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5 steps · MA
Foreman / Site Supervisor
Run the crew, run the schedule, talk to the GC and the inspector.
Pay range
Typically $70K–$110K salary in MA, plus truck or vehicle allowance. Union foremen earn a percentage above journeyman scale plus full benefits.
Age requirement
Most foremen are 25+ by the time they've earned the experience and a CSL.
What this job is
The honest version
Foreman is the first leadership rung. You're a licensed journeyman who now also runs the day-to-day on a job — assigning work, ordering materials, hitting the schedule, handling the inspector, and reporting to the GC or project manager. In MA, this is often where someone earns the Construction Supervisor License (CSL) for buildings under 35,000 cubic feet, which qualifies them to pull permits and supervise residential and small commercial framing/structural work. It's also the rung where most people decide whether to stay in the field or open their own shop.
Is this you?
You'll fit if…
- You can hold a deadline without being a jerk about it
- You can fire someone when you have to
- You can read a set of plans and spot the problem before it gets framed
- You don't lose your temper when the inspector fails you
What you'll do
Core skills
- Reading a full set of construction documents (architectural, structural, MEP)
- Building a daily look-ahead schedule and sticking to it
- Coordinating with other trades (the plumber, electrician, HVAC tech) to avoid conflicts
- Managing a materials order without over- or under-buying
- Documenting site conditions with photos for the GC and your own back-cover file
- Running a tailgate safety meeting that people actually listen to
What you'll need
Required certifications
Stand out
Things that give you a leg up
- Project management software experience (Procore, Buildertrend, PlanGrid)
- Ability to do takeoffs and basic estimating from a plan set
- A specialty CSL on top of the general (e.g., Solid Fuel, Roof Covering)
- Bilingual leadership — most MA crews have at least one Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole speaker
- References from 2–3 GCs who'd hire your crew again
Take a step
Learn more
- Apply to take the CSL exam if you have the 3 years of experience — book it through MA DOL/BBRS
- Buy the MA State Building Code (780 CMR) and the CSL exam prep guide
- Ask your current foreman if you can run one phase of the next job under their oversight
- Track your hours running crew or leading work — you'll need this if you ever apply for a contractor's license
Heads up
Real talk before you commit
- The CSL exam covers the full MA building code, not just your trade. People who only know their lane fail it.
- Foreman is the rung where personality matters as much as skill — crews quit bosses, not jobs.
- If you want to own a business, the CSL is the credential that lets you pull your own permits later.