Speaking from the other side, I’d say to stay as a foreman.
A GC super has to have such a wider knowledge and not necessarily all the knowledge you’ve gained being a carpenter.
Being a Super has some major drawbacks you should be aware of for such a major change.
A few come to my mind right away: being a salaried employee and then working longer hours. Responsible for everyone’s work and yet you can’t just go and correct it, you just get to yell at someone about it.
And probably the biggest: having to be on a job from the start to finish. A lot of supers will tell you that it’s incredibly gratifying at the end of a project. While I found that to be true, I was also wrapping my head on the next project (or the next 2) so I never got to bask in the glow of a completed project. Also, you also inherit all the small things that you may have overlooked to complete a project on schedule and in budget. Punch lists are such a bitch
I’ve heard this from a few people actually. I also hear it’s not that much more money than foreman pay depending on what company you’re working for. It’s a tough call because a part of me feels like I need to keep pushing forward, but maybe I just need to appreciate where I’m at.
I gotta say I agree. Being super sucks. Your responsible for all the bullshit you don’t want. You make decent money but the bang for buck isn’t worth it, especially when you consider it’s not much more money than a foreman.
If you’re really good, have solid experience, and get hooked up with the right company you can make good money. But that’s like hitting the fucking lottery.
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u/ShadowMagic Apr 19 '20
Speaking from the other side, I’d say to stay as a foreman. A GC super has to have such a wider knowledge and not necessarily all the knowledge you’ve gained being a carpenter. Being a Super has some major drawbacks you should be aware of for such a major change. A few come to my mind right away: being a salaried employee and then working longer hours. Responsible for everyone’s work and yet you can’t just go and correct it, you just get to yell at someone about it. And probably the biggest: having to be on a job from the start to finish. A lot of supers will tell you that it’s incredibly gratifying at the end of a project. While I found that to be true, I was also wrapping my head on the next project (or the next 2) so I never got to bask in the glow of a completed project. Also, you also inherit all the small things that you may have overlooked to complete a project on schedule and in budget. Punch lists are such a bitch