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Career overview · SOC 47-2061

Construction Laborers

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 called: Bituminous Asphalt Technician · Construction Laborer · Construction Worker · Drop Crew Laborer · Equipment Operator (EO) · Form Setter

Median pay (national)
$46,730
$34,200–$77,530 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
1,057,660
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+7.3%
~129,400 openings/yr
Typical entry
No formal educational credential

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for construction laborers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $77,530 versus $34,200 at the bottom 10% — 2.3x. The median of $46,730 leaves roughly 66% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +7.3% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 129,400 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, Hawaii pays the most for this role (median $66,100, +41% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $23,020 — a 187% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Speaking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.

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Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Speaking
  • Active Listening
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking
  • Monitoring
  • Writing
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Mathematics
  • Science

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt.
  • Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
  • Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
  • Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
  • Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
  • Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
  • 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.
  • Perform site activities required of green certified construction practices, such as implementing waste management procedures, identifying materials for reuse, or installing erosion or sedimentation control mechanisms.
  • Install sewer, water, or storm drain pipes, using pipe-laying machinery or laser guidance equipment.

Tools & technology

  • Autodesk Revit
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Word

Knowledge areas

  • Building and Construction
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Mechanical
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Education and Training
  • Administration and Management
  • Design
  • Mathematics