Construction managers typically plan, provide coordination, and oversee construction projects from a relatively "bird's eye view" of the project. Many construction firms require their construction managers to have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, but many in the industry have worked themselves up through the ranks to become a construction manager.
Read moreAverage Hourly Wage of Construction Superintendents, By State
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) defines the occupation we're examining today as "First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers," meaning the men and women in this job directly supervise employees and coordinate activities. This could either mean a construction superintendent or a foreman.
Read moreAverage Hourly Wage of Iron & Steel Workers, By State
Structural iron and steel workers often work from great heights when installing the structural and reinforcing steel and iron on buildings, bridges, and other structures. From 2016 to 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects overall employment of ironworkers to grow 13%, which is higher than the average growth rate of all industries. That's good news if you're currently and iron worker or about to become one.
With that growth assumption in mind, let's take a look at how much steel and iron workers are currently being paid in each state.
Read moreAverage Hourly Wage of Drywall Installers, By State
Drywall, gypsum, sheet rock, wall board, or whatever you call it, has to be installed by someone, so who better than a drywall installer? Some drywallers install the board and also tape and mud the joints, but others only hang the board.
When sanding, drywallers are exposed to a lot of dust, including silica in some cases, which they need to be protected from. The Center for Disease Control suggests using a vaccuum sander or pole sanding to reduce worker's exposure to harmful dust particles
Read moreAverage Hourly Wage of Roofers, By State
Roofers have one of the most uncomfortable jobs on any construction site, especially when installing a dark roofing material. A traditional black roof, either asphalt shingles or EPDM, can be up to 50 degrees warmer than the surrounding temperatures.
It's also one of the most dangerous professions in the industry. Not only is it one of the most heavily cited group by OSHA, it also leads in number of fatalities per 100,000 workers.
Having said that, let's take a look at how they're paid in each state...
Read moreAverage Hourly Wage of Painters, By State
Painters are typically one of the last subcontractors on any construction site, who do their best to beautify the drywall with the colors of the architect's or interior designer's choosing. Some painters are also responsible for mudding drywall, patching holes, sanding, and caulking.
Let's take a look at how an average painter's hourly wage compares in each state...
Read moreAverage Hourly Wage of Plumbers, By State
In doing the research for this analysis, I learned something interesting about the plumbing profession. The term "plumber" comes from the Latin word "plumbum," which means lead. Seems fitting in a profession, fairly or unfairly, stereotyped for exposed butt cracks.
In Roman times, plumbers often worked with lead for conduits, drain pipes, and making baths. Plumbers now work with a variety of different materials, including copper, PVC, ductile iron, among others.
Read moreAverage Hourly Wage of Brick and Block Masons, By State
Masonry workers, specifically brick and block masons, have been around for centuries and are one of the construction industries oldest professions. Before blocks were prefabricated and purchased, masons had to cut the material by hand before placing. Recently, robotic brick and block placing robots have threatened to take some jobs away from human masons, but that technology is still a long way away from making a huge impact on the profession
Read moreAverage Hourly Wage of Electricians, By State
Electricians are very essential to every single construction project, but it's also one of the most dangerous jobs in the construction industry, According to OSHA, electrocutions cause almost 9% of all construction related deaths, making it one of the group's Fatal Four. Generally, an electrician in the United States falls under 1 of 3 categories: apprentice, journeyman, and master, but this data compiles all of those levels into one category. It's also important to note that utility line installers are not included in this category.
Read moreAverage Hourly Wage of Carpenters, By State
In our weekly quest to analyze each individual construction profession by state, we’ll examine carpentry. The two previous professions we examined were general construction laborers, followed by heavy equipment operators. You can also see the full list of all past and future professions by clicking here.
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