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CONSIDER A CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION CONSIDER CONSTRUCTION

You Could Be Building Skyscrapers, Interstates, Bridges & Stadiums While Earning
Great Money.

These are the best years of your life. How many times have you heard that? Probably
too many to count. And while your teen years can be great, they dont last forever. Your
goal should be to make each new year the best year ever.

The way to do that is to make good decisions. What type of occupation do you want after
high school? What type of training program should you pursue? It is much easier to
make good decisions when you have god information on which to base those decisions.
Are you looking for a career that will provide an exciting, rewarding and challenging
future? If so, hold on and enjoy the ride. You are about to be introduced to one of the
most rewarding careers of the 21
st
Century.

Close your eyes and imagine how the men and women who constructed the Golden Gate
Bridge felt when the project was completed, what a sense of accomplishment. Or the
new Panther Stadium. Imagine being able to tell your buddy while driving by I helped
build that stadium. The Construction Industry offers opportunities and rewards as
unique as the individuals pursuing them, from carpentry to crane operations, the
possibilities are endless. Construction is truly a field in which you can work your way to
the top, if that is what you choose. With training and experience, you could move
steadily along a career path that suits your own talents and preferences.

AVERAGE SALARIES

Occupation
Education Requirement

Salary Range
Carpenter
HS/apprenticeship
$22K-$39K
Electrician
HS/apprenticeship
$25K-$45K
Plumber
HS/apprenticeship
$22K-$39K
Mason
HS/apprenticeship
$23K-$39K
Equipment Operator
HS/apprenticeship
$24K-$60K
Foreman
HS/apprenticeship
CAGC supervisory course
$25K-$59K
$20K-$40K
Estimator
HS/2yr associate or 4 year
college recommended

$28K-$59K
Superintendent
HS/apprenticeship/
CAGC supervisory course

$35K-68K
Project Managers
HS/2yr associate or 4 year
college recommended

$30K-$85K
GREAT CAREER CHOICES

CARPENTERS
PAINTERS
CONCRETE FINISHERS
PLUMBERS
WELDERS
ELECTRICIANS
HEAVY EQUIPEMENT
OPERATORS
HVAC TECHNICIANS
SHEET METAL WORKERS
MASONS
PIPEFITTERS
METAL BUILDING
ASSEMBLERS
SPRINKLER FITTERS
IRONWORKERS
MOBILE CRANE
OPERATORS


Carpenters








$22K- $39K

Carpenters cut, fit, and assemble wood and other building materials. They make frames
and foundations for buildings; install trim; construct cabinets, fences, and porches; and
maintain and repair structures. Carpenters have so many different kinds of responsibilities
that they must be versatile. They must know how to use different tools, read blueprints,
and change structures. They should also be physically fit and have good communication
skills. Some carpenters learn their trade through years of working with more experienced
carpenters. Others learn through craft and apprenticeship programs, which last about four
years. These programs include classroom and on-the-job training.


Painters









$23K-$40K

Painters apply paint and coating on a structural surface. They must decide what type of
paint or coasting to apply to a surface and know how the environment will affect the
painted or coated surface. They must be able to work with a variety of hand and power
tools to prepare the surface and apply the paint or coating. These tasks require precision
and knowledge. Some painters specialize in working in dangerous situations, such as on
bridges or high-rise office buildings. Some painters learn their trade by working for
experienced painters. Others learn through craft and apprenticeship programs, which last
about three years.


Concrete Finishers







$24K-$32K

Concrete finishers help build skyscrapers, sidewalks, houses, highways, dams, and many
other concrete structures. They finish horizontal surfaces such as airport and roadway
pavements, floors, and foundations, and vertical surfaces such as walls, cast columns,
piers, beams, and girders. Concrete finishers must be physically fit because the objects
they move are often heavy and bulky. They must have manual dexterity and good eye- hand coordination. They must also have good math skills to be able to calculate things
such as verticals fires or fall, squareness, and right triangles. Concrete finishe rs learn
their trade as helpers or through apprenticeship or on-the-job training program. Finishers
can advance into leadership roles-such as estimators, foremen, or even designers.


Plumbers









$22K-$39K

Plumbers design and install piping systems that distribute water and remove waste from
buildings. These systems include those connected to washers, bathtubs, sinks, toilets,
heating, and cooling systems. Plumbers must know about water distribution, including
how to determine the source of water flow and its anticipated water pressure level. They
should be familiar with blueprint reading, local ordinances and regulations, mathematics,
mechanical drawing, physics, and welding and soldering. In most parts of the United
States, plumbers must become licensed. Plumbers learn their trade through craft and
apprenticeship programs, which last four or five years. There are many opportunities for
continuing education.


Welders









$28K-$40K

Welders join objects together by applying heat or pressure. Entry level welders have a
basic understanding of welding principles and can perform a variety of assembly type
welds and other simple weld operations. Skilled welders have a thorough knowledge of
welding principles and metals and can weld objects or fixtures to specification from
drawings. They can do all three types of welding: arc, gas, and resistance. Welders learn
their trade through craft and apprenticeship programs. After several years of on-th-job
experience, an entry level welder may gain eno ugh knowledge to become a skilled
welder. Some skilled welders study welding in high school, at a technical school, junior
college, or a company or association training program.


Electricians








$25K-$45K

Electricians plan the electrical systems fo r structures. They install wiring and other
electrical components such as breaker boxes, switches, light fixtures, and telephone and
television wiring. They must be familiar with local and national codes. Electricians must
be carefully trained and safe because they can be exposed to hazardous conditions and
situations. In most parts of the United States, electricians must become licensed.
Electricians learn their trade through craft and apprenticeship programs. These programs
provide classroom instruc tion and on-the-job training with experienced electricians.


Heavy Equipment Operators






$24K-$60K
Heavy equipment operator install, transport, operate, and maintain heavy machinery such
as rigging devices, hoists, and jacks. They may have skills in other trades as well. These
workers must be physically fit and able to solve problems. Some heavy equipment
operators learn the trade through on-the-job experience. Others learn through craft and
apprenticeship programs, which last about three years. These programs include
classroom and on-the-job training.


HVAC


HVAC technicians install, maintain, and repair heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning
systems. These systems allow people to control the air temperature inside structures.
There are different kinds of HVAC systems, such as oil-fired furnaces and commercial
refrigerators, and technicians can specialize within the trade. HVAC technicians must be
able to understand the operating principals of different systems and to interpret written
specifications. Some HVAC technicians learn their trade through high school, or craft
and apprenticeship training programs. These programs may also offer on-the-job
opportunities. Experienced HVAC technicians expand their skills and keep up with
current technology by taking additional industry-sponsored courses such as craft and
apprenticeship programs.


Sheet Metal Workers







$21K-$34K

Sheet metal workers cut and mold sheets of metal into products used for installing and
repairing ventilation and air ducts. They also construct aluminum siding, metal roofing,
and gutters. These workers must have knowledge of mathematics, blueprint reading, and
drafting. They must be able to use some hand and power tools such as riveting machines
and hammers. Sheet metal workers learn their trade through craft and apprenticeship
programs, which last about four years. These programs include classroom and on-the-job
training.


Masons