Construction Laborers
Architecture and ConstructionO*NET 47-2061.00United States
Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments.
- Median annual earnings
- $43,956
- Projected change
- +9.4%
- Typical education
- High school diploma or less
- Employment
- 1.52M jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
67.4% of the workforce
Growing to 1.66M by 2035
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ASU learning related to this career
These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
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The work
What construction laborers do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt.
- Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
- Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
- Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
- Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
- Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes.
- Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
- Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $28,746
- 25th percentile
- $34,060
- 50th percentile
- $43,956
- 75th percentile
- $59,447
- 90th percentile
- $85,613
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $43,956 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+9.4%faster than average
20251,521,158 jobs
2035 projected1,664,276 jobs
143,118 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- High school diploma or less
- 67.4%
- Certificate
- 28%
- Associate degree
- 4.6%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Equipment Selection
- Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Equipment Maintenance
- Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Repairing
- Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
- Troubleshooting
- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Construction Laborers10,500 postings
- 02Laborers6,862 postings
- 03General Laborers5,761 postings
- 04Construction Workers2,818 postings
- 05Skilled Laborers2,238 postings
- 06General Construction Laborers1,606 postings
- 07Construction Technicians1,399 postings
- 08Underground Electricians602 postings
- 09Construction Crews543 postings
- 10Track Laborers495 postings
- 11Drivers/Laborers480 postings
- 12Construction Crew Members458 postings
- 13Landscape Laborers458 postings
- 14Utility Laborers414 postings
- 15Equipment Operators/Laborers411 postings
- 16Excavation Laborers401 postings
- 17Construction Crew Leaders349 postings
- 18Demolition Laborers343 postings
- 19Mason Laborers287 postings
- 20Landfill Laborers274 postings
Top employers
- 01Aerotek2,705 postings
- 02Cleary Building Corp.366 postings
- 03Two Men And A Truck253 postings
- 04M. A. Mortenson Company235 postings
- 05Groundworks Operations229 postings
- 06Miller Pipeline227 postings
- 07CRH plc220 postings
- 08Artera212 postings
- 09Waste Management207 postings
- 10Express Employment Professionals205 postings
- 11MasTec204 postings
- 12TruGreen198 postings
- 13PeopleReady195 postings
- 14SPAR Österreichische Warenhandels171 postings
- 15Tyson Foods155 postings
- 16Austin Industrial127 postings
- 17Ervin Cable Construction126 postings
- 18ManpowerGroup124 postings
- 19Superior Skilled Trades123 postings
- 20Brasfield & Gorrie121 postings
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