The Best On-Site Construction Jobs

In March 2021 it was projected that construction companies will need to hire 430,000 more workers than they employed in 2020, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The data also revealed that every $1 billion in extra construction spending generates an average of at least 5,700 construction jobs.

One major factor that sets construction careers apart is that the barrier-to-entry is low, in most cases you can begin a job in construction without a college degree.  Most of the careers listed below can be entered with no previous experience or with completion of trade school.

•  33 percent of Americans now think trade school is a better option than college.
• Trade schools come with less debt.
• A trade school will generally put you into your career much faster than college.

Unlike colleges, trade schools normally require that students complete a specific number of practical hours or otherwise demonstrate their skills before graduation. 

What are the opportunities for those considering construction as a career?

There are many high paying, secure opportunities to build a career in construction. Here are some of the best construction careers and the opportunities they offer.

Construction Managers

Construction managers run part or all of a worksite. At times they may manage more than one site. They obtain work permits, hire contractors, schedule work, troubleshoot emergencies, schedule walkthroughs and keep clients informed of timetables and progress. Working as a construction manager affords the chance to learn a construction project  from the planning stage with architects and engineers, to the budgeting stage with cost estimators, to the production stage with laborers.The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8.5 percent employment growth for construction managers through 2029. In that period, an estimated 40,400 jobs should open up.

• Managers are in very high demand and  the average salary of a construction manager is $93,370.
• Construction managers will generally make the highest salary in the industry due to the responsibilities that are expected of them
• Typically, construction managers start off in an entry-level position in the construction field and move their way up. Many attend trade schools.

Elevator Installation / Repair

Elevator and escalator installers install, maintain, and fix elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and other lifts. Elevator and escalator installers often work in cramped areas inside crawl spaces and machine rooms, and they may work at heights in elevator shafts. Most elevator and escalator installers and repairers work full time. Repairers may be on call 24 hours a day or may need to work overtime.

• The BLS (Bureau of Labor and Statics) has projected a 10 percent job growth in this area over a ten year period. 
• The average wage for an elevator installer and repairer was $79,780 in May 2018, but salaries can vary depending on what industry an individual installer works in.  
• Elevator installers start out as apprentices in a 4-year program designed to help them learn the trade.

Electrician

Electricians know the ins and outs of design, installation, repair and maintenance of virtually anything on a job-site that requires electricity. They must ensure electrical work is up to code in new construction and electrical repair. Electricians must go through at least four years of training as an apprentice, followed by the licensing their state requires. Many in the profession specialize in either designing, installing, maintaining and repairing the motors, equipment and electrical systems of businesses and factories or residences.

• Projected to grow steadily over the next 10-years 
• The average salary of an electrician is $55,190 a year, but the top 10 percent earned over $94,620, according to the report by the BLS.  
• To become an electrician, some start off as apprentices while others go through a trade or technical school. 

Plumber 

If you ever have woken up with no running water – or a clogged sink or phantom-flushing toilet – you get an instant reminder of how dependent we are on the expertise of plumbers. But those responsibilities are just the tip of the iceberg. Plumbers develop blueprints to layout where pipes and fixtures should be plotted in a structure. They also install and connect the piping and fixtures, either working individually or with a team of apprentices and pipe-fitters. The best in the occupation are strong problem-solvers who have mastered customer service and can meet the physical and mechanical demands of the job.

• The BLS predicts that demand for plumbers will rise by 14 percent over a ten-year timeframe.
• The average plumber makes $53,910 annually.
• A four to five-year apprenticeship is all that’s needed to become a plumber. 
• Most states require a plumber to have a license to practice the trade with at least 2 years of on-the-job experience.

Sheet Metal Worker

A sheet metal worker is a professional who makes, installs and reconditions sheet metal products, such as various elements that are part of the heating, cooling and ventilation systems, as well as roofing and drainage systems. Most sheet metal workers are either self-employed, work directly for companies that produce sheet metal or are employed by companies that handle heating, air-conditioning and roofing jobs.

• Sheet metal work is projected to grow about eight percent over 10 years.
• Sheet metal workers have some of the highest salaries across blue-collar industries, earning an average of $48,460. In 2018, the highest-earning 10 percent earned over $86,200.
• Sheet metal workers learn their trade in different technical and vocational programs that offer different courses and programs that teach welding and other sheet metal fabrication knowledge.

