Post Job

What does a Construction Helper do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
What does a Construction Helper do

Construction helpers assist construction workers like carpenters, masons, painters, welders, etc. Their job is to help in unloading construction materials, setting up the equipment needed for the day's work, and cleaning up the worksite to prevent accidents during the night. Working as these helpers require skills like mechanical skills, organizational skills, and math skills. Aside from the mentioned skills, they also need to have stamina and strength to last the whole day lifting, stoop, and stand to complete the job on time.

On This Page

Construction helper responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real construction helper resumes:

  • 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.
  • Move or position materials such as marble slabs, using cranes, hoists, or dollies.
  • Learned all types of welding stick, tig, mig hardwire and flux core pipe and structural.
  • Complete weekly labor job that's include HVAC and installation work and work with new people on the regular.
  • Acquire specialized understanding of frame house, siding, sheetrock, and cabinet construction under guidance of professional mentors.
  • Complete repairs and maintenance work on residential homes mostly consisting of; drywall, caulking, painting, and insulation
  • Stone installer helper, grouting, caulking, filing paperwork, payroll, cleaning job site, entering invoices into computer.
  • Operate heavy equipment such as bobcat machinery.
  • Operate heavy equipment including forklifts and bobcats.
  • Maintain knowledge of every residual material including asbestos and remove it from construction site for business and residential areas.

Construction helper skills and personality traits

We calculated that 16% of Construction Helpers are proficient in Hand Tools, Construction Sites, and Plumbing. They’re also known for soft skills such as Color vision, Mechanical skills, and Physical stamina.

We break down the percentage of Construction Helpers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Hand Tools, 16%

    Performed landscaping using hand tools, planted seeds, maintained trees, shrubs and flowers.

  • Construction Sites, 11%

    Fabricate or alter parts at construction sites, using shears, hammers, punches and drills.

  • Plumbing, 9%

    Layered and assembled plumbing pipes for installation as well as assisted with painting specified areas according to company's specifications

  • Demolition, 9%

    Conducted demolition, minor carpentry and site cleanup for construction activities to eliminate possible hazards.

  • Ladders, 8%

    Set up and take down ladders, scaffolding and other temporary structuresLoad and unload trucks and haul and hoist materials.

  • Tape Measure, 4%

    Can properly read a tape measure and also can properly make a measurement needed for cutting of wood.

Common skills that a construction helper uses to do their job include "hand tools," "construction sites," and "plumbing." You can find details on the most important construction helper responsibilities below.

Color vision. One of the key soft skills for a construction helper to have is color vision. You can see how this relates to what construction helpers do because "construction laborers and helpers may need to be able to distinguish colors to do their job." Additionally, a construction helper resume shows how construction helpers use color vision: "general construction supervision of demolition work construction demolition and clean up. "

Mechanical skills. Another essential skill to perform construction helper duties is mechanical skills. Construction helpers responsibilities require that "construction laborers are frequently required to operate and maintain equipment, such as jackhammers." Construction helpers also use mechanical skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "controlled heavy machinery: forklift, backhoe, bobcat and mechanical hoists. "

Physical stamina. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of construction helpers is physical stamina. This skill is critical to many everyday construction helper duties, as "construction laborers and helpers must have the endurance to perform strenuous tasks throughout the day." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "demonstrate physical strength, stamina, attention to safety, heavy equipment operation knowledge, and teamwork. "

Math skills. For certain construction helper responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of a construction helper rely on this skill, as "construction laborers and some helpers need to perform basic math calculations while measuring on jobsites or assisting a surveying crew." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what construction helpers do: "assisted students k-12 with requested mathematics, english, or science assignments. "

Physical strength. Another crucial skill for a construction helper to carry out their responsibilities is "physical strength." A big part of what construction helpers relies on this skill, since "construction laborers and helpers must often lift heavy materials or equipment." How this skill relates to construction helper duties can be seen in an example from a construction helper resume snippet: "performed physical tasks for projects such as building, heavy construction, excavation and demolition. "

Most common construction helper skills

Choose from 10+ customizable construction helper resume templates

Build a professional construction helper resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your construction helper resume.
Construction Helper Resume
Construction Helper Resume
Construction Helper Resume
Construction Helper Resume
Construction Helper Resume
Construction Helper Resume
Construction Helper Resume
Construction Helper Resume
Construction Helper Resume
Construction Helper Resume
Construction Helper Resume
Construction Helper Resume
Construction Helper Resume
Construction Helper Resume
Construction Helper Resume
Construction Helper Resume

Compare different construction helpers

Construction helper vs. Drop crew labour

If we compare the average construction helper annual salary with that of a drop crew labour, we find that drop crew labours typically earn a $2,156 lower salary than construction helpers make annually.Even though construction helpers and drop crew labours are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require construction sites, ladders, and tape measure in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, construction helper responsibilities require skills like "hand tools," "plumbing," "demolition," and "safety procedures." Meanwhile a typical drop crew labour has skills in areas such as "asphalt," "safety glasses," "traffic control," and "cdl." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Drop crew labours really shine in the construction industry with an average salary of $34,574. Comparatively, construction helpers tend to make the most money in the construction industry with an average salary of $36,085.The education levels that drop crew labours earn slightly differ from construction helpers. In particular, drop crew labours are 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a construction helper. Additionally, they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Construction helper vs. Carpentry and masonry specialist

A career as a carpentry and masonry specialist brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a construction helper. In fact, carpentry and masonry specialists salary is $1,608 higher than the salary of construction helpers per year.A few skills overlap for construction helpers and carpentry and masonry specialists. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "construction sites," "tape measure," and "safety procedures. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that construction helper responsibilities requires skills like "hand tools," "plumbing," "demolition," and "ladders." But a carpentry and masonry specialist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "control tests," "math," "roofing," and "structural steel."

In general, carpentry and masonry specialists achieve similar levels of education than construction helpers. They're 1.2% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Construction helper vs. Site worker

An average site worker eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of construction helpers. The difference in salaries amounts to site workers earning a $8,262 lower average salary than construction helpers.construction helpers and site workers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "construction sites," "safety procedures," and "hvac," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, construction helpers are more likely to have skills like "hand tools," "plumbing," "demolition," and "ladders." But a site worker is more likely to have skills like "safety regulations," "technical support," "equipment operation," and "ran."

Site workers earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $29,454. Construction helpers earn the highest pay from the construction industry, with an average salary of $36,085.When it comes to education, site workers tend to earn higher degree levels compared to construction helpers. In fact, they're 5.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Construction helper vs. Breaker

Breakers average a lower salary than the annual salary of construction helpers. The difference is about $2,281 per year.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "construction sites," "plumbing," "demolition," and "ladders" are skills that commonly show up on construction helper resumes. On the other hand, breakers use skills like safety policies, battery, ran, and r on their resumes.The average resume of breakers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to construction helpers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 4.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.3%.

Types of construction helper

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse construction and extraction jobs