Not COSC, but Ag with emphasis on COSC. Graduated 07 and started in multi-family construction, in the field, at 35k.

6 years and now superintendent, and I am at 80k before per diem and bonus. 50-55 hpw. But have to be wherever the job is, then drive home to SA on weekends.

Thinking about changing it up for something that would keep me in SA.

My husband has a const mgmt degree from Sam and made 90K last yr (his 5th yr) including bonuses and car allowance.

Just came to the GC side here in Houston from the sub side. Private company. I'm under the impression that 90/year is a doable thing within 5 years from the starting salary average. We also still have project bonuses and yearly bonuses.

[This message has been edited by IvanAg07 (edited 4/3/2013 12:08p).]

I'll be 5 years in July and 90K/yr is doable if you count bonuses, gas cards, phone allowance and vehicle allowance. We build water and waste water treatment plants.

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I would say $90k by 10 years is realistic. Highly unlikely at 5.

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I've been out in the real world for about 12 years now.

I hit the 6 figure mark the first time about 5 years ago, but that is because I got a whale of a bonus at my old company.

With my salary and truck allowance, I'm in the ballpark of $90. Bonus adds to that, though the last couple of years have been pretty meager bonuses (not complaining by any stretch).

I'm a GC, but getting kind of tired of dealing with the BS I deal with on an hourly basis and wondering if there is something that fits me better out there.

i spent 4 years in commercial construction in san antonio. I got started a little over 55K, when I left I was at 60K but supposedly was "about to get a raise" which I expect would have been up to 67K maybe 70.

that person was sorely mistaken to think that few, if any, COSC majors will see 90K in 5 years unless you find yourself in a perfect situation such as a new/small company where you have room to grow faster....and that company is very successful...and they are very generous...

I've been in the commercial construction industry for 11 years, work for a small GC as PM/estimator, make $83k salary and it probably adds up to $95k with truck, bonuses (slim the past four years), and benefits. I'd be clearing six figures easily with the large GC I started with, but came here due to the opportunity to own the company in a few years.

I've wondered for years what others were making, not for personal reasons, but for comparison of our people's pay to others when bidding work and for hiring.

I'll give my two cents on the O&G construction side...

I graduated from COSC in May 2010. I started in June with an O&G pipeline construction company working in the main office making 60k while I learned the company's ways of business and the construction. After about 4 months they put me on a project as a office manager and with perdiem I was in the ball park of 80+. I have since left companies and join another pipeline construction company and now making in the low to mid six figures that is including truck pay and per diem.

But you have to figure in working 12-15 hours a day at least 6 days a week every week if not 7. So you are always on the road and rarely get to go home or have time off.

For me being fresh out of school I thought it would be fun to travel around the see new towns and places. I was also surprised how the COSC department never mentioned anything regarding this field.

[This message has been edited by smackmac32 (edited 4/8/2013 12:43p).]

smackmac32- Do you have an email I can ask you a few questions?
TIA

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I was also surprised how the COSC department never mentioned anything regarding this field.

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The COSC program, like just about every other program out there, is largely commercial based - mostly because that is close to a happy medium between pissant home building construction and petrochem/O&G construction.

Construction, in general, is so company specific and industry specific that trying to tailor a program to all types of construction out there would be impossible. They kind of use the shotgun approach and favor commercial, mostly because that is the industry that lobbies the departments more than all of the others.

I was one of but a handful of students that had absolutely zero desire to build houses, wal-marts or highways. I always felt like kind of a loner in the department, and a lot of the classroom material just didn't equate to anything in my industry. Try talking about weld inspection in your typical COSC core class and see what kind of blank looks you get.

I haven't seen anything from the residential guys.

How are salaries in that market? How's it compare between the high end custom folks and the "D.R. Horton" companies of the world?

Who's in residential and actually enjoys it? Call me crazy, but I'd actually like to get into that market.

Smack -what company and are they hiring? Lol.

From what I have heard from the residential side, it really depends on the times. When they're good, they're good. When they're bad, you're unemployed. It is much easier to create a housing glut than a commercial space glut.

Commercial is a lot more stable because commercial projects are usually planned years ahead of time and are always going on. There's also the public construction aspect of commercial. I can't imagine any public entity that builds houses (other than the low income stuff that doesn't happen every day), but there are tons of school districts, cities, counties, and other public entities that need large buildings. The public demand is always there no matter what the private market is doing.

And O&G makes serious money no matter what part of it you're in. I know a liberal arts COMM major who started out doing some kind of lease work with an O&G company and started at around $50k right out of school. He's been out for about three and half years and is in the low six figure range (base salary), with an 8-5 desk job.

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From what I have heard from the residential side, it really depends on the times. When they're good, they're good. When they're bad, you're unemployed. It is much easier to create a housing glut than a commercial space glut.

Commercial is a lot more stable because commercial projects are usually planned years ahead of time and are always going on. There's also the public construction aspect of commercial. I can't imagine any public entity that builds houses (other than the low income stuff that doesn't happen every day), but there are tons of school districts, cities, counties, and other public entities that need large buildings. The public demand is always there no matter what the private market is doing.

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Commercial demand is much more diverse than residential and is contingent on more factors than just interest rates and unemployment. Additionally, many public and healthcare entities CHOOSE to build in the bad times because they can take advantage of hungry contractors with low fees and leveraged buying power.

[This message has been edited by Spaceship (edited 4/9/2013 1:49p).]

I'm 5 years out of school working for a Commercial GC as a super and I just barely touched the 6 figure mark last year

The man friend graduated in 2010 with COSC and his starting salary was around $65k. He is still with the same company (O&G) and is a little above $90k. He is mostly a desk guy but visits the sites about a third of the time. Pretty much the same as what everyone else has said....he thought he wanted to do GC but now says he can't imagine doing anything else.

So who are these companies who are in the O&G construction? Do they look on hire aggies or through the departments?

The A&M construction career fair is nothing but commercial. Are they there as well?

I think i've seen Bechtel Oil and Chemical a few times.

The last few people he has recommended they hire have come from him going through the department. They do not go to the career fair but they do look for new graduates, entry level, that can be trained to do the job. His company just lost a guy and should they decide to replace him I can post the info on this board for anyone interested in the position.

All the major EPC guys recruit at colleges. Construction guys are always needed there as that is a major part of their business model.

Here is a quick list of some of the bigger ones.

Fluor
Foster Wheeler
KBR
Bechtel
Jacobs
Shaw
WorleyParsons
URS
CH2M Hill
Wood Group (and all associated companies)
CB&I
Burns and McDonnell
SBM
Modec
Technip
McDermott
S&B

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How are salaries in that market? How's it compare between the high end custom folks and the "D.R. Horton" companies of the world?

Who's in residential and actually enjoys it? Call me crazy, but I'd actually like to get into that market.

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I don't know about now, but when I graduated it was the start of the housing boom and the residential guys were getting good offers.

Most of their salaries were actually on the lower end of the scale, but most got company trucks right out of the gate and had some other perks.

Custom home building is going to be more lucrative, but not as steady on the work load versus your DR Horton or KB Builders type of spec home repetitive work.

And yes, you are crazy for wanting to get into that world in any capacity other than building your own house.