From plumbers to painters: These 10 construction trades employ the most people
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From plumbers to painters: These 10 construction trades employ the most people
Two men in bright-orange vests wearing hard hats are standing on scaffoldings holding tools.
Years of schoolwork and desk jobs aren’t for everyone, despite what some high school counselors and policymakers may encourage. The decadeslong push to get more kids to pursue college has left a major employment gap in another set of lucrative and rewarding career paths: skilled trades.
Tens of thousands of job openings occur annually in construction trades like roofing, plumbing, and painting. With minimal entry requirements, paid apprenticeship programs, strong union representation, and opportunities for advancement and entrepreneurship, these occupations have much to offer.
JobTest.org used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to identify which 10 construction trades employ the most people across the U.S., more clearly identifying the roles representing the industry’s present and future.
Construction jobs pay well compared to others available to those without college degrees. A recent BLS analysis found that the construction industry pays the highest hourly wages to workers with less than a bachelor’s degree and employs nearly 10% of workers in that category.
The median wage for construction trades overall is $25 per hour, or about $12 less per hour than the median for those with a bachelor’s degree. They earn more than some occupations requiring such degrees, like certain technicians and counselors. Moreover, trade jobs come without the burden of college debt, which can amount to tens of thousands of dollars for borrowers and take decades to pay off, particularly among lower post-grad earners. Instead, those pursuing trade jobs can enter paid apprenticeships and training programs, learning on the job while making money.
Common trade jobs may at most require a high school degree or equivalent, but half of the 10 on this list have no formal education requirement. The number of apprenticeship programs is growing, and trainees ultimately receive licenses or other certifications that enable them to work independently. Some go on to found their own small businesses performing their trade.
Between labor shortages and high demand for homes and industrial facilities, construction industry job openings have neared record levels in recent months. Over the next decade, BLS predicts there will be nearly 490,000 job openings annually in construction trades. Despite growing employment opportunities for construction tradespeople, more workers are leaving the construction industry than entering it.
Demand for trade workers can be seasonal, especially those who work outdoors. Many trade jobs require substantial physical labor, which may become more challenging as workers age. Prospective trade workers should plan for the future, saving money for slower months and gearing up to transition to less physical jobs as they age, such as supervising, project management, job cost estimation, or construction product sales.
Historically, trade jobs have been highly dependent on overall economic conditions, facing major slowdowns during recessions and, in many cases, taking longer to recover. This means fewer jobs and fewer working hours for workers who remain. However, trade workers are more insulated from the impact of artificial intelligence than white-collar jobs, which have already been impacted by layoffs from AI.
Future BLS projections and economic studies will better forecast how market conditions and advancing technologies will affect construction trades and their relations to other career paths. For now, though, they offer a promising career path for many Americans.
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#10. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
One man wearing a hard hat and overalls holds up a large piece of board in the ceiling, while another looks closer at the metal railing.
– 2023 employment: 90,860
– Projected 2032 employment: 118,200
– Average annual job openings: 7,900
– Median pay: $55,700 annually ($26.78 per hour)
– Education and training required: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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#9. Sheet metal workers
Two men wearing hard hats and orange vests climbing a metal structure. One is drilling into a huge metal sheet; the other holds the metal sheet for him.
– 2023 employment: 116,190
– Projected 2032 employment: 126,000
– Average annual job openings: 11,400
– Median pay: $58,780 annually ($28.26 per hour)
– Education and training required: High school diploma or equivalent and apprenticeship
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#8. Roofers
A man standing on top of ladder drilling into the metal sheet on the roof.
– 2023 employment: 135,140
– Projected 2032 employment: 157,600
– Average annual job openings: 12,200
– Median pay: $50,030 annually ($24.05 per hour)
– Education and training required: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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#7. Cement masons and concrete finishers
A man in a harness and white hard hat holds a tool while smoothing the concrete on the wall; another man in the background is seen holding tools.
– 2023 employment: 203,560
– Projected 2032 employment: 197,900
– Average annual job openings: 14,200
– Median pay: $50,720 annually ($24.38 per hour)
– Education and training required: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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#6. Painters, construction, and maintenance
A man in overalls and a hat stands on a ladder with a paint brush in his right hand and a bucket in his left.
– 2023 employment: 215,910
– Projected 2032 employment: 377,900
– Average annual job openings: 29,300
– Median pay: $47,700 annually ($22.94 per hour)
– Education and training required: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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#5. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
A man wearing a green hard hat cutting a long, metal pipe with a hand saw.
– 2023 employment: 436,160
– Projected 2032 employment: 493,600
– Average annual job openings: 42,600
– Median pay: $61,550 annually ($29.59 per hour)
– Education and training required: High school diploma or equivalent and apprenticeship
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#4. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
A man in a yellow hard hat, protective glasses, and yellow gloves holds on to a bar on a heavy machinary while looking to his right.
– 2023 employment: 450,370
– Projected 2032 employment: 449,200
– Average annual job openings: 38,200
– Median pay: $56,160 annually ($27.00 per hour)
– Education and training required: High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training
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#3. Carpenters
A man wearing eye protection mask holds a table saw in one hand and a long piece of wood in the other.
– 2023 employment: 700,290
– Projected 2032 employment: 964,900
– Average annual job openings: 79,500
– Median pay: $56,350 annually ($27.09 per hour)
– Education and training required: High school diploma or equivalent and apprenticeship
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#2. Electricians
A man holds a light fixture in one hand and a hammer in the other in an unfinished construction place.
– 2023 employment: 712,580
– Projected 2032 employment: 811,800
– Average annual job openings: 73,500
– Median pay: $61,590 annually ($29.61 per hour)
– Education and training required: High school diploma or equivalent and apprenticeship
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#1. Construction laborers
A man in an orange vest and hard hat holds a spade in the sand while another man in the background squats to hold black cables in the ground.
– 2023 employment: 1,019,090
– Projected 2032 employment: 1,480,500
– Average annual job openings: 129,400
– Median pay: $45,300 annually ($21.78 per hour)
– Education and training required: Short-term on-the-job training
Story editing by Alizah Salario. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Ania Antecka.
This story originally appeared on jobtest.org and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
