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Construction Laborers in North Carolina
Considering working as a Construction Laborers in North Carolina? Here’s what you need to know. 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. Construction laborers who primarily assist a particular craft worker are classified under “Helpers, Construction Trades” (47-3010). Excludes “Hazardous Materials Removal Workers” (47-4041).
What do Construction Laborers Make in North Carolina?
The construction laborers working in North Carolina, the median annual wage is $42,250 per year (or about $20.31/hour).Earnings range from $29,460 at the 10th percentile to $61,630 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,460 | $14.17 |
| 25th percentile | $36,460 | $17.53 |
| Median (50th) | $42,250 | $20.31 |
| 75th percentile | $48,620 | $23.37 |
| 90th percentile | $61,630 | $29.63 |
The job concentration index in North Carolina nationwide is 1.15, meaning that construction laborers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, construction laborers earn a median of $54,483 per year ($26.19/hour), lower than the North Carolina median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 252,335 construction laborers across the United States. In North Carolina alone, approximately 38,530 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 14,200 construction laborers.
Top North Carolina Metros for Construction Laborers
These are the North Carolina metros with the most construction laborers in North Carolina.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 11,790 | $44,240 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 6,830 | $44,080 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 2,640 | $38,780 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 2,030 | $43,680 |
| Wilmington, NC | 1,880 | $43,550 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 1,360 | $44,860 |
| Asheville, NC | 1,340 | $40,750 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 800 | $36,780 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 650 | $39,970 |
| Greenville, NC | 630 | $43,040 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 460 | $38,810 |
| Burlington, NC | 380 | $39,720 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 380 | $36,940 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 300 | $38,330 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 280 | $41,760 |
Top States for Construction Laborers Employment
These states have the highest employment of construction laborers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 117,580 |
| California | 85,370 |
| Florida | 75,770 |
| New York | 49,890 |
| North Carolina | 38,530 |
| Pennsylvania | 38,350 |
| Illinois | 31,960 |
| Ohio | 30,820 |
| Arizona | 30,310 |
| Georgia | 28,680 |
| Minnesota | 27,510 |
| Washington | 27,410 |
| Indiana | 26,910 |
| Virginia | 26,860 |
| Michigan | 26,570 |
| Tennessee | 25,390 |
| Louisiana | 25,350 |
| Utah | 22,230 |
| New Jersey | 20,720 |
| Maryland | 20,280 |
Highest-Paying States for Construction Laborers
Where construction laborers earn the most: construction laborers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $66,100 |
| Illinois | $64,890 |
| New Jersey | $63,190 |
| Massachusetts | $62,430 |
| California | $60,540 |
| Minnesota | $58,720 |
| Rhode Island | $58,290 |
| Alaska | $57,970 |
| New York | $57,680 |
| Washington | $57,240 |
Skills
The most important construction laborers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for construction laborers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, construction laborers typically:
- Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt.
- Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
- Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
- Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
- Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
- Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
- Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes.
- Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
- Position, join, align, or seal structural components, such as concrete wall sections or pipes.
- Perform site activities required of green certified construction practices, such as implementing waste management procedures, identifying materials for reuse, or installing erosion or sedimentation control mechanisms.
- Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones.
- Install sewer, water, or storm drain pipes, using pipe-laying machinery or laser guidance equipment.
Work Activities
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Getting Information
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Autodesk Revit
Related Careers
Careers similar to construction laborers include:
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons
- Carpenters
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
Also Known As
Air Breaker Operator, Air Drill Operator, Air Gun Operator, Air Hammer Operator, Air Tool Operator, Aluminum Pool Installer, Asbestos Removal Worker, Asphalt Distributor Tender, Asphalt Heater Tender, Asphalt Layer, Asphalt Patcher, Asphalt Paver, Asphalt Raker, Asphalt Smoother, Asphalt Spreader.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 47-2061.00
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