Free construction site manager and site supervisor job description templates, with the FLSA overtime rule, OSHA competent-person, and Davis-Bacon guidance.
6 free construction templates, from working foreman and site supervisor to senior site manager, with BLS pay data, the FLSA overtime rule that catches small contractors, and the OSHA competent-person and Davis-Bacon guidance generic templates skip. Download as DOCX.
In construction, a site manager runs the jobsite: the schedule, the crew, the subs, the safety, and the quality of the build. But the title covers a wide range, from a working foreman who swings a hammer alongside the crew all day to a senior manager who owns budgets and project delivery. That range is exactly why the generic templates online fall short, because they skip the one question a small contractor most needs answered: is this person exempt from overtime, or not?
At FirstHR, we build for small contractors that hire without an HR department, where the owner writes the posting and runs onboarding. The six US-specific templates below cover the role across tiers and trades: working foreman, senior site manager, assistant site manager, small GC or residential, specialty trade, and civil or commercial. Each is ready to use, with the FLSA, OSHA, and Davis-Bacon guidance the generic templates leave out. For the fundamentals behind any posting, the guide to writing a job description is a useful companion.
TL;DR
Six free construction site manager job description templates by tier and trade. The key thing generic templates miss: a working foreman or supervisor who does manual work more than half the time is non-exempt and owed overtime, regardless of salary or title (29 CFR 541.3). The senior site manager tier (median $106,980) is usually exempt; the working supervisor tier (median $78,690) often is not. Download as DOCX, with OSHA and Davis-Bacon guidance built in.
What a Site Manager Does
A construction site manager takes responsibility for the jobsite: the schedule, budget, subcontractors, safety, and quality of the build. The work means coordinating crews and subs, managing materials, serving as or overseeing the OSHA competent person, handling inspections and documentation, and reporting progress. At a small contractor, the same title often means a working foreman who leads and works with the crew.
These titles describe a ladder, and small contractors use them loosely, but the level determines the duties, the pay, and whether the role is owed overtime. Here is how the tiers compare.
Tier
Scope
Pay and classification
Working foreman
Leads and works alongside the crew, hands-on most of the day
Hourly; usually non-exempt
Site supervisor
Runs daily work on site, supervises the crew, often still hands-on
Often non-exempt at small firms
Site manager (senior)
Owns schedule, budget, subs, and delivery; leads supervisors
Salaried; usually exempt
Assistant site manager
Supports the site manager; field tier
Often non-exempt
The practical takeaway: the more manual construction work the person does, the more likely they are non-exempt and owed overtime, no matter the title. Define the role by its real duties first, then pick the title and pay. This is general information, not legal advice.
Site Manager Duties and Responsibilities
Site manager duties cluster into four areas: running the jobsite, leading the crew, safety and compliance, and quality and documentation. A good job description picks the specific duties from each area that match your trade and tier rather than listing every possible task.
Run the jobsite
Manage the daily schedule and layout
Coordinate subs, suppliers, and deliveries
Keep the job on time and on budget
Lead the crew
Supervise and assign the crew
Often work alongside the crew (foreman tier)
Train and direct trade workers
Safety and compliance
Serve as the OSHA competent person
Run inspections and toolbox talks
Enforce PPE and correct hazards
Quality and documentation
Manage quality and inspection readiness
Keep daily logs, photos, and reports
Handle RFIs, change orders, and progress
For a working foreman the crew-leadership and hands-on duties dominate; for a senior site manager, the schedule, budget, and subcontractor coordination lead. The constant across every tier is safety responsibility. Scale the duties to your trade, project type, and the level of the role.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by tier and trade. The run-the-jobsite core runs through all six, but each one emphasizes the duties, classification, and compliance that fit a specific kind of contractor. Use this guide to choose.
Site Supervisor / Working Foreman
Crew leader, hands-on (often non-exempt)
The most common SMB hire: an experienced tradesperson who leads the crew and works alongside them. Frequently non-exempt and owed overtime. Start here for most small contractors.
Construction Site Manager
Senior, salaried (usually exempt)
The senior version: owns schedule, budget, subs, safety, and quality, and leads supervisors and crews. Generally exempt when the primary duty is genuine management.
Assistant Site Manager
Growth role, field tier
For a developing leader who supports the site manager and steps up when needed. Often non-exempt at the field tier. A path toward full site management.
