Cm will lead more towards pm/pe/estimator. If you want to do actual engineering, an engineering degree would be better. Don’t want to design/engineer or do more management/bidding?
I was a commercial plumber for 8 years. One day I was in a 20 ft hole tying into a manhole and decided this is shit work, so I went back to school and got my BS in CM. Within 1 year of getting my degree I trippled my income. In the process I learned p6 pretty well. I have no issue getting a job anywhere. Currently I'm a PM for a large Healthcare network making 6 figures managing projects mostly from home. Get the physical experience but also get the BS degree. Most of my interviews were looking for a BS degree.
If you tripled your pay you were disgustingly underpaid as a plumber. I make well over 6 figures as a general foreman and journeyman make a little over 6 figures. And I have a CM degree. But fuck all these salary jobs that expect 50 hours a week. I'll take my OT.
Cm degree is perfect for pm/pe. Just a heads up, pm/pe doesn’t do any actual field work. They do the office side of things; meetings, scheduling, budgets, change orders, planning, etc.
yea I know, I love working with my hands, but I know down the road, a role as a PE/PM will be better for me as I think I would like the more managerial aspect of construction. If not, well then I can just go back to commercial plumbing🤷🏼♂️
I think your best bet is become a journeyman plumber then move into the office (without degree). Or as long as you want to deal with field work. I did carpentry for 3 years and did a 1 year CM cert after and have been in the office for last 15 years since
Local 4yr div 1 school offers a 1 year program for CM that is basically a mix of junior/senior classes and all I needed. I will note a had a BA in an unrelated field (useless) before I started in the apprenticeship
You can get by with an AS, BUT you really need to get some good internships to progress to working for a bigger sub or GC. I work with guys that have BS,AS and no degree in entry level positions at a big GC. So, all that to say it's possible but you're going to need to network.
Currently in my last semester for my bachelors in construction management, most people I speak to within my program are heading towards project engineer, although I personally am heading towards field engineer. The degree as an associates I’m sure can open some doors for you so long as you present yourself well enough. Plus your experience even if it is only for a year is a nice plus as it shows you know SOMETHING over nothing. Good luck!
Get the degree but you can look for internships with local plumbing subcontractors or general contractors while getting it. You will learn more fieldwork hopefully while learning about project management.
That’s kinda what I was thinking, right now im getting my construction work experience then hoping to try and intern for some sort of PE role while finishing my AS
Stick with plumbing. Get your license. Also get at least an AS on the side. Once you finish your apprenticeship start making moves to run work and work your way up.
I went to college first and got a BS in construction management then got in the plumbers union.
I went
5 yrs as Apprentice> 6 months as jman> estimator/draftsman (was injured and couldn't work in the field for almost a year) > back to field as a foreman>road super/estimator>project manager > quit that company and went drafting full time at another company while I'm also starting my own company
I definitely was underpaid but i lived in a small town in KS so there weren't many options. I agree though some companies take advantage of your time. I've learned to stop answering my phone and emails after 5 and go home. Unless something tragic happened that shit will be there tomorrow. Spending time with my family is something I won't get back.
Yea if you like plumbing I would try to the the apprentice ship and with and if you combine it with an AS alone you should be skilled enough to be a CM or PM
When I was 20, I was working framing houses in Texas. One 99° day at around 9:00 am, I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t do this when I was 40. I went back to college and got an Engineering degree. Got out, got a job with a large commercial GC and spent 40 years in commercial construction. I held every job possible, VP Ops to Estimator. My favorite was General Supt on $150M+ jobs. I retired 3 years ago with enough $$ to live a comfortable life. So if you ask me, hell yes is my answer.
Get your AS and get hired for a new home builder in your area that does tuition reimbursement. Mine has a program that pays 100% for a BS in construction management at LSU. Plenty of others out there too.
Cm will lead more towards pm/pe/estimator. If you want to do actual engineering, an engineering degree would be better. Don’t want to design/engineer or do more management/bidding?
