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What is a Construction Laborer?
Example of Construction Laborer Job Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.
What Do Construction Laborers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
- Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
- Position or dismantle forms for pouring concrete, using saws, hammers, nails, or bolts.
- Transport or set explosives for tunnel, shaft, or road construction.
- Mix, pour, or spread concrete, using portable cement mixers.
- Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Construction Laborer?
Construction Laborers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Other Construction Laborer Job Titles
- Service Line Layer
- Swimming Pool Installer and Servicer
- Handyman
- Sewer Builder
- Nozzleman
Job Opportunities for Construction Laborers
In the United States, there were 1,216,700 jobs for Construction Laborer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 150,400 new jobs for Construction Laborer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 145,300 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Construction Laborer are Utah, Colorado, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Vermont, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Construction Laborer
Construction Laborers make between $23,460 and $65,590 a year.
Construction Laborers who work in Hawaii, Illinois, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Construction Laborers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $32,000 |
| Alaska | $51,470 |
| Arizona | $36,000 |
| Arkansas | $29,070 |
| California | $48,250 |
| Colorado | $36,520 |
| Connecticut | $49,700 |
| Delaware | $35,640 |
| District of Columbia | $42,200 |
| Florida | $31,630 |
| Georgia | $33,600 |
| Hawaii | $58,770 |
| Idaho | $32,630 |
| Illinois | $59,960 |
| Indiana | $38,380 |
| Iowa | $37,510 |
| Kansas | $35,600 |
| Kentucky | $36,150 |
| Louisiana | $35,120 |
| Maine | $32,950 |
| Maryland | $34,420 |
| Massachusetts | $52,780 |
| Michigan | $39,700 |
| Minnesota | $52,150 |
| Mississippi | $30,410 |
| Missouri | $47,270 |
| Montana | $37,330 |
| Nebraska | $34,660 |
| Nevada | $37,100 |
| New Hampshire | $38,490 |
| New Jersey | $53,540 |
| New Mexico | $32,070 |
| New York | $51,720 |
| North Carolina | $30,280 |
| North Dakota | $42,000 |
| Ohio | $44,030 |
| Oklahoma | $31,230 |
| Oregon | $41,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,260 |
| Rhode Island | $47,030 |
| South Carolina | $31,090 |
| South Dakota | $30,700 |
| Tennessee | $31,940 |
| Texas | $32,630 |
| Utah | $33,680 |
| Vermont | $36,120 |
| Virginia | $31,950 |
| Washington | $48,070 |
| West Virginia | $36,450 |
| Wisconsin | $43,900 |
| Wyoming | $36,160 |
What Tools do Construction Laborers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Construction Laborers:
- Microsoft Windows
- Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
- Autodesk Revit
How to Become a Construction Laborer
What kind of Construction Laborer requirements are there?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Construction Laborer?
Construction Laborers Sector
Below are examples of industries where Construction Laborers work:
Related Careers
Those interested in being a Construction Laborer may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as a Construction Laborer sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.