Small GC / Residential
Wear-many-hats, homeowner-facing
For a small general contractor or remodeler: one person runs the site, works the crew, coordinates subs, and keeps the homeowner informed. Usually a working, non-exempt role.
Specialty Trade Contractor
Electrical, plumbing, roofing, concrete
For a trade sub: a supervisor who leads and works with the crew, owns trade safety and code compliance, and coordinates with the GC. Commonly non-exempt.
Civil / Commercial
Larger projects, public works
For civil or commercial work: a manager who runs the site from mobilization to closeout, including certified payroll and prevailing-wage compliance on public jobs. Usually exempt.
Match the Template to the Role
A crew leader who works alongside the crew: Site Supervisor / Working Foreman. A senior manager owning the whole project: Construction Site Manager. A developing leader: Assistant Site Manager. A small builder or remodeler: Small GC / Residential. A trade sub: Specialty Trade. Larger or public-works projects: Civil / Commercial. When in doubt at a small contractor, the Site Supervisor / Working Foreman version is the most common fit.
6 Free Site Manager Job Description Templates
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each one follows the same structure: company and job summary, key responsibilities, qualifications, an FLSA note, pay, and how to apply. These are US-specific. Fill in the brackets before you post.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
Working foreman, senior site manager, assistant, small GC, specialty trade, and civil/commercial. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: Site Supervisor / Working Foreman
The most common small-contractor hire: an experienced tradesperson who leads the crew and works alongside them. Frequently non-exempt and owed overtime. Start here for most small contractors.
Site Supervisor / Working Foreman Job Description
SITE SUPERVISOR / WORKING FOREMAN JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __ (contractor)
Location: __
Reports to: Project Manager / Owner
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: Non-exempt (hourly) [see note: depends on duties]
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour
ABOUT [COMPANY NAME]
[One or two sentences about your company, the type of construction you do, and the
crew this supervisor will lead.]
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Site Supervisor (Working Foreman) to lead the crew and
the work on our jobsites. You will run the day-to-day on site, supervise and work
alongside the crew, keep the job on schedule and safe, and serve as our competent
person for safety. This is a hands-on role for an experienced tradesperson who can
lead a crew and still do the work.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Supervise and work alongside the crew on the jobsite
•Run the daily schedule, layout, and task assignments
•Serve as the OSHA competent person for the site
•Conduct safety inspections and toolbox talks
•Coordinate with subs, suppliers, and the project manager
•Track materials, deliveries, and daily logs
•Enforce quality, safety, and PPE on site
•Report progress, delays, and incidents
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[3 to 5] years in the trade, with crew-leadership experience
•OSHA 10 or 30 certification (or willing to obtain)
•Able to read plans and run a jobsite day to day
•Hands-on skill in [framing / electrical / plumbing / concrete / your trade]
•Valid driver's license; reliable transportation
FLSA NOTE (read before posting)
If this supervisor spends more than half of their time doing manual construction
work alongside the crew, they are likely non-exempt and owed overtime, regardless
of salary or title (29 CFR 541.3; DOL Fact Sheet 17P). If their primary duty is
managing the project and the crew, they may be exempt. Classify by actual duties.
This is general information, not legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour
Overtime: 1.5x the regular rate for hours over 40 per week (if non-exempt)
To apply, send your resume to __ by _.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 2: Construction Site Manager (Senior)
The senior version: owns schedule, budget, subs, safety, and quality, and leads supervisors and crews. Generally exempt when the primary duty is genuine management.
Construction Site Manager Job Description (Senior)
CONSTRUCTION SITE MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION (SENIOR)
Company: __ (contractor)
Location: __
Reports to: Project Director / Owner
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: Exempt (salaried) [if managerial primary duty; see note]
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Construction Site Manager to lead the planning,
coordination, and delivery of our projects on site. You will own the schedule,
budget, subcontractors, safety, and quality for the jobsite, manage supervisors
and crews, and serve as the primary point of contact for the project. This is a
senior leadership role responsible for the success of the build.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Manage the jobsite schedule, budget, and resources
•Coordinate and oversee subcontractors and suppliers
•Lead site supervisors, foremen, and crews
•Own site safety and OSHA compliance as the responsible manager
•Manage quality, inspections, and project documentation
•Handle RFIs, change orders, and progress reporting
•Serve as the main point of contact for the project
•Ensure the project is delivered on time and on budget
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[5 to 10] years of construction experience, including site management
•Bachelor's degree in construction management or equivalent experience
•Strong knowledge of scheduling, budgeting, and project delivery
•OSHA 30 certification
•Leadership, communication, and problem-solving ability
FLSA NOTE (read before posting)
A site manager whose primary duty is managing the project, the crews, and
operations, with real authority, is generally exempt under the executive or
administrative exemption. But if the role is mostly manual construction work, the
blue-collar rule (29 CFR 541.3) can make it non-exempt regardless of salary.
