Becoming a Construction Economist M/F: job, salary and missions

A key job in cost management

The construction economist figures, analyzes and optimizes project budgets. It guarantees financial feasibility and advises on technical and material choices.
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The sector's figures confirm its importance:

✔ Increasing demand, driven by the energy transition and cost control.

✔ Profiles specialized in BIM and sustainable renovation are particularly sought after.

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A technical and strategic job

Precision, ability to analyze and advise: he anticipates and secures the profitability of projects.

Courses to become a construction economist: everyone has their own career path

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The different types of training available
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1. BTS Construction Studies and Economics (EEC)

• Duration: 2 years.
• Audience: Technical post‑bac or short retraining.
• Objective: measurements, costing, DQE/BPU, reading plans and written documents.
• Where? Technical high schools, CFA du BTP.

2. BUT GCCD (Civil Engineering — Sustainable Construction) — Economics/Cost Control Course

• Duration: 3 years
• Audience: Students looking for a polytechnic base (structure, materials, thermal).
• Advantage: global vision useful for estimating, optimizing and arguing technical variants.
• Where? IUTs specialized in civil engineering.

3. Bachelor's degree in Construction economics

• Duration: 1 year after Bac+2/3.
• Audience: Technicians aiming at expertise in costing and price studies.
• Advantage: in-depth DQE, CCTP, technical memory, supplier consultation, cost optimization.
• Where? Universities, IUT, specialized schools.

4. Engineering degree/Master (cost management option, ACV/RE2020)

• Duration: 5 years (or 2 post-graduate years for the master's degree).
• Audience: Bac+5 profiles on complex projects (public/tertiary).
• Advantage: technical credibility + energy/LCA approach for HQE/RE2020 arbitrations.
• Where? Engineering schools, universities.

5. Certificates & tools: BIM 5D, Attic+/Devisoc, Advanced Excel, Public Procurement

• Duration: from a few days to a few weeks.
• Audience: Students and working professionals.
• Advantage: immediate gain in productivity (extraction, quantities, automation, costing, MP compliance).
• Where? Specialized organizations, software publishers, OPCO.

6. Alternation/VAE

• Audience: Young people or experienced employees (quantity surveyor, price studies, junior economist).
• Objective: practice on real cases (public/private AO) and have the experience recognized.

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Comparison of training as a construction economist

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Skills taught in training

In training as a Construction Economist, you acquire skills in costing, financial analysis and economic management of projects:

📊 Economic and financial analysis

• Realization of measurements and budget estimates.
• Development of DQE (Estimated Quantitative Detail) and CCTP.
• Comparison of supplier and subcontractor quotes.
• Cost optimization and margin monitoring.

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🔧 Technical and regulatory skills

• Reading plans and controlling DTUs.
• Control of thermal and environmental regulations (RE2020, HQE, BBC).
• Knowledge of building pathology for renovations.
• Monitoring of regulatory and administrative compliance.

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🛠️ Putting it into practice

• Case studies: costing of complete projects, rehabilitation and new construction.
• Specialized software: Attic+, Devisoc, advanced Excel, quantitative BIM.
• Alternating in a design office, an economist firm or general contractors.
• Simulation of tenders and technical responses.

Access conditions

• Bac+2 : BTS Construction Studies and Economics (EEC), BTS Building.
• BUT Civil Engineering — Sustainable Construction with economy option.
• Pro or Bachelor's degree specialized in construction economics.
• VAE : accessible to quantity surveyors, project managers or experienced technicians.

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The steps to integrate a training

• Parcoursup for BTS and BUT oriented towards economy and construction.
• Direct application for pro or bachelor's degrees.
• Adult retraining: CPF, France Travail, AFPA, GRETA or specialized private schools.
• Alternation: is looking for a design office, a general contractor or an economist firm.

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From assistant economist to senior researcher
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✅ Confirmed economist: You are in charge of the costing of complete projects and the development of DQE/CCTP.

✅ Head of study group: you coordinate several economists and pilots of strategic tenders.

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Supervision and expertise
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Price studies manager: You oversee a costing service and define the economic strategy.

Technical director: you supervise all studies and financial monitoring of projects.

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Creation or takeover
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Independent economic firm: you offer your services to businesses and developers.

Overall cost consultant: you are acting as an independent expert.

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Footbridges
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Business manager: You are evolving into a commercial function.

Specialized AMO overall cost: you advise project owners directly.

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