Career outcomes report for BS in Construction Management, Longview TX
BS Construction Management — Career Outcomes
Longview, TX & East Texas Region · Data: BLS May 2024, Salary.com, ZipRecruiter, Indeed · Updated May 2026
BLS national median
$107K
Construction Manager, 2024
Longview PM median
$108K
Salary.com, 2025
Job growth 2024–34
+9%
Much faster than avg.
Annual openings (US)
46.8K
Projected/year
Construction Project Manager
Also: Project Superintendent, CM in Charge
Longview range
$86K–$144K
Typical qualifications
BS in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related field. 3–5 years field experience typical for first PM role. PMP or CCM certification accelerates promotion.
Key skills
Procore / Autodesk Build CPM scheduling Budget control RFI/submittal mgmt Subcontractor relations OSHA 30 Contract reading Team leadership
Career progression
Asst. PM → Project Manager → Sr. PM / Program Mgr → VP Construction / Owner
Site Superintendent
Also: Field Superintendent, General Superintendent
Texas range
$86K–$140K
Typical qualifications
BS in Construction Management or trade background + degree. OSHA 30 typically required. EM 385 for federal/industrial work. Experience on commercial, industrial, or heavy civil projects preferred in East Texas market.
Key skills
Site safety management Daily logs / documentation Schedule management Quality control Trade coordination Conflict resolution Blueprint reading
Career progression
Field Engineer → Asst. Superintendent → Superintendent → Sr. Superintendent / PM
Construction Project Engineer
Also: Field Engineer, Project Engineer
Longview entry
$36K–$53K
Typical qualifications
BS in Construction Management, Civil or Mechanical Engineering. Common first role for new grads. Internship or co-op experience strongly preferred. Bridge to PM track within 2–4 years.
Key skills
BIM / Revit basics Submittal tracking RFI processing Takeoffs AutoCAD Microsoft Project Written communication
Career progression
Project Engineer → Asst. PM → Project Manager → Sr. PM
Cost Estimator
Also: Pre-Construction Estimator, Quantity Surveyor
National median
$77K median
Typical qualifications
BS in Construction Management, Engineering, or related. AACE CCP or CCE certification adds significant value. Proficiency in Sage Estimating, PlanSwift, or Bluebeam. Note: BLS projects a 4% decline in employment 2024–34 due to software automation, though replacement openings remain steady (~16,900/year nationally).
Key skills
Quantity takeoffs Sage / PlanSwift Material pricing Subcontractor bidding Excel modeling Risk analysis Attention to detail
Career progression
Jr. Estimator → Estimator → Sr. Estimator → Chief Estimator / Pre-Con Dir.
Facilities Manager
Also: Plant Facilities Manager, Ops & Maintenance Mgr
National median
$104K median
Typical qualifications
BS in Construction Management, Engineering, or Business. CFM (Certified Facility Manager) from IFMA is the gold standard. Especially relevant at Eastman Chemical, Christus Good Shepherd, and LeTourneau University — all major Longview employers. BLS projects 4% growth 2024–34.
Key skills
CMMS / maintenance systems Budget management Energy management Regulatory compliance Vendor management Safety programs
Career progression
Facilities Coordinator → Facilities Manager → Director of Facilities → VP Operations
Real Estate Developer / Development Manager
Also: Land Development Manager, Development Coordinator
National range
$80K–$160K+
Typical qualifications
BS in Construction Management or Civil Engineering as a base; MBA or MS in Real Estate common for advancement. TX Real Estate License helpful. Strong local market knowledge and finance skills required. East Texas market is growing — residential and industrial development tied to Eastman, logistics, and healthcare expansion.
Key skills
Pro forma analysis Entitlements / permitting Site selection Contractor management Financial modeling Negotiation
Career progression
Development Coordinator → Development Manager → Director of Development → Principal / Owner
Industrial / Capital Projects Manager
Also: Capital Project Engineer, Owner's Representative
East Texas range
$100K–$160K+
Typical qualifications
BS in Construction Management or Engineering. Highly relevant in Longview given Eastman Chemical's ongoing capital investment history (~$1.3B expansion announced 2024). PMP certification strongly preferred. Experience with industrial/petrochemical construction commands top-of-market salaries in East Texas.
Key skills
Capital project delivery Primavera P6 Change order mgmt Owner-contractor interface Process safety basics Cost controls
Career progression
Capital Project Engr. → Project Manager → Sr. Capital PM → Dir. Capital Projects
Construction Safety Manager
Also: EHS Manager, Safety Director
National median
$80K–$120K
Typical qualifications
BS in Construction Management, Safety, or Engineering. CSP (Certified Safety Professional) or CIH credential required for senior roles. OSHA 500 (Trainer) adds significant marketability. Heavy demand in industrial/petrochemical construction environments like those near Longview.
Key skills
OSHA standards (29 CFR) Incident investigation JHA / risk assessment Training delivery EHS management systems Regulatory reporting
Career progression
Safety Coordinator → Safety Manager → EHS Director → VP EHS
Salary comparison by role — Longview/East Texas & National benchmarks
Median / typical midpoint
Longview note: Local salaries track closely with national medians for construction management — unlike many professional fields where East Texas runs 20–30% below metro averages. Industrial and petrochemical project work (Eastman, pipeline, energy) pushes local compensation to or above national benchmarks.
Longview sits at the intersection of petrochemical, manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and infrastructure — giving BS Construction Management graduates an unusually diverse local market for a city of ~82,000.