Classify by actual duties. This is general information, not legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
Benefits: __
To apply, send your resume to __ by _.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
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For a developing leader who supports the site manager and steps up when needed. Often non-exempt at the field tier, and a path toward full site management.
Assistant Site Manager Job Description
ASSISTANT SITE MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __ (contractor)
Location: __
Reports to: Site Manager / Project Manager
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: Non-exempt (hourly) [common for field-tier; see note]
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring an Assistant Site Manager to support the site manager in
running our jobsites. You will help coordinate the schedule, crews, subs, and
documentation, support safety and quality on site, and step up to run the site
when needed. This is a growth role for someone building toward full site
management.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Support the site manager with daily site coordination
•Help schedule crews, subs, and deliveries
•Support safety inspections, toolbox talks, and PPE enforcement
•Maintain daily logs, photos, and documentation
•Help track materials, quantities, and progress
•Coordinate with the office on paperwork and reporting
•Step in to run the site in the manager's absence
•Learn project management and site leadership
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[1 to 3] years of construction or jobsite experience
•OSHA 10 certification (or willing to obtain)
•Able to read plans and follow a schedule
•Organized, reliable, and a strong communicator
•Valid driver's license; reliable transportation
FLSA NOTE
Field-tier assistant site managers who spend most of their time on hands-on
construction work are often non-exempt and owed overtime, regardless of title
(29 CFR 541.3). Classify by actual duties. This is general information, not legal
advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour
Overtime: 1.5x the regular rate for hours over 40 per week (if non-exempt)
To apply, send your resume to __ by _.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 4: Small GC / Residential
For a small general contractor or remodeler: one person runs the site, works the crew, coordinates subs, and keeps the homeowner informed. Usually a working, non-exempt role.
Site Manager Job Description (Small GC / Residential)
SITE MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION (SMALL GC / RESIDENTIAL)
Company: __ (small general contractor / remodeler)
Location: __
Reports to: Owner
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: [Non-exempt if working foreman; exempt if managerial. See note.]
Pay range: $_____ per hour OR $_____ per year
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is a small [general contractor / remodeler] hiring a Site Manager to
run our residential jobsites. On a small crew you will wear many hats: schedule and
supervise the crew, work alongside them, coordinate subs and materials, keep the
job safe, and keep the homeowner informed. This is a hands-on role for an
experienced builder who can lead a small crew.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Run the daily jobsite: schedule, crew, and tasks
•Supervise and often work alongside the crew
•Coordinate subcontractors, inspections, and deliveries
•Serve as the competent person for site safety
•Communicate with the homeowner and the owner
•Track materials, change orders, and progress
•Keep the site clean, safe, and on schedule
•Enforce quality and safety standards
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[5+] years of residential construction experience
•Crew-leadership experience; able to run a jobsite
•OSHA 10 or 30 certification preferred
•Hands-on building skill across multiple trades
•Valid driver's license; reliable transportation
FLSA NOTE (important for small contractors)
At a small GC, the site manager often works alongside the crew. If they spend more
than half their time on manual construction work, they are likely non-exempt and
owed overtime, regardless of salary or title (29 CFR 541.3; DOL Fact Sheet 17P).
Only a true managerial role qualifies as exempt. Classify by actual duties. This is
general information, not legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay: $_____ per hour OR $_____ per year (per classification)
Overtime: 1.5x the regular rate for hours over 40 per week (if non-exempt)
To apply, send your resume or call __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
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For an electrical, plumbing, roofing, concrete, or HVAC sub: a supervisor who leads and works with the crew, owns trade safety and code compliance, and coordinates with the GC.
