You’ve probably heard about the many of benefits to working in construction including paid training, competitive wages, advancement opportunities and great benefits. But did you know that with increased demand for new buildings, roads, and other structures, the construction industry is expected to add 400,000 new jobs across the United States in the next decade?
With this boom on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to start your career in the skilled trades. A career in construction enables you to build a brighter future for you, your community, and your education. Ensure you’re always in demand by considering these five trades expected to have the most available positions from 2020-2030.
5. Elevator Mechanic – 2,500 openings per year
Elevator Mechanics assemble, install, maintain, and replace elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, moving walkways, and similar equipment in new and old buildings. They often work in tight areas inside crawl spaces and machine rooms and may work at heights in elevator shafts.
Workers who specialize in elevator maintenance are on their own most of the day.
Average national wage: $42
What you need:
- 18 years old
- High school diploma or GED
- 144 classroom hours per year
- 9,250 hours on-the-job training
4. Hazardous Materials Removal – 5,800 openings per year
Hazardous materials removal workers identify and dispose of harmful substances such as asbestos, lead, and radioactive waste. Work environments vary and projects sometimes require night and weekend work. Overtime is common, especially for those who respond to emergencies or disasters.
Average national wage: $21
What you need:
- High school diploma or GED
- 40 hours OSHA training
3. Ironworker – 10,100 job openings per year
Ironworkers work outdoors and at heights to bolt and weld structural steel to form and support buildings, bridges, and roads. Travel is often required to job sites out of town.
Average national wage: $25.58/hour
What you need:
- 18 years old
- High school diploma or GED
- 200 classroom hours per year
- 6,400 on-the-job training hours
2. Electrician – 84,700 openings per year
Inside electricians perform electrical installations, construction, maintenance, repair, and service. They work on electrical construction projects ranging from single-family residences to state-of-the-art industrial plants. They install conduits and wire lighting, switches, converters, and complex computerized systems. Electricians work in almost every type of outdoor or indoor condition.
Average national wage: $27
What you need:
- 18 years old
- High school diploma or GED
- 144-180 classroom hours per year
- 8,000 hours on-the-job training
1. Construction Laborer – 167,800 openings per year
Laborers perform many tasks that require physical labor on construction sites. They may be skilled or unskilled workers with duties as varied as clearing timber and brush, removing demolished materials from a job site, placing and vibrating concrete, landscaping, installing pipe, handling the materials for other trades workers, or using explosives to demolish buildings. Laborer work is performed both indoors and outdoors and may be done on a surface environment, at extreme heights, underground, or above or under water.
Average national wage: $17
What you need:
- 18 years old
- High school diploma or GED
- 144 classroom hours per year
- 4,000 on-the-job training hours
Whether you’re involved in one of these trades or you’ve been thinking of joining this rapidly growing industry, construction jobs are here to stay. Take our quiz to find out which skilled trade is best for you.