From KERA News:
In Dallas’ Preston Hollow neighborhood, Jesse Johnson oversees a house going up on Stichter Avenue. A student in construction management at North Lake College, he’s already using lessons from class.
“I’ve learned there’s formulas and sciences to scheduling this and doing the math of timelines,” Johnson says. “What used to take us a year to build or so, we just finished a house in this area in 7.5 to eight months. The faster we can go, like I said, you can make more money just as long as you continue to build a quality product.”
Johnson grew up around construction workers. When he was old enough, he joined the ranks. So when he’s not in class, he’s on a jobsite. Based on his experience, Sequel Home Builders hired him as an assistant superintendent, for about $30,000 a year, and they’re paying his school tab. When their superintendent left, Johnson got promoted.
Instructors are seeing 100 percent job placement
At North Lake College, Johnson just finished another class in construction management. He says if he completes six homes a year as superintendent, he’ll make about $90,000.
“Most of our superintendents make about $15,000 per house, and can do anywhere from five houses to eight houses in a year,” Johnson says.
He’s like most students at Northlake, working full time during the day, taking classes at night. Instructor Brad Bosher, a licensed Texas architect, says the construction market’s so hot, his three classes are full with 24 students each. A few years ago, he might’ve only seen 15.
“Right now, people are so busy they can’t even see straight,” Bosher says.
