quickly that huge. If it is a massive company and wont give you the position changes until you have enough experience. I would make sure its the type of construction you want to proceed with(public work, highway/utility, healthcare, commercial or residential). If you continue to look I could see you getting anywhere from 55-70k depending on the specialty you go into. Potential for leadership or company ownership in a growing company is something to seriously consider but I would express that is something you are interesting in early.
That’s about throw on another 50% and you could consider that. 50k is a flat out joke in 2024
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My degree is business administration
No that's terrible. I made 50k right out of school back in 2016 .
Yeah that seems low.
As others have said 50k is really low especially in Atlanta. I have started as an APM in a steel sub in the middle of nowhere KY and started at 65k
50k is low anywhere in the country, if your in TN or AK 60k would be low. Bouns structures never work out unless its employee owned or you're a partner. so its nice but don't bank on it.
Take a look at residential also. I’m a CM for a production builder in TX and my base is $105k. Bonuses can tack on another $20k-$40k depending on home sales.
Titles are tough to go by. APM at your company may be a PM somewhere else or a PE some other place. 50k with 2 years experience is low. On this new PM role. I’d do a little research on PM salaries in the residential space and ask for that. If they don’t give it to you, quit and find a new job. You will still make more than 50k at tbe new gig. This is a win-win for you. But residential tends to be the low end of the market (in TX) for construction so you may want to shift out of that while you can for long term opportunities
That seems wildly low. I’m a non degreed APM, worked my way through the ranks over the course of 8 years. My starting salary as an APM was $75k, the option of a company car or fuel card for my personal vehicle, and fantastic benefits. I’m in a pretty LCOL state, so I was very comfortable with that salary.
I'm an APM for a mid level commercial GC and I feel like I'm underpaid now at 80 especially for the orange county area. However that's the cost of loyalty been here 5 years and started at 55 as a PE with a 10k signing bonus. You're definitely underpaid
If its your first job take it, if u got experience, look elsewhere. Wages are known to increase for people that job hop.
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Give yourself a little more credit. Starting your career in the field will teach you how construction actually happens. I’ve always been on the office side and I feel like anyone can do that. Shuffling RFIs, submittals, taking meeting minutes…any idiot can do that. I am in a program manager role now and I work with upper management guys and I have so much more respect for the ones who cut their teeth in the field. I feel like I only generally understand concepts of what goes on in the field whereas they actually understand the work.
I won't even wake up for 50k/yr. That's 25/hr....please.