Administrative Services Managers vs Construction Managers: Similar Pay, 5.2% vs 9.1% Growth

Administrative Services Managers vs Construction Managers: what changes?

Consider Administrative Services Managers if you want to plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services. Consider Construction Managers if you would rather plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Administrative Services Managers (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Administrative Services Managers and Construction Managers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Administrative Services Managers

National median pay (2025): $114,130
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Prepare and review operational reports and schedules to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 22,000

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Administrative Services Managers brief

Construction Managers

National median pay (2025): $114,990
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Inspect or review projects to monitor compliance with building and safety codes or other regulations.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 49,700

Know before you choose

Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.

See the full Construction Managers brief

How the national numbers differ

Construction Managers has the edge on projected growth

Construction Managers is at 9.1% projected growth, compared with 5.2% projected growth for Administrative Services Managers.

Typical preparation differs.

Administrative Services Managers: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years Construction Managers: Bachelor's degree; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Construction Managers has the edge on annual openings

Construction Managers is at 49,700 annual openings, compared with 22,000 annual openings for Administrative Services Managers.

National pay benchmarks are very similar.

Compare actual offers, expected paid hours, schedule, and benefits before treating either career as the higher-paying option.

75.7/ 100

Administrative Services Managers

79.6/ 100

Construction Managers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Administrative Services Managers vs Construction Managers

Dimension	Administrative Services Managers	Construction Managers
Median pay (2025)	$114,130	$114,990
Pay percentile	88.5 percentile	88.8 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	5.2%	9.1%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	22,000	49,700
2025 employment	279,000	609,100
How you qualify	Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years	Bachelor's degree; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 4
Related work experience	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Administrative Services Managers brief Read Construction Managers brief

Administrative Services Managers vs Construction Managers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Administrative Services Managers

Construction Managers

How the national numbers differ

Construction Managers has the edge on projected growth

Typical preparation differs.

Construction Managers has the edge on annual openings

National pay benchmarks are very similar.

Administrative Services Managers vs Construction Managers

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