What Do Different Construction Jobs Pay?

Construction work can come with risks, considering that many employees work in a wide variety of weather conditions with heavy or specialized equipment, but those risks often come with considerable benefits. Depending on your existing skillset and the training you are willing to undergo, you could make a significant salary in one of these construction jobs.

Electrician

One of the most in-demand jobs in the construction industry is an electrician, with an estimated job growth of 9% over the next ten years. The average pay is $27 per hour or $56,000 per year, and this type of job offers a wide variety of work environments. You might service individual homeowners, large residential buildings, or commercial properties in various states of construction depending on your employer. Typically, you can jump right into the hands-on work with an apprenticeship.

Construction Site Inspector

If you like variety and wouldn't want to show up to the same workplace every day, consider becoming a building or construction site inspector. This construction job involves traveling to different sites to make sure other workers' performance is up to code. If you have an eye for detail and can memorize municipal and state building standards, this job pays a median wage of $60,000 per year.

Elevator Installation and Repair Technician

If you're looking for a lucrative job in construction, work with escalators and elevators is some of the highest paying in the industry. In 2019, the median pay for these workers was $85,000 per year, and you may not need more than an apprenticeship before getting into this line of work.

Pile Driver Operator

Another high-paying construction job is a pile driver operator. The average annual salary is more than $70,000 per year or $35 per hour. If you have a knack for working with machines, you may do well in this position as it involves using a crane or other machinery to lay foundations for building walls and bridges.

Solar Panel Installer

A job hiring in the construction industry with a high potential for growth is a solar photovoltaic installer. The median salary is lower than other construction jobs at $40,000 per year, but there is high demand as both homeowners and commercial property owners seek to lower their energy costs and take advantage of government rebates. Typically, you only need a high school diploma for this position and can train on the job.

Construction jobs require a decent amount of training and a dedication to safety, but the result of a hard day's work is often a great rate of pay and the satisfaction of knowing that you've helped build something for the future.

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