Working in construction can be a prudent career choice. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the yearly median salary for construction and extraction occupations, as the BLS calls it, hit $43,610 in May 2016. The median yearly salary for all occupations is $37,040, so construction workers make roughly 18% more.
Construction salaries expected to rise
Not only that, but employment in the construction industry is expected to rise 11 percent in the 2016-2026 period. That’s a more robust gain than the average for all jobs across all sectors, and equals more than 758,000 new jobs.
Finally, the jobs are especially well-paid when you consider that most require a high school diploma and some on-the-job training or apprenticeships, rather than a four-year college degree.
Here are the top 3 best-paid jobs in the construction sector.
1. Elevator Installers and Repairers
This group is by far the best-paid among all construction workers. The 2016 median salary was $78,890, or nearly $38.00 per hour. Not only that, but projected job growth is 12%, higher than construction as a whole.
Elevator installers and repairers work not only on elevators, but on all intra-building transportation that moves people, such as escalators and moving walkways.
2. Boilermakers
The second mostly highly paid job in construction is that of boilermaker. They make $62,060 annually, or nearly $30.00 per hour.
Boilermakers assemble, install, and repair containers that hold liquids and gases, such as boilers. The job requires an apprenticeship. It is expected to grow 8% through 2026, slower than the sector as a whole.
3. Building Inspectors
Building inspectors are the third most highly paid construction job. Annual salaries are a median of $58,480 per year, or $28.12 per hour.
Building inspectors, as the title implies, inspect buildings for compliance with local regulations, laws, and zoning codes. They also inspect buildings for compliance with contracts.
The job is expected to grow 10% through 2026.
Building inspectors need a minimum of 5 years working in construction jobs and generally learn on the job.
Hurt on the Job? Call Construction Accident Lawyer Bart Bernard
As well-paid as construction jobs can be, they can also be dangerous. Construction workers are exposed to multiple hazards, from falling debris to electric shocks from exposed sockets and wiring, to falling from great heights as they work on buildings and infrastructure. And those are just three possibilities.
Construction accidents can cause injuries that cause a breadwinner to lose wages and imperil family security. They can make a hard-working construction worker unable to work again.
If you or a loved one has been hurt or even killed on a construction site, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, re-training, and more. Get in touch with a dedicated and tenacious construction accident lawyer in Baton Rouge and Lafayette: Bart Bernard. For a free consultation, call today. Bart charges no fees unless he wins money for you!
Additional Resources on Highly-Paid Construction Jobs:
- Doyle, Alison. “The Top 10 Best Paid Construction Jobs.” The Balance. August 31, 2017. https://www.thebalance.com/top-best-paid-construction-jobs-4054066.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Construction and Extraction Occupations. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/home.htm
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Elevator Installers and Repairers. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/Construction-and-Extraction/Elevator-installers-and-repairers.htm