Site Supervisor Job Description (Specialty Trade Contractor)
SITE SUPERVISOR JOB DESCRIPTION (SPECIALTY TRADE CONTRACTOR)
FLSA status: Non-exempt (hourly) [common; see note]
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is a [electrical / plumbing / roofing / concrete / HVAC] contractor
hiring a Site Supervisor to lead our crews in the field. You will run the work on
site, supervise and work with the crew, manage safety and quality for our trade,
coordinate with the GC and other trades, and keep our jobs on schedule.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Lead and work alongside the [trade] crew on site
•Run layout, scheduling, and daily task assignments
•Serve as the competent person for trade safety
•Coordinate with the general contractor and other trades
•Ensure code compliance and inspection readiness
•Manage materials, tools, and equipment on site
•Enforce safety, PPE, and quality standards
•Report progress and issues to the office
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[4+] years in the [trade], with crew-leadership experience
•Relevant trade license or certification where required
•OSHA 10 or 30 certification
•Able to read plans and ensure code compliance
•Valid driver's license; reliable transportation
FLSA NOTE
A trade site supervisor who spends most of their time doing hands-on [trade] work
is likely non-exempt and owed overtime, regardless of salary or title (29 CFR
541.3). On federal or prevailing-wage work, a foreman doing more than 20 percent
manual labor in a week is owed the prevailing wage for that work (29 CFR 5.2).
Classify by actual duties. This is general information, not legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour
Overtime: 1.5x the regular rate for hours over 40 per week (if non-exempt)
To apply, send your resume to __ by _.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 6: Civil / Commercial
For civil or commercial work: a manager who runs the site from mobilization to closeout, including certified payroll and prevailing-wage compliance on public jobs. Usually exempt.
Site Manager Job Description (Civil / Commercial)
SITE MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION (CIVIL / COMMERCIAL)
Company: __ (civil / commercial contractor)
Location: __
Reports to: Project Manager / Project Director
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: Exempt (salaried) [if managerial primary duty; see note]
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Site Manager for our [civil / commercial] projects. You
will manage the jobsite from mobilization to closeout: schedule, budget,
subcontractors, safety, quality, and documentation. You will lead supervisors and
crews, coordinate with engineers, inspectors, and the owner, and deliver the
project to specification, on time, and on budget.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Manage the full jobsite from mobilization to closeout
•Own the schedule, budget, and subcontractor coordination
•Lead supervisors, foremen, and crews
•Manage site safety and OSHA compliance as the responsible manager
•Coordinate with engineers, inspectors, and the owner
•Handle submittals, RFIs, change orders, and reporting
•Oversee quality control and inspection readiness
•Manage certified payroll and prevailing-wage compliance on public work
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[7 to 10] years of civil or commercial construction experience
•Bachelor's degree in construction management or equivalent experience
•Strong scheduling, budgeting, and contract-administration skills
•OSHA 30 certification
•Experience with prevailing-wage and public-works compliance a plus
FLSA NOTE
A civil or commercial site manager whose primary duty is genuine project and
operations management is generally exempt under the executive or administrative
exemption. On federal or federally assisted projects, understand certified payroll
(Form WH-347) and prevailing-wage rules. Classify by actual duties. This is general
information, not legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
Benefits: __
To apply, send your resume to __ by _.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
FLSA, OSHA, and Davis-Bacon
This is the part the generic templates skip, and for a construction hire it is the part that matters most: the overtime classification, the OSHA competent-person role, and the Davis-Bacon rules on public work. Get these right and your posting attracts the right candidate and protects your firm.
FLSA: the working-foreman trap (the rule everyone misses)
This is the single biggest thing generic site manager templates skip, and it catches many small contractors. A site manager or supervisor who spends more than half of their time doing manual construction work alongside the crew is likely non-exempt and owed overtime, no matter how high the salary or how senior the title. The blue-collar rule is explicit that construction workers and similar trades are entitled to minimum wage and overtime and are not exempt, and the regulations make clear that someone whose primary duty is the trade does not become exempt just by also directing other workers, ordering materials, or handling the prime contractor. A true site manager whose primary duty is managing the project and the crews can be exempt under the executive or administrative test. Classify by what the person actually does, not the title. This is general information, not legal advice.
OSHA: the site manager is usually the competent person
On a construction site, the supervisor or site manager is typically the employer's designated competent person, defined as someone able to identify hazards and authorized to correct them promptly. OSHA requires frequent and regular site inspections by a competent person, with specific duties for scaffolds, fall protection at the six-foot trigger, and excavations at the five-foot trigger with daily inspection. OSHA 10 or 30 training is a common requirement on the job description. Make the competent-person role and the safety authority explicit in the posting, because it is a real responsibility with real liability, and current OSHA penalties run up to $16,550 per serious violation and up to $165,514 for willful or repeat violations. This is general information, not legal advice.
