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Construction Laborers


Overview

Construction Laborers

Introduction

Construction laborers do a variety of tasks at the construction sites of buildings, highways, bridges, and other public and private building projects. Depending on the type of project, construction laborers may carry materials used by craft workers, clean up debris, operate cement mixers, or lay and seal together lengths of sewer pipe, among other duties. They also are involved in hazardous waste/environmental remediation. Approximately 1.6 million construction laborers are employed in the United States.

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$35,800

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Employment Prospects

Good

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Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma
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Experience

Apprenticeship


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Skills

Building/Trades
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Personality Traits

Athletic
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Earnings

According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the median hourly wage for construction laborers was $17.21 in May 2018. If a laborer making this wage was able to work a 40-hour week year round, his or her annual income would be approximately $35,800. The DOL also reported that the lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,460, and the top 10 percent earned more than $65,590. Apprentices or helpe...

Work Environment

Construction laborers do demanding physical work that is sometimes dangerous. They may need to lift heavy weights, kneel, crouch, stoop, crawl, or work in awkward positions. Much of the job is outdoors, sometimes in hot or cold weather, in wind or rain, or in dust, mud, noise, or other uncomfortable conditions. Laborers may be exposed to fumes, odors, dangerous particles, or irritating chemical...

Outlook

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment of construction laborers and helpers is projected to grow 11 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Construction is a large field, and turnover is high among laborers. For these reasons, every year there will be jobs available, mainly in connection with large projects, because employers need to replace t...