GC Business Owner
ConstructionYou built the business from the ground up — possibly literally. You're a general contractor who owns the company, which means you bid the jobs, hire the subs, pull the permits, manage the money, AND handle the client who wants to add a second story for $10,000. The upside is enormous: top GC owners clear $300K+. The downside is that every project is a financial tightrope walk, and your phone never stops ringing.
Salary Range
Low
$100k
Median
$180k
High
$300k
10-Year Growth
5%
US Workers
621K
Education
General contractor license + extensive trade experience + business acumen
Environment
mixed
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Project bidding & cost estimation
- ▸Business management & accounting
- ▸Contractor licensing & bonding
- ▸Subcontractor management
- ▸Permit processes & code compliance
- ▸Construction project management software
- ▸Contract negotiation & lien law
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Business acumen
- ▸Leadership
- ▸Negotiation
- ▸Risk management
- ▸Client relationship management
- ▸Strategic planning
- ▸Stress management
Learn the skills
Courses and certifications to get you job-ready
Business management & accounting
Subcontractor management
Construction project management software
What you'll actually do
- 01Bid on projects and calculate costs that could make or break the entire year
- 02Manage subcontractors across every trade and keep the schedule from imploding
- 03Handle client meetings where expectations meet budget reality — and they never agree
- 04Review financials, pay invoices, and chase payments from clients who are 60 days late
- 05Pull permits, schedule inspections, and deal with building departments
- 06Lie awake at 2 AM doing math on the project that's over budget and behind schedule
Related Shifts
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