Davis-Bacon: the 20 percent rule on public work
On federal or federally assisted construction over the threshold, prevailing-wage rules apply, and there is a classification trap for foremen. A supervisory employee who is not exempt and who spends more than 20 percent of a workweek doing the work of a laborer or mechanic must be paid the prevailing wage for that work for all hours performing it. Forepersons who stay under 20 percent manual labor do not need to be reported on certified payroll. The site manager on public work also has to understand weekly certified payroll on Form WH-347 and posting requirements. If your firm does any public or prevailing-wage work, build this into the role and the posting. This is general information, not legal advice.
On a multi-employer jobsite, a general contractor or site manager can be cited by OSHA as the controlling employer for a subcontractor's hazard that it could reasonably have detected and corrected, even if none of its own employees were exposed. This makes the site manager's authority to enforce safety across all trades a documented job responsibility, not a courtesy. The posting should state that the site manager has the authority and the duty to identify and correct hazards site-wide. No competing template addresses this, and it is exactly the kind of liability a small contractor needs its site leader to own. This is general information, not legal advice.
The Working-Foreman Overtime Trap
A supervisor or foreman who spends more than half their time on manual construction work is non-exempt and owed overtime, no matter the salary or title, under the blue-collar rule (DOL Fact Sheet 17P, 29 CFR 541.3). Current OSHA penalties run up to $16,550 per serious violation and $165,514 for willful or repeat ones. No competitor template covers either.
For the full classification framework, the exempt versus non-exempt guide and the Fair Labor Standards Act overview explain how the tests work for roles like this. State rules can be stricter than the federal floor, so confirm against your state. This is general information, not legal advice.
Skills and Requirements
Site manager roles start from trade experience, crew-leadership ability, and safety credentials, scaled to the tier. A working foreman needs hands-on skill; a senior manager needs scheduling and budgeting depth.
Requirement
What to look for
Experience
Trade and jobsite experience, scaled to the tier; crew leadership
Safety
OSHA 10 or 30 certification; competent-person capability
Technical
Reading plans, scheduling, and coordinating subs and inspections
Trade skill
Hands-on skill in the relevant trade for working roles
Logistics
Valid driver's license and reliable transportation
Classification
Non-exempt for working roles; exempt for genuine management
Keep every requirement job-related, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that show a preference based on a protected characteristic, and the SHRM guide covers the standard sections of a job description.
Site Manager Pay
Pay depends heavily on the tier, so benchmark to the level of the role rather than the title alone. Use government data for context, then adjust for trade, region, and project type.
Two Tiers, Two Pay Bands (BLS)
The senior construction manager role reported a median of $106,980 as of May 2024, with the highest 10 percent over $176,990. The working supervisor tier, first-line supervisors of construction trades, reported a median around $78,690, with the top 25 percent above roughly $100,000 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Field-tier assistant site managers cluster around $52,000 to $58,000.
Pay varies by region, trade, project type, and union status, and working supervisors who are non-exempt also earn overtime on top of base pay. Set your range to the tier and market, post it where your state requires a range, and remember that aggregator pay for the generic site manager title is inflated by unrelated clinical-research and e-commerce roles. Benchmark to the construction tier you are actually hiring. This is general information, not legal advice.
Hiring for a Small Contractor
Construction is overwhelmingly a small-business industry, and most construction workers are employed by firms with fewer than 50 people. A small GC, remodeler, or trade sub hires a site manager or foreman without an HR department, the owner does it, and the overtime and OSHA compliance still applies in full. Here is how to write it for that reality.
Most site manager templates are written for big builders, not a small contractor
The templates ranking online are generic and enterprise-flavored, and two of the most visible are written for the UK, with CSCS and CIOB references that mean nothing to a US contractor. A small general contractor, remodeler, or trade sub of 5 to 50 people has no HR department: the owner writes the posting, hires the supervisor, and runs onboarding. Construction is overwhelmingly a small-business industry, and establishments with fewer than 50 workers employ most of the construction workforce. The templates above are written for that reality, US-specific and sized for a small crew, rather than a national builder's job description scaled down.
