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Commercial Construction
Turner Construction, DPR Construction, Clark Construction
Construction Laborers
Construction laborers do the hands-on work that keeps a job site moving: clearing hazards, moving materials, digging trenches, leveling ground, and helping crew members and equipment operators stay on task. The work is straightforward but physically demanding, and the biggest tradeoff is that entry barriers are low while the job can be hard on your body, exposed to weather, and tied to project cycles.
Also known as Construction WorkerGeneral LaborerLaborerConstruction HelperSite Laborer
Median Salary
$46,730
Mean $51,260
U.S. Workforce
~1.1M
129.4K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+7.3%
1457K to 1563.4K
Entry Education
No formal educational credential
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Construction Laborers sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~1.1M workers, with a median annual pay of $46,730 and roughly 129.4K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 1457 K in 2024 to 1563.4K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Construction Helper and can progress toward Foreman. High-value skills usually include Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, and Construction Site Safety & Hazard Recognition, paired with soft skills such as Communication, Active Listening, and Coordination.
Core Responsibilities
- Clear and set up the job site so crews can work safely.
- Move, sort, load, and unload materials, tools, and equipment to the right place on the site.
- Dig trenches, fill in excavations, and level the ground to the required grade.
- Read plans or simple work instructions to understand what needs to happen next.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Clear and set up the job site so crews can work safely.
02 Move, sort, load, and unload materials, tools, and equipment to the right place on the site.
03 Dig trenches, fill in excavations, and level the ground to the required grade.
04 Read plans or simple work instructions to understand what needs to happen next.
05 Keep pumps, generators, compressors, and similar equipment running, and do basic cleaning or repairs when needed.
06 Measure and mark work areas, then guide equipment operators when materials or machines need to be positioned.
Industries That Hire
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Heavy Civil & Infrastructure
Kiewit, Bechtel, Granite Construction
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Residential Construction
D.R. Horton, Lennar, PulteGroup
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Utilities & Pipeline Construction
Quanta Services, MasTec, MYR Group
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Road and Bridge Construction
Skanska, Fluor, Flatiron Construction
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can get started without a college degree, and BLS says the typical entry point is no formal educational credential with short-term on-the-job training.
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There are a lot of job openings: the field is projected to have 129.4K annual openings, which helps if you want to find work quickly.
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The work is concrete and visible; by the end of a shift, you can usually see exactly what you helped build, move, or clear.
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The job teaches practical skills fast, including site safety, material handling, tool use, and working around machines.
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There is room to move up into lead laborer or foreman jobs if you prove reliable and learn the work well.
Challenges
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The pay is moderate rather than high: the median annual wage is $46,730, so the job may not be enough on its own in expensive housing markets.
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The work is physically hard and can be dangerous, with constant lifting, digging, uneven ground, and close contact with machinery.
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Growth is decent but not spectacular at 7.3% over the 2024-2034 period, so the role is expanding but not surging.
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A lot of the openings are likely replacement openings, not just new growth, which points to churn and turnover in the occupation.
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The job is exposed to weather, project delays, and construction cycles, so hours and income can swing when work slows down.
Career Progression
Construction Helper
0-1 years
$31K-$38K
You learn site rules, carry materials, and handle basic cleanup while watching experienced crews work.
Construction Laborer
1-4 years
$40K-$55K
You take on trenching, grading, material handling, and equipment support with less supervision.
Lead Laborer THIS ROLE
4-7 years
$56K-$67K
You coordinate a small crew, set up work areas, and help keep work moving safely and on schedule.
Foreman
7-12 years
$68K-$85K
You run crews, assign tasks, and work with supervisors and tradespeople to keep the project on track.
Education Paths
High school diploma
This is the most common documented education level, held by 34.9% of workers in this role.
Less than a high school diploma
A large share of workers, 32.53%, report less than a high school diploma, which shows this job does not require a traditional school finish for everyone.
No formal educational credential
BLS lists this as the typical entry point, and many employers hire workers who learn the job through short-term training on site.
Associate's degree
Only 4.59% of workers report an associate's degree, so this is an uncommon route rather than the normal entry path.
Key Skills
Technical
Operation and Control 53%
Operations Monitoring 50%
Construction Site Safety & Hazard Recognition 49%
Blueprint Reading & Site Plans 48%
Hand & Power Tools 47%
Equipment Spotting & Signaling 46%
Measuring, Marking & Layout Tools 45%
Soft Skills
CommunicationActive ListeningCoordinationTeamworkSituational AwarenessReliability Job Outlook and Trends
+7.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
129.4K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 1457K to 1563.4 K over the next decade, representing 7.3% growth. Around 129.4 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.