How To Become A Construction Assistant: What It Is and Career Path

What is a construction assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Construction Assistants work with superiors to supervise and manage building construction and restoration projects daily. Construction Assistants help project managers with general logistics by coordinating workers, recognizing construction project faults, and recommending preventive actions. Also, they curb difficulties, manage costs, order construction materials, and ensure that safety regulations are rigorously adhered to. Furthermore, construction assistants collaborate with clients and the project manager to assess project requirements, track workflow, resolve issues, and manage expectations. They also assemble and create thorough and well-thought-out costs, quantity takeoffs, bid evaluations, and confirm specific information.

Any aspiring Construction Assistant must possess physical strength and endurance. Dexterity and hand-eye coordination are also necessary. Apart from this, you must possess strong reading and math skills for general paperwork. You must also possess problem-solving and decision-making skills, be a team player and possess sound knowledge of environmental laws. A bachelor's degree in construction management or technology is often required, while some employers may prefer a bachelor's degree in architecture or engineering. Construction Assistants earn between $46,155 to $100,387 yearly.

ScoreConstruction AssistantUS Average

Salary

3.1

Avg. Salary $39,072

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.4

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.54%

Asian 2.39%

Black or African American 10.68%

Hispanic or Latino 30.80%

Unknown 4.13%

White 50.47%

Gender

female 19.26%

male 80.74%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress level

6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.1

Complexity level is basic

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a construction assistant

Explore construction assistant education requirements

Most common construction assistant degrees

Bachelor's

46.8 %

High School Diploma

23.5 %

Associate

18.4 %

Start to develop specific construction assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Safety Procedures	15.05%
Construction Projects	11.07%
General Contractors	7.29%
Drywall Installation	6.69%
Equipment Operators	3.77%

Complete relevant construction assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New construction assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a construction assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real construction assistant resumes.

Gain additional construction assistant certifications

Construction assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific construction assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for construction assistants include OSHA Safety Certificate and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

More About Certifications

Research construction assistant duties and responsibilities

Fix electrical fixtures and manage plumbing problems effectively.
Employ a wide verity of hand and power tools including hoists, drills, precision measuring instruments and electronic testing devices.
Negotiate material sales contracts, document historical information, provide earned value management, and safety oversight for projects/programs.
Prepare plans and specifications for new and existing housing, supervise sub-contractors to insure compliance with HUD requirements.

Prepare your construction assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your construction assistant resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a construction assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable construction assistant resume templates

Build a professional construction assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your construction assistant resume.