Restoration Project Manager

Specialized Construction

Runs the actual rebuild after property damage, the project management counterpart to the estimators and adjusters who scope and price the claim.

What is a Restoration Project Manager?

A Restoration Project Manager manages the reconstruction and repair work after property damage, fire, water, storm, or other loss, coordinating crews, subcontractors, and schedule the same way a general construction Project Manager would, but working from an insurance-approved scope and budget rather than a standard construction bid. No personal license or certification is legally required to hold this role as an employee; a restoration company itself, like any general contractor, typically needs its own state contractor's license to legally perform and bill for the work, but that license attaches to the business, not to each individual project manager it employs.

What they do

• Manage restoration projects from the approved insurance scope through completion
• Coordinate subcontractors and crews across multiple simultaneous restoration jobs
• Track project costs against the insurance-approved budget
• Communicate progress to the property owner and, often, the insurance adjuster or public adjuster
• Manage change orders when concealed damage is discovered mid-project
• Ensure completed work passes final inspection and closes out the insurance claim

A typical day

• 7:30 AMReview overnight updates from active restoration jobs and prioritize site visits
• 9:00 AMWalk a fire-damage restoration site with the lead subcontractor
• 11:00 AMDocument concealed water damage found during demolition and prepare a supplement request
• 1:00 PMUpdate the property owner on progress and revised timeline
• 3:00 PMCoordinate final walkthrough scheduling for a nearly complete project

Skills

Software

Pay expectations

Reviewed May 2025. Pay reflects the national wage distribution for this occupation, not a promise for any one job: entry level is the lower part of that range, 5 years in sits around the national median, and 10 years in is the upper part, since pay isn't actually tracked by years on the job. Real pay varies a lot by state, metro area, union status, and employer — scale these up or down for your market. These figures are base pay only: overtime, shift differentials, and per-project bonuses are standard across most construction trades and routinely push real earnings above what's shown here.

Education

Required:

High school diploma or equivalent, since no personal license or certification is legally required for this role as an employee; the restoration company itself typically needs its own state contractor's license to perform the work

Preferred:

Bachelor's degree in construction management or a related field, or equivalent field experience

Helpful:

IICRC restoration certifications, Project Management Professional (PMP) credential

Not necessary:

A construction management degree, since many restoration PMs move up from estimating or field supervision within restoration work

Career progression

1. 1.Restoration Estimator or Production Coordinator
2. 2.Restoration Project Manager
3. 3.Senior Project Manager
4. 4.Director of Operations (at a restoration contractor)

Who hires for this role