What Is the Salary of a Construction Laborer?
Construction laborers perform many tasks on construction sites including clearing away trees, unloading building materials, erecting scaffolding or mixing concrete. No specific educational background is needed, and most gain their skills on the job by helping more experienced workers or contractors. Apprenticeships that last from two to four years are also available.
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Work
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Work is physically demanding for construction laborers, who may be exposed to chemicals, fumes, traffic or loud noises. They suffer some of the highest rates of non-fatal injury and illness. Safety clothing such as orange vests, gloves and hardhats can minimize some of the risks. Seasonal, temporary and part-time work is common, with pay at a median hourly rate of $14.01, with a range of $8.86 to $27.05. Otherwise, they work a 40-hour week and receive a median $29,150 yearly, with a range of $18,430 to $56,270. This is according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as of May 2009.
Industries
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The industries that hire the most construction workers are specialty trade contractors. They perform specific construction activities such as pouring concrete, preparing sites, adding structures or repairing potholes. They comprise almost 15 percent of the 856,440 construction jobs and pay above the median at $15.65 per hour or $32,550 yearlu. The highest-paying industry is motion pictures and video, with compensation at $30.46 per hour or $63,360 yearly.
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Geography
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New Mexico has the highest concentration of construction workers, with 14.83 laborers per thousand employees. This large supply lowers pay to $11.67 per hour or $24,270 yearly. The high cost of living in Hawaii makes it the state with high-paying employers at $23.75 per hour or $49,400 yearly. It only has half the jobs of New Mexico at a job concentration of 7.83. New York is another city with high-paying positions, with wages at $26.09 per hour or $54,270 yearly. But its job concentration is at 4.66 per thousand.
Outlook
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The BLS predicts jobs for construction laborers will increase by 20 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is much faster than average. Pay should also grow correspondingly. A growing population will require more structures for construction laborers to build. In addition, the growth of ecologically sound practices requires some preexisting sites to follow certain construction modifications. Job prospects are best for those with both experience and specialized skills, such as road construction.
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References
- Photo Credit construction. image by Yuri Bizgaimer from Fotolia.com
