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Construction Laborers

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$46,730	133100	8.2%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$46,730

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

133100

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

8.2%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

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.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: N.A.

On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

Detailed Work Activities

Clean work sites.
Review blueprints or specifications to determine work requirements.
Direct vehicle traffic.
Signal equipment operators to indicate proper equipment positioning.
Dig holes or trenches.
Compact materials to create level bases.
Position structural components.
Install plumbing or piping.
Measure work site dimensions.
Mark reference points on construction materials.
Load or unload materials used in construction or extraction.
Move construction or extraction materials to locations where they are needed.
Assemble temporary equipment or structures.
Dismantle equipment or temporary structures.
Position construction forms or molds.
Clean equipment or facilities.
Maintain construction tools or equipment.
Break up rock, asphalt, or concrete.
Finish concrete surfaces.
Test air quality at work sites.
Install plumbing or piping.
Assist skilled construction or extraction personnel.
Operate pumps or compressors.
Clean surfaces in preparation for work activities.
Apply paint to surfaces.
Protect structures or surfaces near work areas to avoid damage.
Install masonry materials.
Mix substances or compounds needed for work activities.
Pour materials into or on designated areas.
Spread concrete or other aggregate mixtures.
Smooth surfaces with abrasive materials or tools.
Operate pumps or compressors.
Mix substances or compounds needed for work activities.
Remove worn, damaged or outdated materials from work areas.
Clean surfaces in preparation for work activities.
Apply paint to surfaces.
Apply sealants or other protective coatings.
Apply sealants or other protective coatings.
Install green structural components, equipment or systems.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

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.
Operate or maintain air monitoring or other sampling devices in confined or hazardous environments.
Smooth or finish freshly poured cement or concrete, using floats, trowels, screeds, or powered cement finishing tools.
Erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures.
Provide assistance to craft workers, such as carpenters, plasterers, or masons.
Spray materials, such as water, sand, steam, vinyl, paint, or stucco, through hoses to clean, coat, or seal surfaces.
Raze buildings or salvage useful materials.
Mop, brush, or spread paints, cleaning solutions, or other compounds over surfaces to clean them or to provide protection.
Position or dismantle forms for pouring concrete, using saws, hammers, nails, or bolts.
Grind, scrape, sand, or polish surfaces, such as concrete, marble, terrazzo, or wood flooring, using abrasive tools or machines.
Place, consolidate, or protect case-in-place concrete or masonry structures.
Mix ingredients to create compounds for covering or cleaning surfaces.
Mix, pour, or spread concrete, using portable cement mixers.
Operate jackhammers or drills to break up concrete or pavement.
Apply caulking compounds by hand or caulking guns to protect against entry of water or air.
Tend machines that pump concrete, grout, cement, sand, plaster, or stucco through spray guns for application to ceilings or walls.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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