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Construction Laborers in Texas
Considering working as a Construction Laborers in Texas? Below are the key facts. 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 Texas?
For a construction laborers working in Texas, the median annual wage is $38,180 per year (or roughly $18.36/hour).Annual wages span from $30,670 at the 10th percentile to $50,430 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,670 | $14.74 |
| 25th percentile | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Median (50th) | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| 75th percentile | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| 90th percentile | $50,430 | $24.25 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Texas relative to the national average — is 1.24, suggesting 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 Texas median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 252,335 construction laborers nationwide. In Texas alone, about 117,580 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 14,200 construction laborers.
Top Texas Metros for Construction Laborers
The metro areas below employ the most construction laborers in Texas.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 33,070 | $38,510 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 26,320 | $39,010 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 10,450 | $39,390 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 7,890 | $37,770 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 2,870 | $36,100 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 2,270 | $37,230 |
| El Paso, TX | 2,140 | $34,960 |
| Midland, TX | 2,010 | $40,820 |
| Longview, TX | 1,700 | $35,610 |
| Odessa, TX | 1,470 | $37,830 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 1,240 | $31,300 |
| Amarillo, TX | 1,110 | $36,630 |
| Lubbock, TX | 1,080 | $36,220 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 1,030 | $35,780 |
| Waco, TX | 1,000 | $37,390 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 730 | $35,830 |
| Tyler, TX | 720 | $36,530 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 620 | $32,680 |
| Abilene, TX | 500 | $36,940 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | 470 | $37,040 |
| Laredo, TX | 370 | $31,250 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 360 | $35,490 |
| Victoria, TX | 360 | $37,120 |
| San Angelo, TX | 280 | $35,860 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 260 | $34,780 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | 80 | $30,250 |
Top States for Construction Laborers Employment
View the states that employ the most 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
Key construction laborers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for construction laborers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
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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