Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Construction Cover.
With construction demand hot across the country, many builders are struggling to find the professionals they need to stay on the job.
Another recent forecast from a national trade association estimates that 501,000 construction professionals will be needed in the industry this year, and another 454,000 by 2025 in addition to regular employment.
This is good news for many experienced construction professionals or those considering entering the profession.
Workers with the necessary knowledge or training can command higher wages or other benefits as their skills are in high demand. Those looking to make a career change now can find ample opportunity for entry-level jobs in construction that pay better than other roles with similar educational requirements.
Given these conditions, researchers at Construction Coverage set out to identify the most popular construction jobs and understand which roles in the industry are most common. See the details of the procedure at the end.
Here are the most popular construction jobs in the US
15. Steel Structures and Metals
- Percentage of total US construction employment: 1.0%
- Amount of work: 63,780
- Average annual salary: $62,760
- The country with the most workers: South Dakota
- Metro with the most employees: Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
14. Assistants – Electricians
- Percentage of total US construction employment: 1.1%
- Amount of work: 68,670
- Average annual salary: $38,340
- The country with the most workers: North Carolina
- Metro with the most employees: Lewiston-Auburn, ME
13. Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
- Percentage of total US construction employment: 1.5%
- Amount of work: 90,860
- Average annual salary: $55,700
- The country with the most workers: California
- Metro with the most employees: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
12. Steel Workers
- Percentage of total US construction employment: 1.9%
- Amount of work: 116,190
- Average annual salary: $58,780
- The country with the most workers: Missouri
- Metro with the most employees: Warner Robins, GA
11. Building and Construction Inspectors
- Percentage of total US construction employment: 2.1%
- Amount of work: 133,640
- Average annual salary: $67,700
- The country with the most workers: New Jersey
- Metro with the most employees: Trenton, NJ
10. Roofers
- Percentage of total US construction employment: 2.2%
- Amount of work: 135,140
- Average annual salary: $50,030
- The country with the most workers: In Florida
- Metro with the most employees: Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL
9. Highway Maintenance Workers
- Percentage of total US construction employment: 2.4%
- Amount of work: 150,860
- Average annual salary: $47,360
- The country with the most workers: Mississippi
- Metro with the most employees: Danville, IL
8. Cement guards and concrete patches
- Percentage of total US construction employment: 3.3%
- Amount of work: 203,560
- Average annual salary: $50,720
- The country with the most workers: South Dakota
- Metro with the most employees: Merced, CA
7. Painters, Construction and Maintenance
- Percentage of total US construction employment: 3.5%
- Amount of work: 215,910
- Average annual salary: $47,700
- The country with the most workers: In Hawaii
- Metro with the most employees: Bremerton-Silverdale, WA
6. Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters
- Percentage of total US construction employment: 7.0%
- Amount of work: 436,160
- Average annual salary: $61,550
- The country with the most workers: Rhode Island
- Metro with the most employees: Kokomo, IN
5. Working Engineers and Other Construction Workers
- Percentage of total US construction employment: 7.2%
- Amount of work: 450,370
- Average annual salary: $56,160
- The country with the most workers: West Virginia
- Metro with the most employees: Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
4. They don’t know
- Percentage of total US construction employment: 11.2%
- Amount of work: 700,290
- Average annual salary: $56,350
- The country with the most workers: Vermont
- Metro with the most employees: Corvallis, OR
3. Electricians
- Percentage of total US construction employment: 11.4%
- Amount of work: 712,580
- Average annual salary: $61,590
- The country with the most workers: In Michigan
- Metro with the most employees: Kokomo, IN
2. Senior Directors of Construction Trades and Excavation Workers
- Percentage of total US construction employment: 12.5%
- Amount of work: 777,420
- Average annual salary: $76,760
- The country with the most workers: North Carolina
- Metro with the most employees: Wilmington, NC
1. Construction Workers
- Percentage of total US construction employment: 16.4%
- Amount of work: 1,019,090
- Average annual salary: $45,300
- The country with the most workers: in Louisiana
- Metro with the most employees: Sumter, SC
How to do it
The data used in this analysis comes from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
To find the most popular construction jobs in the United States, the researchers estimated the number of 57 construction jobs based on their percentage of the total national construction and mining jobs.
In addition, the researchers calculated the most popular construction jobs in each state and metropolitan area based on the local employment numbers for each job compared to the total construction and outsourcing jobs in each area. Jobs with insufficient employment details have been removed.
Source link