Construction Worker - JesseValerie, Tung Le, Gabe
The iconic Empire State Building was remarkably completed in just 410 days, or 1 year and 45 days, by over 3,400 dedicated construction workers during the Great Depression!
Creative & Visual Skills
Communication & Interpersonal Skills
Critical Thinking & Judgement
Emotional Intelligence & Personal Traits
Professional & Technical Knowledge
Organizational & Operational Skills
Physical & Situational Readiness
Where does this job happen?
Construction workers perform their duties on various job sites, including:
- Residential sites: Building homes and apartments.
- Commercial sites: Constructing offices, stores, and schools.
- Industrial sites: Working on factories or power plants.
- Renovation/Remodeling sites: Updating existing buildings.
- Residential sites: Building homes and apartments.
- Commercial sites: Constructing offices, stores, and schools.
- Industrial sites: Working on factories or power plants.
- Renovation/Remodeling sites: Updating existing buildings.
What do they actually do?
Construction workers perform a wide range of tasks depending on the project phase and their specialization. Their work often involves:
- Preparing sites by clearing land and setting up scaffolding.
- Laying foundations using concrete and rebar.
- Building structural frameworks with materials like wood, steel, or concrete.
- Installing essential systems such as plumbing, electrical wiring, and HVAC.
- Operating various hand tools, power tools, and heavy machinery.
- Preparing sites by clearing land and setting up scaffolding.
- Laying foundations using concrete and rebar.
- Building structural frameworks with materials like wood, steel, or concrete.
- Installing essential systems such as plumbing, electrical wiring, and HVAC.
- Operating various hand tools, power tools, and heavy machinery.
What kind of person does this?
Construction workers are typically:
- Hard-working and dedicated, comfortable with physical labor.
- Practical and hands-on, enjoying tangible results.
- Resilient and adaptable to challenging conditions.
- Good problem-solvers who can overcome obstacles.
- Hard-working and dedicated, comfortable with physical labor.
- Practical and hands-on, enjoying tangible results.
- Resilient and adaptable to challenging conditions.
- Good problem-solvers who can overcome obstacles.
What skills do you need?
To be a successful construction worker, you need:
- Physical stamina and strength.
- Good manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
- The ability to follow instructions precisely.
- Effective teamwork and communication skills.
- Basic math for measurements and calculations.
- A thorough understanding of safety procedures.
- Patience and attention to detail for quality work.
- Physical stamina and strength.
- Good manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
- The ability to follow instructions precisely.
- Effective teamwork and communication skills.
- Basic math for measurements and calculations.
- A thorough understanding of safety procedures.
- Patience and attention to detail for quality work.
How much money can you make?
Salaries for construction workers vary by location, experience, and specialization:
- Entry-Level/Laborer: Typically earns between $35,000 to $45,000 per year.
- Experienced General Worker: Ranges from $45,000 to $70,000 annually.
- Skilled Trades (e.g., Electricians, Plumbers): Can earn $60,000 to $90,000+, with highly experienced specialists exceeding $100,000.
- Foremen/Supervisors: Earn more due to management responsibilities, often $70,000 to $100,000+ per year.
- Overtime pay is also a common way to increase earnings in this field.
- Entry-Level/Laborer: Typically earns between $35,000 to $45,000 per year.
- Experienced General Worker: Ranges from $45,000 to $70,000 annually.
- Skilled Trades (e.g., Electricians, Plumbers): Can earn $60,000 to $90,000+, with highly experienced specialists exceeding $100,000.
- Foremen/Supervisors: Earn more due to management responsibilities, often $70,000 to $100,000+ per year.
- Overtime pay is also a common way to increase earnings in this field.