How to become a Construction Laborer

Official title: Construction Laborers

Also called: Bituminous Asphalt Technician, Construction Laborer, Construction Worker, Drop Crew Laborer, Equipment Operator (EO), Form Setter, Post Framer, Scaffolding Operator, Site Work Laborer, Toolman

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.

Main tasks

• 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.
• Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.

How to become one

Construction laborers and helpers learn on the job. Although formal education is not typically required, some employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a high school diploma or the equivalent.

Typical education to start: No formal educational credential

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• Apprenticeship: Construction Craft Laborer.
• Apprenticeship: Maintenance Tech Municipal.
• Apprenticeship: Pointer, Cleaner, Caulker.
• Licence: A licence is required in 10 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $47,120 a year The middle half earn $38,620 to $59,740.
• About 1,489,300 people work in this job now, and about 1,598,600 are projected by 2035. (+7.3%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Related jobs

• Carpenters
• Pile Driver Operators
• Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
• Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
• Tapers
• Boilermakers

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Construction Laborer?

Construction laborers and helpers learn on the job. Although formal education is not typically required, some employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a high school diploma or the equivalent.

How much does a Construction Laborer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $47,120 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $38,620 to $59,740.

Is a Construction Laborer a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 7% by 2035, from about 1,489,300 to about 1,598,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Construction Laborer?

Usually not. Only 8% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Construction Craft Laborer.

Will AI change the work of a Construction Laborer?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.