The Most Popular Construction Jobs in the U.S. [2024 Edition]

Note: This is the most recent release of our Most Popular Construction Jobs in the U.S. study. To see data from prior years, please visit the Full Results section below.

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

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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

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 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.

The 15 Most Popular Jobs in Construction

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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

Photo Credit: Tong Stocker / Shutterstock

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

Photo Credit: Byjeng / Shutterstock

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

Photo Credit: Sorn340 Studio Images / Shutterstock

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

Photo Credit: Saravutpics / Shutterstock

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

Photo Credit: Vadim Ratnikov / Shutterstock

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

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.

References

Associated Builders and Contractors. (2024, January 31). ABC: 2024 Construction Workforce Shortage Tops Half a Million. Retrieved on May 13, 2024 from https://www.abc.org/News-Media/News-Releases/abc-2024-construction-workforce-shortage-tops-half-a-million.
Jones, Jonathan. Construction Coverage. (2024, February 21). The Best-Paying Construction Jobs in the U.S. Retrieved on May 13, 2024 from https://constructioncoverage.com/research/best-paying-construction-jobs.
The White House. (2023, November 9). FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Celebrates Historic Progress in Rebuilding America Ahead of Two-Year Anniversary of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Retrieved on May 13, 2024 from https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/11/09/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-celebrates-historic-progress-in-rebuilding-america-ahead-of-two-year-anniversary-of-bipartisan-infrastructure-law/.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics [Data set]. Retrieved on May 13, 2024 from https://www.bls.gov/oes/.

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