Your working foreman is probably non-exempt, and getting it wrong is expensive
This is the trap that catches small contractors. At a small firm, the site manager or foreman almost always works alongside the crew, framing, wiring, or pouring most of the day. When someone spends more than half their time on manual construction work, they are non-exempt and owed overtime, regardless of salary or title. Calling someone a salaried manager does not make the overtime obligation go away if the real job is swinging a hammer. Misclassification leads to back-pay and penalties. Decide the classification honestly based on what the person actually does, and budget for overtime when the role is a working one. This is general information, not legal advice.
The site manager carries your OSHA and safety liability
On a jobsite, the site manager or supervisor is usually the OSHA competent person, responsible for spotting and correcting hazards, and on a multi-employer site can carry liability for subcontractor hazards too. Current OSHA penalties reach $16,550 per serious violation and $165,514 for willful or repeat ones, so this is not a paperwork detail. A small contractor needs its site leader to own safety with real authority, documented in the job description, and to come with OSHA 10 or 30 training. The advantage of a small operation is that safety responsibility is clear and easy to assign to one person, which a structured onboarding can reinforce from day one.
Hiring a site manager kicks off real onboarding and compliance work
Once you hire a site supervisor or manager, the paperwork starts: a signed offer, Form I-9, tax forms, state new-hire reporting, OSHA training documentation, and safety acknowledgments, plus certified-payroll setup if you do public work. For a small contractor without HR, that is a lot to run by hand for every hire in a high-turnover trade. FirstHR fits this people side: send the offer for e-signature, collect I-9 and tax forms, store OSHA and safety acknowledgments and certifications, and run a structured onboarding workflow for each new hire. To be clear about scope, FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a project-management, estimating, or certified-payroll system, and it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so pair it with those tools. Applicant tracking is coming soon.
From Hiring to Onboarding
The job description is step one. Once a candidate accepts, the same document becomes the basis for the offer letter and onboarding, which matters in construction because the trade sees high turnover and the safety stakes are real. Beyond the signed offer, Form I-9, tax forms, and state new-hire reporting, a new site supervisor needs OSHA documentation, alongside the usual new hire paperwork.
Send the offer
Confirm pay, classification, and start date in writing. An offer letter template makes this fast for a hourly or salaried construction hire.
Collect the paperwork
Gather the signed offer, Form I-9, tax forms, and state new-hire reporting, stored in one place.
Document safety training
Record OSHA 10 or 30 and the competent-person designation, and collect signed safety acknowledgments.
Onboard for the field
Get the supervisor set up with site access, safety expectations, and a clear first week, then store the records.
A clear first week gets a supervisor leading the crew safely, so an onboarding template helps even for a field role. Once your offer is ready, the offer letter template handles the next step. FirstHR connects the offer, signed paperwork, e-signatures, OSHA and safety acknowledgments, certifications, and onboarding workflow in one place so a small contractor can manage the full process from one system. FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a project-management, estimating, or certified-payroll system, and it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so connect those separately. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
In construction, a site manager runs the jobsite, but the title spans a working foreman to a senior project manager.
Use the template that matches the tier and trade: working foreman, senior site manager, assistant, small GC, specialty trade, or civil/commercial.
The key rule generic templates skip: a supervisor doing manual work more than half the time is non-exempt and owed overtime, regardless of salary or title.
The senior site manager tier (median $106,980) is usually exempt; the working supervisor tier (median $78,690) often is not.
The site manager is usually the OSHA competent person; on public work, the Davis-Bacon 20 percent foreman rule applies.
These templates are US-specific, unlike the UK templates that rank for this term.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a construction site manager do?
A construction site manager runs the jobsite, taking responsibility for the schedule, budget, subcontractors, safety, and quality of the build. Day to day, that means coordinating crews and subs, managing materials and deliveries, serving as or overseeing the OSHA competent person for safety, handling inspections and documentation, managing RFIs and change orders, and reporting progress to the owner or project director. At a small contractor, the same title often describes a working foreman who leads the crew and works alongside them most of the day. At a larger firm, the site manager is a senior, mostly managerial role. The scope ranges widely, so the title alone does not tell you the level. Match the responsibilities, pay, and FLSA classification to the actual role you need.
What is the difference between a site manager, a site supervisor, and a foreman?
The titles describe a ladder of responsibility, though small contractors use them loosely. A foreman or working foreman leads a crew and typically works alongside them, doing hands-on construction most of the day. A site supervisor runs the day-to-day work on site, supervising the crew and coordinating the job, and often still does manual work at a small firm. A site manager is the most senior, owning the schedule, budget, subcontractors, and overall delivery of the project, usually with supervisors and foremen reporting to them. The practical and legal difference that matters most is how much manual work the person does, because that drives whether they are exempt from overtime. Define the role by its actual duties, then choose the title and pay to match. This is general information, not legal advice.
