Career Overview
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. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.
Also Known As
- Construction Laborer
- Construction Worker
- Equipment Operator (EO)
- Post Framer
Alternate Job Titles
- Air Breaker Operator
- Air Drill Operator
- Air Gun Operator
- Air Hammer Operator
- Air Tool Operator
- Aluminum Pool Installer
- Asbestos Removal Worker
- Asphalt Distributor Tender
- Asphalt Heater Tender
- Asphalt Layer
- Asphalt Patcher
- Asphalt Paver
- Asphalt Raker
- Asphalt Smoother
- Asphalt Spreader
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Building and Construction
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Manual Dexterity
- Static Strength
- Multilimb Coordination
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Near Vision
- Control Precision
- Trunk Strength
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Expression
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Perseverance
- Cautiousness
- Stress Tolerance
- Attention to Detail
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Independence
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Autodesk Revit
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
Tools & Equipment
- Adjustable widemouth pliers
- Adjustable wrenches
- Air compressors
- Air drills
- Air monitoring equipment
- Asphalt kettles
- Asphalt mops
- Asphalt saws
- Axes
- Bale hooks
- Bandsaws
- Belt conveyors
- Bench grinders
- Bosun chairs
- Brick carrier forks
Work Environment
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Standing
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Contact With Others
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $34,200 |
| Median | $46,730 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $77,530 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 1,057,660
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $51,650
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $52,550
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $54,660
Pipelayers
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $48,710
Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $62,700
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.