How to hire a construction helper

How to hire a construction helper, step by step

Here's a step-by-step construction helper hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a construction helper job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new construction helper
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a construction helper do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the construction helper you need to hire. Certain construction helper roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a construction helper to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a construction helper that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of construction helpers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Construction Helper	Description	Hourly rate
   Construction Helper	Construction laborers and helpers perform many tasks that require physical labor on construction sites.	$12-20
   Helper/Apprentice	Helpers/apprentices are skilled employees who are responsible for performing various tasks that are related to the construction industry while learning the trade from a skilled employer. These employees must assist skilled tradesmen by performing general construction duties while following the rules and safety regulations of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)... Show more	$12-19
   Helper	Helpers are employed by families or homeowners to provide overall assistance in the house. They are usually assigned to do household chores such as cleaning the house, doing the laundry, cooking meals, and tending the garden... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • Construction Sites
   • Plumbing
   • Demolition
   • Ladders
   • Tape Measure
   • Safety Procedures
   • HVAC
   • Sheetrock
   • General Construction
   • Caulking
   • Excavations
   • Physical Labor
   • Identify Building Materials

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Unload equipment, such as shovels, lumber, hammers, power saws, air-compressors, powerdrills, concrete rebar.
   • Assist in a variety of construction jobs, including sheetrock installation and repair, painting, caulking, and general cleanup.
   • Set material in stands, racks, hoists, etc.
   • Assist carpenter in all formwork relate functions.
   • Help journeymen install HVAC and phone/data systems in commercial buildings.
   • Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations or compact and level earth to grade specifications.

   More construction helper duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your construction helper job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A construction helper can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, construction helpers' average salary in idaho is 44% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level construction helpers 40% less than senior-level construction helpers.
   • Certifications. A construction helper with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a construction helper's salary.

   Average construction helper salary

   $16.42hourly

   $34,148 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level construction helper salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average construction helper salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$47,330	$23
   2	Connecticut	$43,923	$21
   3	New Jersey	$43,306	$21
   4	Minnesota	$42,062	$20
   5	Michigan	$40,206	$19
   6	Massachusetts	$40,175	$19
   7	California	$39,151	$19
   8	Pennsylvania	$39,109	$19
   9	Montana	$37,628	$18
   10	Wisconsin	$37,085	$18
   11	Ohio	$36,105	$17
   12	Kentucky	$35,525	$17
   13	Arizona	$33,535	$16
   14	Maryland	$32,708	$16
   15	Texas	$31,627	$15
   16	Alabama	$30,990	$15
   17	Tennessee	$30,648	$15
   18	North Carolina	$30,197	$15
   19	Florida	$30,009	$14
   20	Oklahoma	$29,998	$14

   Average construction helper salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Morris & Ritchie Associates, Inc. (mra)	$38,479	$18.50	8
   2	S&S Electric	$36,849	$17.72
   3	1-800 WATER DAMAGE	$36,483	$17.54	15
   4	Tate	$36,434	$17.52	2
   5	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$35,586	$17.11	61
   6	Precision Walls	$35,555	$17.09	11
   7	Key Construction	$35,546	$17.09	9
   8	EMCOR Group	$35,257	$16.95	130
   9	Moores Electrical And Mechanical	$34,658	$16.66	1
   10	M R Co	$34,486	$16.58	13
   11	Workrise	$34,418	$16.55
   12	Roka Corp	$33,982	$16.34
   13	Tradesmen International	$33,791	$16.25	195
   14	City of Los Angeles	$33,573	$16.14	3
   15	LaborMAX Staffing	$33,442	$16.08	8
   16	Aerotek	$32,949	$15.84	235
   17	LC Staffing	$32,860	$15.80
   18	ManpowerGroup	$32,707	$15.72	67
   19	Elwood Staffing	$32,601	$15.67
   20	The Andersons	$32,494	$15.62	12

4. Writing a construction helper job description

   A job description for a construction helper role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a construction helper job description:

   Construction helper job description example

   Do you want a professional career without student loans and be finished in under a year? This program is 100% at NO COST to you!! Apply now to see if you qualify.

   This Program is designed for individuals who are 1-4 years from High School. However, diploma/GED are not required.

   Starting full-time pay after training is estimated between $38,000 – 45,000 per year and could be higher depending on the trade and employment upon successful program and certification completion.

   Full compensation won’t start until you complete the program and job placement. However, all certifications and program expenses are paid through government program funds including class materials, equipment, dormitory style housing and meals.

   Location will be at a facility located in Jacksonville, Florida, although Job placement will be in a location that is the best fit for you. Usually nearer to industry needs and major population areas.

   Additional opportunities are available for higher performers.

   POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

   • Must be a US Citizen
   • Must pass a drug test and remain drug free
   • Must live in the State of Florida

   · This Program is designed for individuals who are 1-4 years from High School. However, diploma/GED are not required.

   Job Type: Full-time

   WORKING CONDITIONS:

   • Campus and work environment
   • Indoor and outdoor environment

   .

   EOE - This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§ 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find construction helpers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any construction helpers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level construction helpers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your construction helper job on Zippia to find and recruit construction helper candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit construction helpers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new construction helper

   Once you've decided on a perfect construction helper candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a construction helper?