Is a site manager exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
It depends entirely on the actual duties, not the title or the salary. A senior construction site manager whose primary duty is managing the project, the crews, and operations, with real authority over hiring, scheduling, and budgets, is generally exempt under the executive or administrative exemption. But a working site manager, supervisor, or foreman who spends more than half of their time doing manual construction work alongside the crew is non-exempt and owed overtime, regardless of how high the salary is or how senior the title sounds. The blue-collar rule is explicit that construction trades are entitled to overtime and are not exempt no matter how highly paid, and someone whose primary duty is the trade does not become exempt just by also directing others or ordering materials. This working-foreman situation is extremely common at small contractors. Classify by the real duties, and consult counsel for close calls. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much does a construction site manager make?
Pay depends heavily on the tier. The senior construction manager role, which owns project delivery, reported a median annual wage of $106,980 as of May 2024, with the lowest 10 percent under $65,160 and the highest 10 percent over $176,990. The working supervisor tier, first-line supervisors of construction trades, reported a median around $78,690, with the top 25 percent earning more than about $100,000. Field-tier assistant site managers in construction typically earn in the $52,000 to $58,000 range, though aggregator data is inflated by unrelated clinical-research and e-commerce site-manager roles. Pay varies by region, trade, project type, and union status, and working supervisors who are non-exempt also earn overtime. Set your range to the tier and market, and post a salary range where your state requires one. This is general information, not legal advice.
What OSHA requirements apply to a construction site manager?
A construction site manager or supervisor is usually the employer's designated OSHA competent person, defined as someone able to identify hazards on the site and authorized to correct them promptly. OSHA requires frequent and regular inspections by a competent person, with specific duties for scaffolds, fall protection at the six-foot trigger, and excavations at the five-foot trigger with daily inspection. OSHA 10 or 30 training is a common job-description requirement. On a multi-employer jobsite, the general contractor or site manager can be cited as the controlling employer for a subcontractor's hazard it could reasonably have detected and corrected. Current OSHA penalties run up to $16,550 per serious violation and up to $165,514 for willful or repeat violations. Build the competent-person designation and safety authority explicitly into the role. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is the Davis-Bacon 20 percent rule for foremen?
On federal or federally assisted construction projects above the threshold, the Davis-Bacon Act requires prevailing wages, and there is a specific rule for working foremen. A supervisory employee who is not exempt under the white-collar rules and who spends more than 20 percent of a workweek doing the work of a laborer or mechanic must be paid the applicable prevailing wage rate for that classification of work, for all hours spent performing it. Forepersons who spend 20 percent or less of their time on manual labor do not need to be reported on certified payroll. The site manager on public work also handles weekly certified payroll on Form WH-347 and prevailing-wage posting. If your firm does any public or prevailing-wage work, this rule directly affects how you classify and pay a working site supervisor. This is general information, not legal advice.
Does the 'site manager' title also mean a website manager or facility manager?
It can, but in construction hiring the term almost always means a construction site manager. A website manager or web site manager is a digital marketing or IT role responsible for a company's website, an entirely different job with different skills and pay. A facility site manager or property site manager oversees a building or property and is closer to property management. These are separate roles with separate job descriptions, and they rarely overlap with construction in search results. The templates on this page are built for construction, where the great majority of site manager hiring happens. If you are hiring for a website or a facility, you will want a job description written specifically for that role instead. This is general information, not legal advice.
What should a site manager job description include?
A strong site manager job description names the tier and trade up front, whether working foreman, site supervisor, senior site manager, or a specialty-trade or residential version, since the level drives the duties, pay, and FLSA classification. Include a short company summary, a job summary that makes the scope clear, and responsibilities grouped into running the jobsite, leading the crew, safety and compliance, and quality and documentation. The most valuable parts that generic templates skip are the FLSA note on the working-foreman overtime rule, the OSHA competent-person designation with OSHA 10 or 30, the Davis-Bacon note for public work, and an honest statement of pay and classification. State a pay range where your state requires it, list the required experience and certifications, and be US-specific rather than copying UK templates. Close with an equal opportunity statement and clear apply instructions. This is general information, not legal advice.
