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Job outlook for construction contractors in the United States
Construction contractor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected construction contractor job growth rate is 4% from 2018-2028.
About 69,500 new jobs for construction contractors are projected over the next decade.
Construction contractor salaries have increased 8% for construction contractors in the last 5 years.
There are over 125,005 construction contractors currently employed in the United States.
There are 42,077 active construction contractor job openings in the US.
The average construction contractor salary is $67,630.
Are construction contractor jobs in demand?
Construction contractor job and salary trends over time
Construction contractor jobs over time
Construction contractor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 125,005 | 0.04% |
| 2020 | 122,558 | 0.04% |
| 2019 | 127,025 | 0.04% |
| 2018 | 122,779 | 0.04% |
| 2017 | 116,548 | 0.04% |
Average construction contractor salary over time
Construction contractor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $67,630 | $32.51 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $66,005 | $31.73 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $65,028 | $31.26 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $63,871 | $30.71 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $62,785 | $30.18 | +1.5% |
Construction contractor jobs by state
Most common states for construction contractors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 92 | 9% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 102 | 8% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 61 | 8% |
| 4 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 112 | 7% |
| 5 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 92 | 7% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 282 | 5% |
| 7 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 236 | 5% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 145 | 5% |
| 9 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 860 | 3% |
| 10 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 365 | 3% |
| 11 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 89 | 3% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 36 | 3% |
| 13 | New York | 19,849,399 | 441 | 2% |
| 14 | California | 39,536,653 | 0 | 0% |
| 15 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 0 | 0% |
| 16 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 0 | 0% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 0 | 0% |
| 18 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 0 | 0% |
| 19 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 0 | 0% |
| 20 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 0 | 0% |
Most common cities for construction contractors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salem | 2 | 7% | $70,329 |
| 2 | Grand Forks | 1 | 2% | $78,431 |
| 3 | North Brunswick | 1 | 2% | $86,432 |
| 4 | Fort Myers | 1 | 1% | $78,374 |
| 5 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $98,739 |
| 6 | Minneapolis | 1 | 0% | $90,199 |
Construction Contractor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of construction contractor experts
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Construction Contractors in the next 3-5 years?
Ira Wiesenfeld: The areas of greatest growth will include communications, medical equipment, and lab testing, transportation, renewable energy, SCADA, consumer electronics, HVAC, automotive and truck repair, agriculture, security, and computer systems. In some of these areas, it would be fair to characterize the expected growth as "explosive."
In many of these specialties, there is an alarming disconnect between the current and projected need for trained workers and the dearth of training providers. Many schools are even cutting back or closing programs related to these fields. Other schools offer instruction that is decades out of date. There are metropolitan cities of a million or more with no available Electronics training whatever. Much of the advanced technology now available to us was developed in the USA, but we could find ourselves unable to make use of it due to a lack of trained technicians.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Construction Contractors in the next 5 years?
Ira Wiesenfeld: It is likely that employers will demand more graduates, but it is certain that employers will demand a different kind of graduate. A graduate with only academic knowledge requires extensive on-the-job practical training before they can be productive, and an employer simply can't afford to wait that long in today's economy. Someone with less theoretical knowledge but more hands-on training and experience can be a productive employee beginning the day they're hired. That is the person who is most in demand.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Construction Contractors to find work opportunities?
Monica Pfarr: Since the skill of welding can be applied across many career pathways, generally employment opportunities exist in many parts of the country.
Which region or state accounts for the highest demand for welders and welding professionals. When viewing total job postings, the great lakes region (MI, OH, IL, IN, WI, MN) accounts for most demand with a combined total of over 22,000 postings in the past 12 months. (Source BurningGlass July 2020)
How do you envision technology impacting Construction Contractors in the next 5 years?
Monica Pfarr: With the projected welding professional shortage of 275k by 2023 - (EMSI July 2020) it's hard to observe negative impacts of technology, especially automation. Understandably, organizations may be entertaining or may be taking a serious look at the need to automate certain welding processes within their company due to the skill shortage.
It is rare that we see a welding robot replacing a human welder; they are most often complementing the production process, or are filling a need that the manufacturer is unable to fill due to the shortage of welders.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Construction Contractors?
Steve Harris: The pandemic has shifted many face-to-face roles to remote support; in general, there are less technicians in the field, and the use of remote technology to troubleshoot network issues has increased. Some entry-level technicians also work in tech support. In those instances, many now use video calls to assist customers.
When installers are in the field, they must be able to recognize and understand performance metrics to install or restore services correctly, the first time. All of this was true before the pandemic, but is even more essential in the era of social distancing. This dynamic environment requires professionals who can learn, think, and adapt quickly.
All new grads should be knowledgeable about the industry they’re pursuing. Joining a membership organization like SCTE•ISBE offers networking, mentoring, and training opportunities. It also provides an inside look at how the industry is responding to current events.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Construction Contractors in the next 3-5 years?
Steve Harris: Installers must support both new and legacy services, even as cable operators roll-out emerging technologies like Wi-Fi 6, out Distributed Access Architecture (DAA), and Fiber to the Home (FTTH). Those interested in cable telecommunications should consider training and certifications that map to their interests and intended career paths.
Entry-level professionals with the new SCTE•ISBE broadband premises installer, SCTE•ISBE broadband wireless installer, or SCTE•ISBE broadband fiber installer (FTTH) certifications will be more successful pursuing a career in the cable telecommunications industry. In fact, the major cable operators use SCTE•ISBE programs to train their employees, so these certifications will put them ahead of the curve.
How do you envision technology impacting Construction Contractors in the next 5 years?
Kate Cinnamo: With ever-changing technology, it's no secret that the plumbing, HVAC and electrical trades have also been impacted. Plumbers are well-trained to install devices that monitor water usage, HVAC technicians install equipment that makes it possible to control thermostats using Wi-Fi, and electricians are installing residential charging stations for electric cars! The list could go on and on. As more homeowners are utilizing technology to their home's advantage, this also creates a positive outcome for conservation and the environment. Technology has been, and will continue to be, an essential tool for all tradespeople.