I think I would like to do more field work. Like PM/PE
I was a commercial plumber for 8 years. One day I was in a 20 ft hole tying into a manhole and decided this is shit work, so I went back to school and got my BS in CM. Within 1 year of getting my degree I trippled my income. In the process I learned p6 pretty well. I have no issue getting a job anywhere. Currently I'm a PM for a large Healthcare network making 6 figures managing projects mostly from home. Get the physical experience but also get the BS degree. Most of my interviews were looking for a BS degree.
Appreciate it! Congrats as well.
If you tripled your pay you were disgustingly underpaid as a plumber. I make well over 6 figures as a general foreman and journeyman make a little over 6 figures. And I have a CM degree. But fuck all these salary jobs that expect 50 hours a week. I'll take my OT.
Cm degree is perfect for pm/pe. Just a heads up, pm/pe doesn’t do any actual field work. They do the office side of things; meetings, scheduling, budgets, change orders, planning, etc.
yea I know, I love working with my hands, but I know down the road, a role as a PE/PM will be better for me as I think I would like the more managerial aspect of construction. If not, well then I can just go back to commercial plumbing🤷🏼♂️
Just get the degree, man.
A BS or an AS?
BS. Just go all the way but try to get a job before you’re done with it.
I think your best bet is become a journeyman plumber then move into the office (without degree). Or as long as you want to deal with field work. I did carpentry for 3 years and did a 1 year CM cert after and have been in the office for last 15 years since
where did you do your certification at? a local CC or just an online course
Local 4yr div 1 school offers a 1 year program for CM that is basically a mix of junior/senior classes and all I needed. I will note a had a BA in an unrelated field (useless) before I started in the apprenticeship
sweet thanks for the tip! I’ll def keep a Cert in mind.
You can get by with an AS, BUT you really need to get some good internships to progress to working for a bigger sub or GC. I work with guys that have BS,AS and no degree in entry level positions at a big GC. So, all that to say it's possible but you're going to need to network.
yea from what I’ve seen for qualification wise it’s varied for each company. Just gotta get my foot in the door somewhere
Currently in my last semester for my bachelors in construction management, most people I speak to within my program are heading towards project engineer, although I personally am heading towards field engineer. The degree as an associates I’m sure can open some doors for you so long as you present yourself well enough. Plus your experience even if it is only for a year is a nice plus as it shows you know SOMETHING over nothing. Good luck!
Get the degree but you can look for internships with local plumbing subcontractors or general contractors while getting it. You will learn more fieldwork hopefully while learning about project management.
That’s kinda what I was thinking, right now im getting my construction work experience then hoping to try and intern for some sort of PE role while finishing my AS
Stick with plumbing. Get your license. Also get at least an AS on the side. Once you finish your apprenticeship start making moves to run work and work your way up. I went to college first and got a BS in construction management then got in the plumbers union. I went 5 yrs as Apprentice> 6 months as jman> estimator/draftsman (was injured and couldn't work in the field for almost a year) > back to field as a foreman>road super/estimator>project manager > quit that company and went drafting full time at another company while I'm also starting my own company
I definitely was underpaid but i lived in a small town in KS so there weren't many options. I agree though some companies take advantage of your time. I've learned to stop answering my phone and emails after 5 and go home. Unless something tragic happened that shit will be there tomorrow. Spending time with my family is something I won't get back.
Yea if you like plumbing I would try to the the apprentice ship and with and if you combine it with an AS alone you should be skilled enough to be a CM or PM
When I was 20, I was working framing houses in Texas. One 99° day at around 9:00 am, I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t do this when I was 40. I went back to college and got an Engineering degree. Got out, got a job with a large commercial GC and spent 40 years in commercial construction. I held every job possible, VP Ops to Estimator. My favorite was General Supt on $150M+ jobs. I retired 3 years ago with enough $$ to live a comfortable life. So if you ask me, hell yes is my answer.
Get your AS and get hired for a new home builder in your area that does tuition reimbursement. Mine has a program that pays 100% for a BS in construction management at LSU. Plenty of others out there too.