Key local employers
Eastman Chemical Christus Good Shepherd Medical LeTourneau University Dana Corporation Komatsu Trinity Rail Longview ISD SCI Construction Eastex Tower LLC Future Infrastructure
Major active & upcoming projects
Eastman Chemical — Molecular Recycling Facility
$1.3B expansion outside Longview announced 2024; ~1,000 temporary construction jobs + 200 permanent. Project is back on track as of early 2026 after DOE funding appeals. This is the single largest capital investment in Longview-area history and directly drives demand for industrial PMs, superintendents, cost estimators, and safety managers.
Healthcare & institutional construction
Christus Good Shepherd and regional hospital systems are steady construction clients. Healthcare construction is recession-resistant and increasingly technical (MEP complexity, infection control).
Residential & commercial growth
Population growth and industrial employment drive residential demand in the Longview–Marshall–Tyler corridor. Commercial development (retail, logistics) follows workforce expansion.
Regional salary context
East Texas construction management salaries are competitive with national medians — particularly for industrial/petrochemical work. Longview's cost of living (~15–20% below national average) means purchasing power is strong even at the national median. Graduates seeking the highest total compensation should target industrial projects or owner-side roles (capital PM, facilities) over residential GC work.
Professional certifications
PMP — Project Management Professional (PMI)
Industry's broadest PM credential. Requires 36 months PM experience + 35 hours PM education. Adds $15K–$25K to median compensation. Highly valued by industrial owners like Eastman.
CCM — Certified Construction Manager (CMAA)
Construction-specific management credential. Requires 48 months qualifying experience. Preferred by owner-side and program management firms.
OSHA 30-Hour (Construction)
Baseline safety credential. Required or strongly preferred on most commercial and industrial job sites. Pair with OSHA 500 (Trainer) for safety-focused paths.
CSP — Certified Safety Professional (BCSP)
Required for senior EHS/safety roles. Requires ASP (Associate Safety Professional) first. High demand at industrial sites and petrochemical contractors.
CFM — Certified Facility Manager (IFMA)
Gold standard for facilities management. Requires 3 years FM experience + BS. Highly relevant for roles at Eastman, CHRISTUS, LISD, or LeTourneau.
CCP / CCE — Cost Engineering (AACE International)
Recognized estimating credential. Valuable for capital project cost roles at industrial owners. Differentiates estimators as automation reduces headcount.
LEED AP (USGBC)
Valuable for commercial/institutional construction. Increasingly required on public projects and healthcare builds. Adds green building expertise.
Graduate & advanced pathways
MS Construction Management or MS Project Management
Best path for moving into owner-side or executive roles faster. Online programs available (Texas A&M, UT Arlington, Georgia Tech). Adds ~$15K–$30K to long-run earnings. Recommended if targeting director-level or capital program roles at industrial firms.
MBA (Construction / Real Estate focus)
Opens doors to real estate development, private equity in construction, and executive leadership. Relevant if the goal is ownership, development, or moving into finance side of construction.
MS Civil Engineering (bridge path)
For graduates interested in heavy civil, infrastructure, or engineering-heavy roles. Typically requires supplemental coursework. Opens PE (Professional Engineer) licensure pathway, which significantly increases compensation for public works and infrastructure roles.
Practical experience steps (before & early career)
Internship or co-op
Single most important differentiator for new graduates. Target general contractors, industrial EPC firms, healthcare owners, or public agencies. Procore, Autodesk Build, and Primavera P6 exposure during internship is highly valued.
LETU / regional employer partnerships
LeTourneau University's engineering programs have established relationships with Eastman Chemical and regional contractors. Leverage campus recruiting, senior capstone projects, and alumni networks in the East Texas industrial corridor.
BLS national projections, 2024–2034
+9%
Construction Managers growth rate — much faster than average (3%)
46,800
Annual openings projected for Construction Managers
+4%
Facilities Managers growth — about as fast as average
−4%
Cost Estimators — declining (automation); 16,900 replacement openings/yr still exist
Demand drivers
Infrastructure investment: IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) continues to fund roads, water systems, and bridges through the late 2020s, creating sustained demand for construction managers on public projects.
Industrial & petrochemical expansion: East Texas — including the Longview–Kilgore–Tyler corridor — benefits directly from energy sector capital spending and chemical manufacturing capacity additions like the Eastman facility.
Healthcare & institutional: Hospital systems, K-12 schools, and university facilities are in ongoing renovation/replacement cycles. Longview's medical and educational sector provides steady local demand.
Workforce gap: Large cohort of experienced construction managers approaching retirement. Qualified candidates with BS degrees and certifications are competing for a shrinking pool of senior mentors — accelerating promotion timelines.
Industrial & petrochemical expansion: East Texas — including the Longview–Kilgore–Tyler corridor — benefits directly from energy sector capital spending and chemical manufacturing capacity additions like the Eastman facility.
Healthcare & institutional: Hospital systems, K-12 schools, and university facilities are in ongoing renovation/replacement cycles. Longview's medical and educational sector provides steady local demand.
Workforce gap: Large cohort of experienced construction managers approaching retirement. Qualified candidates with BS degrees and certifications are competing for a shrinking pool of senior mentors — accelerating promotion timelines.
East Texas advantage
Unlike many regions where construction activity is highly cyclical, East Texas benefits from a diversified base: petrochemical (Eastman), manufacturing (Dana, Komatsu, Trinity Rail), healthcare (CHRISTUS), logistics, and residential. This diversification reduces recession risk compared to markets dependent on a single sector. The Eastman $1.3B expansion — back on track as of early 2026 — alone represents a multi-year pipeline of construction management opportunities.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2024); Salary.com (Longview, TX, 2025); ZipRecruiter (Longview/Texas, 2025–26); Indeed (Texas, May 2026); PayScale (2026); Longview Economic Development Corp; Marshall News Messenger / KLTV (Eastman project reporting, 2024–2026). Growth projections: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034.
