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Landscaping & Hardscaping
BrightView, The Davey Tree Expert Company, The Grounds Guys
Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers
These workers build and finish paved surfaces such as patios, walkways, driveways, and other stone-based areas. The job is distinct because success depends on getting the base, slope, spacing, and cutting exactly right, not just placing stones in a pattern. The tradeoff is simple: the work is practical and hands-on, but it is physically demanding, weather-dependent, and unforgiving if measurements are off.
Also known as Paver InstallerHardscape InstallerPaving Stone InstallerInterlocking Paver InstallerPaving Laborer
Median Salary
$48,120
Mean $52,910
U.S. Workforce
~34K
3.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.5%
35K to 36.2K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers 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 ~34K workers, with a median annual pay of $48,120 and roughly 3.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 35 K in 2024 to 36.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Construction Laborer and can progress toward Site Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Paver Layout, Stringlines & Marking, Plate Compactor & Vibratory Equipment, and Site Grading, Soil Stabilization & Drainage Prep, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Speaking, and Critical Thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Prepare the work area by removing weak soil, leveling the ground, and making sure the surface drains properly.
- Mark out the pattern and guide lines so the pavers line up correctly and the design stays straight.
- Spread and smooth the base sand to the right depth, then check it again if weather or work activity disturbs it.
- Cut pavers to fit edges, corners, and curved sections using a saw or splitter.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Prepare the work area by removing weak soil, leveling the ground, and making sure the surface drains properly.
02 Mark out the pattern and guide lines so the pavers line up correctly and the design stays straight.
03 Spread and smooth the base sand to the right depth, then check it again if weather or work activity disturbs it.
04 Cut pavers to fit edges, corners, and curved sections using a saw or splitter.
05 Set each paver in place and keep the spacing even across the whole surface.
06 Compact the finished surface, sweep joint sand into the gaps, and get the area ready for use.
Industries That Hire
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General Construction
Turner Construction, DPR Construction, PCL Construction
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Civil Infrastructure & Roadwork
Kiewit, AECOM, Jacobs
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Commercial Property Maintenance
CBRE, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield
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Home Improvement Retail & Supply
The Home Depot, Lowe's, Menards
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field with a high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training, so the barrier to entry is relatively low.
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The work is concrete and visible: you can see a driveway, patio, or walkway come together in a way most office jobs never show.
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Pay is solid for a trade role, with a median annual wage of $48,120 and a mean of $52,910.
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There are steady openings, with about 3.1 thousand annual openings expected, which helps job seekers find entry points.
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Workers who build strong layout, cutting, and crew skills can move into lead or supervisor roles without needing a four-year degree.
Challenges
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The pay is not especially high for the amount of physical effort, and even the mean wage of $52,910 leaves little room for error in budgeting.
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The job is hard on the body: it involves heavy lifting, kneeling, repetitive bending, and long periods of standing or walking on uneven ground.
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Work is usually outdoors and can be delayed by heat, cold, rain, or frozen ground, so income and schedules can be less predictable than in year-round indoor jobs.
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Growth is modest at 3.5% from 2024 to 2034, so the occupation is not expanding quickly and competition for the best jobs can stay tight.
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There is a structural ceiling in many crews: advancement often depends on becoming a lead or supervisor, while the core hands-on work itself can be hard to scale into higher pay.
Career Progression
Construction Laborer
0-2 years
$33K-$40K
Starts with cleanup, hauling materials, basic prep work, and learning how crews move safely and efficiently on a site.
Paver Installer
2-5 years
$41K-$55K
Handles base prep, setting pavers, cutting pieces to fit, and making sure the finished surface is level and tight.
Lead Paver Installer THIS ROLE
5-8 years
$56K-$68K
Takes on more complex layouts, checks quality, and helps newer workers keep the pattern, drainage, and finish consistent.
Crew Leader
8-12 years
$69K-$82K
Runs a small team, assigns tasks, solves layout problems on the fly, and keeps the job moving to schedule.
Site Supervisor
12+ years
$83K-$98K
Oversees multiple crews or projects, manages quality and safety, and handles client expectations, materials, and scheduling.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 59.89% of workers in this role.
Post-secondary certificate in construction, masonry, or hardscape installation
A common route, held by 30.66% of workers, especially for people who want to show hands-on training before applying.
Some college courses in construction or building trades
A smaller pathway, held by 5.76% of workers, and sometimes used to build toward supervision or estimating.
Apprenticeship or short-term hardscape installation training
Not a major share in the distribution, but a practical way to learn the job when employers value proven field skills over formal schooling.
Key Skills
Technical
Paver Layout, Stringlines & Marking 84%
Plate Compactor & Vibratory Equipment 82%
Site Grading, Soil Stabilization & Drainage Prep 80%
Masonry Saw & Paver Cutting 78%
Measuring Tools, Levels & Joint Spacing 76%
Construction Hand Tools & Equipment Safety 74%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingCoordinationAttention to Detail Job Outlook and Trends
+3.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
3.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 35K to 36.2 K over the next decade, representing 3.5% growth. Around 3.1 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.