What Do Construction Laborer Do?
Career Description 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?
- Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
- Perform construction laborer duties at green building sites, such as renewable energy plants or wind turbine installations.
- Place, consolidate, or protect case-in-place concrete or masonry structures.
- Erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures.
- Mix ingredients to create compounds for covering or cleaning surfaces.
- Perform building weatherization tasks, such as repairing windows, adding insulation, or applying weather-stripping materials.
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What Every Construction Laborer Should Know
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.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Related Job Titles
- Grade Tamper
- Asphalt Distributor Tender
- Powder Loader
- Bottom Worker
- Axman
Is There Going to be Demand for Construction Laborers?
There were about 1,216,700 jobs for Construction Laborer in 2016 (in the United States). 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.
Average Construction Laborers Salary
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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Construction Laborers
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 do I Become a Construction Laborer?
What education is needed to be a Construction Laborer?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Construction Laborers?

Construction Laborers work in the following industries:

Related Careers
Those interested in being a Construction Laborer may also be interested in:
Are you already one of the many Construction Laborer in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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