Construction Laborer

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Work Tasks

• Clean building sites and get them ready for construction
• Dig trenches and set braces to hold up sides of buildings
• Do tunnel and pipe work
• Do much of the heavy work at building sites
• Work at building sites for building companies, state highway departments, and utility companies
• Use jack hammers, cement mixers, ditch diggers, building materials, braces, pipes, hand tools, and power tools

Salary, Size & Growth

• $31,000 average per year ($15.00 per hour)
• A very large occupation (1,176,600 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.9% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: On-the-job training
• Employers Prefer: A high school diploma, 18 years of age or older, and an apprenticeship in construction
• Skills/Courses: courses in applied math, mechanical drawing, and shop
• Certification/Licensing: Certification is needed to handle asbestos, lead, or other hazardous materials, or to enter confined spaces or climb scaffolds.