Carpenter

Carpenters are involved with many different types of construction, from home improvement to cabinet making, and framing to large construction projects.  Although carpenters may specialize in a particular kind of work, they all must be able to understand how to look at either a blueprint or detailed drawing, as well as safely use both power and hand tools. Some subfields within carpentry include cabinetry, furniture making, and deck building.

• A carpenter is one of the most versatile jobs in the construction industry and the growth projections vary greatly.
• The average salary of a carpenter is $46,590.
• There are two main paths to becoming a carpenter: through an apprenticeship with on-the-job training or through trade schools typically lasting two years.

Equipment Operator

Equipment operators use equipment of all varieties, whether it moves on tires or on tank-like tracks. They work outside or inside, day and night, in all kinds of weather and often work irregular hours. They build and maintain structures we depend on every day, like buildings, highways and bridges.

• The BLS has projected a 9.6 percent growth in the equipment operator occupation between 2018 and 2028.
• The median salary for construction equipment operators is $46,990.
• There isn’t a single path to becoming a heavy equipment operator. Many workers learn how to operate equipment on the job. Others learn through an apprenticeship or through vocational schools.

Mason

A mason uses bricks, concrete blocks, or natural stones to build structures that include walls, walkways, fences, and chimneys. Depending on the building material in which they specialize, these workers might be called brick masons, block masons, or stonemasons. Brickmasons are sometimes referred to as bricklayers.

There were approximately 292,500 masons working in the U.S. in 2016. Most of them were cement masons and concrete finishers.

• Masonry work will always be necessary. This is especially true as the population increases, thereby increasing the need for schools, hospitals and other necessary buildings.
• Brick and block masons can earn up to $50,950, cement and concrete masons average around $43,000 and stoneworkers will typically earn around $41,220.
• Entry-level masons can enter the field after high school, but they can also go through an apprenticeship program offered by a technical school, college or through a union.

Glazier

Glaziers are skilled craftsmen who cut and install glass in all types of buildings, from homes to skyscrapers. Glaziers work with large pieces of heavy glass, and much of the work is outdoors and sometimes several stories in the air. Growing numbers of women due partly to technological advances in tools and lift systems. Glaziers suffer high job-related injury rates, from cuts as well as falls from ladders and scaffolding.

Although jobs do not require more than a high school diploma, employers are increasingly seeking candidates with math and design knowledge and familiarity with sophisticated construction equipment. It’s a physically demanding job that requires a lot of patience and risk, but the demand for these trade workers is expected to grow steadily over the next several years.

• The average pay for a glazier is $43,550 with the highest-paid individuals earning $81,950 or a little under double the industry average.
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3.9 percent employment growth for glaziers between 2019 and 2029.
• Entering an apprenticeship program is the most common way of becoming a glazier. 

Solar Installer

Solar photovoltaic installers assemble, implement and maintain solar panels, which convert rays from the sun into energy, on the rooftops of homes, commercial buildings and other applications. Many electricians also work in solar.

• U.S. News describes solar installers as the second-best construction job, the eighth-best construction job without the need for a college degree and in the top 100 jobs in the U.S.
• In 2017, solar installers earned an average of $42,680, with the top 10 percent of solar installers earned over $63,580
• All workers in this field need at least the equivalent of a high school diploma and receive one year of on the job training.
• Military veterans can also take advantage of the Solar Ready Vets program that’s funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Technology is Going to Play a Major Factor

Even when you consider all of the upsides for a career in construction, the labor shortage is causing owners, general contractors and other trades to consider labor saving methods. Technology in methods, machinery and systems are all becoming more prevalent in the construction office and on the job-site.

• A reduction in labor supply encouraged builders to adopt more labor-saving technology faster than usual.
• Improvement in the scheduling and logistics of building materials delivery.
• Increased use of prefabrication and modularization.
• BIM, Smart Contracts and BlockChain will be increasingly in use

Why DigiBuild?

DigiBuild is a blockchain-enabled construction project management platform. Our customers manage workflows such as procurement, budgets, schedules, contracts, and payments. DigiBuild allows for collaboration across 50+ disparate construction stakeholders – all on a single platform. 

We are the first to merge our construction management expertise with blockchain technology to create the world’s most revolutionary technology bringing risk management and visibility to your projects.

Through verifiable collaboration, we eliminate risk, disputes, save time and create a healthier and happier global construction industry.