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With red-hot demand for construction nationwide, many builders are struggling to find the professionals they need to keep up. One recent forecast from a national trade association estimated that an additional 501,000 construction professionals will be needed in the industry this year, plus an additional 454,000 in 2025 on top of normal hiring. Many employers are reporting particular difficulty finding enough workers who can fill roles that require more specialized skills or knowledge.
All of this is good news for many experienced construction professionals or those who are considering entering the profession. Workers with the requisite experience or training can command higher wages or other benefits since their skills are in high demand. Those looking to make a career switch can currently find ample opportunity for entry-level jobs in construction that pay better than other roles with similar educational requirements.
U.S. Construction Spending
Real construction spending has nearly doubled since its low in 2011
Source: Construction Coverage analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data | Image Credit: Construction Coverage
Spending on construction gives a sense of how much potential there is in the industry. Following the Great Recession, construction spending plummeted to an annual rate of $758 billion in February 2011 (equivalent to approximately $1.1 trillion in 2024 dollars). However, since then, inflation-adjusted construction spending has surged by over 95%, surpassing the $2 trillion threshold in mid-2023.
Between 2011 and 2018, both residential and nonresidential construction spending experienced steady growth, albeit with minor fluctuations. However, in 2019, both sectors saw a slight downturn before rebounding in 2020. The residential construction sector witnessed a notable surge between 2020 and 2022, fueled by unprecedented demand and historically low interest rates. Yet, as interest rates have risen, demand for housing has moderated, leading to a decline from its peak. Conversely, nonresidential construction initially declined at the onset of the pandemic but has since experienced a strong resurgence. This growth can be largely attributed to bipartisan legislation that has created funding for both public sector infrastructure projects as well as private sector manufacturing and clean energy initiatives.
U.S. Construction Employment Numbers
Total construction employment remains below historical levels
Source: Construction Coverage analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data | Image Credit: Construction Coverage
Despite record levels of spending, the construction industry has been plagued by lackluster employment figures since the last recession. After peaking at nearly 10 million jobs during the housing bubble, construction employment plummeted to less than 7 million during the Great Recession and had been trending upward for most of the last decade before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Shutdowns early in the pandemic briefly sent construction employment falling to around 6.5 million in April 2020, but employment in the industry has rebounded to around 8.6 million currently. While the recovery is notable, these employment figures remain around 11% lower than the 2007 peak of 9.8 million, which again underscores the need for more workers in the field.
Given these trends, researchers at Construction Coverage, a website that provides construction insurance guides, set out to identify the most popular construction jobs and understand which roles in the industry are most common. The researchers analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and ranked 57 total construction occupations based on their share of total construction employment. In addition, researchers included total employment figures, median wages, and statistics by city and state.
Here are the most popular construction jobs in the U.S.
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15. Structural Iron and Steel Workers
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 1.0%
- Total employment: 63,780
- Median annual wage: $62,760
- State with the highest concentration of workers: South Dakota
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
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14. Helpers–Electricians
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 1.1%
- Total employment: 68,670
- Median annual wage: $38,340
- State with the highest concentration of workers: North Carolina
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Lewiston-Auburn, ME
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13. Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 1.5%
- Total employment: 90,860
- Median annual wage: $55,700
- State with the highest concentration of workers: California
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
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12. Sheet Metal Workers
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 1.9%
- Total employment: 116,190
- Median annual wage: $58,780
- State with the highest concentration of workers: Missouri
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Warner Robins, GA
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11. Construction and Building Inspectors
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 2.1%
- Total employment: 133,640
- Median annual wage: $67,700
- State with the highest concentration of workers: New Jersey
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Trenton, NJ
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10. Roofers
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 2.2%
- Total employment: 135,140
- Median annual wage: $50,030
- State with the highest concentration of workers: Florida
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL
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9. Highway Maintenance Workers
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 2.4%
- Total employment: 150,860
- Median annual wage: $47,360
- State with the highest concentration of workers: Mississippi
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Danville, IL
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8. Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 3.3%
- Total employment: 203,560
- Median annual wage: $50,720
- State with the highest concentration of workers: South Dakota
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Merced, CA
Photo Credit: Visivastudio / Shutterstock
7. Painters, Construction and Maintenance
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 3.5%
- Total employment: 215,910
- Median annual wage: $47,700
- State with the highest concentration of workers: Hawaii
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Bremerton-Silverdale, WA
Photo Credit: Dagmara K / Shutterstock
6. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 7.0%
- Total employment: 436,160
- Median annual wage: $61,550
- State with the highest concentration of workers: Rhode Island
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Kokomo, IN
Photo Credit: Virrage Images / Shutterstock
5. Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 7.2%
- Total employment: 450,370
- Median annual wage: $56,160
- State with the highest concentration of workers: West Virginia
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
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4. Carpenters
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 11.2%
- Total employment: 700,290
- Median annual wage: $56,350
- State with the highest concentration of workers: Vermont
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Corvallis, OR
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3. Electricians
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 11.4%
- Total employment: 712,580
- Median annual wage: $61,590
- State with the highest concentration of workers: Michigan
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Kokomo, IN
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2. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 12.5%
- Total employment: 777,420
- Median annual wage: $76,760
- State with the highest concentration of workers: North Carolina
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Wilmington, NC
Photo Credit: Halfpoint / Shutterstock
1. Construction Laborers
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 16.4%
- Total employment: 1,019,090
- Median annual wage: $45,300
- State with the highest concentration of workers: Louisiana
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Sumter, SC
Detailed Findings & Methodology
Photo Credit: Halfpoint / Shutterstock
The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. To determine the most popular construction jobs in the United States, researchers ranked 57 total construction occupations based on their percentage of total national construction and extraction employment. In addition, researchers calculated the most popular construction jobs in each state and metro based on each job’s local employment numbers relative to total construction and extraction employment in each location. Occupations with insufficient employment data were removed.
For complete results, see The Most Popular Construction Jobs in the U.S. on Construction Coverage.
