How To Become A Construction Worker: What It Is and Career Path

Q: How long does it take to become a Construction Worker?

It takes one year or less to become a construction worker. That is the time it takes to learn specific construction worker skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

Q: How old do you have to be to work at a construction site?

You have to be at least 16 years old to work on a construction site. However, minors have various restrictions on the number of hours they can work and the types of jobs that they can perform. Each state and company may have additional restrictions or regulations regarding how old someone must be to work on a construction site.

Q: Is construction a good career?

Yes, construction can be a good career field for many people, but it may not be the best career for everyone. While working in construction offers good pay and relaxed working conditions, there are some characteristics of the work that are challenging over the long term.

Q: What is the construction site hierarchy?

The construction site hierarchy is similar to a regular business and includes. The owner/CEO sits at the top of the organizational chart, typically followed by the general manager, department managers, project managers, project supervisors, project coordinators, and finally the workers.

Q: What is the hierarchy of a construction company?

The hierarchy of a construction company begins with entry-level positions, and includes support, manager, director, executive, and owner. While smaller companies may have fewer people at each level, this general structure works from small to large construction companies.

What is a construction worker and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Put your hard hat on and let's get to work. Construction workers are extremely important when it comes to new buildings and infrastructure. While the job requires a lot of physical labor, formal education is not required.

It's important to note that being a construction worker is physically demanding work. Generally, construction workers have a full-time schedule. Plus they work outside in every kind of weather. Oh, and if you're afraid of heights, you probably don't want to become a construction worker.

ScoreConstruction WorkerUS Average

Salary

2.5

Avg. Salary $31,842

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.4

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.45%

Asian 2.82%

Black or African American 11.08%

Hispanic or Latino 27.69%

Unknown 4.02%

White 52.95%

Gender

female 6.21%

male 93.79%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress Level

6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

4.1

Complexity Level is basic

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

5.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a construction worker

Explore construction worker education requirements

Most common construction worker degrees

High School Diploma

50.6 %

Bachelor's

19.3 %

Associate

13.2 %

Start to develop specific construction worker skills

Skills	Percentages
Roofing	16.89%
Safety Rules	12.38%
Sheetrock	5.20%
Tape Measure	4.34%
Equipment Operators	4.08%

Complete relevant construction worker training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New construction workers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a construction worker based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real construction worker resumes.

Gain additional construction worker certifications

Construction worker certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific construction worker certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for construction workers include OSHA Safety Certificate and EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA).

More About Certifications

Research construction worker duties and responsibilities

Manage and decide all remodel activities.
Operate cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments.
Operate the recycle baler machine.
Require PPE / OSHA requirements and respirator tests perform.

Prepare your construction worker resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your construction worker resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a construction worker resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Construction Worker Resume templates

Build a professional Construction Worker resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Construction Worker resume.

Apply for construction worker jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a construction worker job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do construction workers rate their job?

4.33/5

Based On 3 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Construction Worker reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2023

Pros

Good pay this site has the pay all wrong.

Cons

Long hours very hard work

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022

Pros

I like to diminish demolition and sheetrock putting up helping and cleaning the surrounding

Cons

Don't have any specific thing that I don't like I just like working hard and working smart and being safe for everyone

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2022

Pros

Learning something how to use different power tools

Cons

Working outside in the elements.

Construction Worker FAQs

What is a construction worker and how to become one

Construction Worker career paths

Key steps to become a construction worker

Explore construction worker education requirements

Most common construction worker degrees

Start to develop specific construction worker skills

Complete relevant construction worker training and internships

Gain additional construction worker certifications

Research construction worker duties and responsibilities

Prepare your construction worker resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Construction Worker Resume templates

Apply for construction worker jobs

How Did You Land Your First Construction Worker Job

Average construction worker salary

How do construction workers rate their job?

Construction Worker reviews

Construction Worker FAQs

How long does it take to become a Construction Worker?

How old do you have to be to work at a construction site?

Is construction a good career?

What is the construction site hierarchy?

What is the hierarchy of a construction company?

Search for construction worker jobs

Construction Worker jobs by state