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People seem to thumb their noses at these types of jobs, but they can be well paying and have fantastic benefits. I've never wanted to do that sort of field even though it's similar to what I used to do in the military.
President Donald Trump’s $200 billion infrastructure plan lacks specifics but the promise of “gleaming new roads, bridges, highways, railways and waterways” across America would certainly spur growth for those who work in construction.
There are 27 occupations within the sector, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. So which are the most lucrative?
Elevator installers and repairers top the list, making a median annual income of $80,000. This is more than three times the salary of the least paid — construction helpers (who make an average $22,000 a year).
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Those are just national median salaries. There are many construction jobs paying more than that here. Operating engineers, handling bulldozers average $86,000. Those in the big cranes are close to $100,000. Even the laborers working shovels are starting at $60,000 now, and contractors are all hiring in an attempt to keep up with demand. Government contracts require prevailing wage of their contractors, so even non-union workers have to be paid what others are making in the area, based on state Labor and Industries Department data.
Owners of GCs make the most by far.
Project managers/project executives at GCs make a whole lot - more than any trades.
Sitting in project meetings with GCs, owner's representatives, and engineers, as an Architect I make the least in the room.
Trades that require licenses make the most of people that get their hands dirty. More if they are in unions. Master electricians can easily top 100k. Journeymen too in the right location. IBEW 103 (Greater Boston) scale is ~$46/hr for journeymen. That's 95k.
On non-union jobs, trades make 15-25% less.
Labourers always will make the least. Anyone off the street can push a wheelbarrow.
White collar is much better if you value work/life balance. Sure you can make 100k in the trades but you put in a ton of overtime to make it. Meanwhile, there are 100k a year white collar jobs that only require a 40 hour week.
Also keep in mind the wear and tear on the body from doing manual labor work over the decades. A lot of guys can't make it to retirement age with ruined knees, bad backs, etc. Something to think about it.
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