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Construction labour vs construction worker

The differences between construction labours and construction workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a construction labour has an average salary of $32,628, which is higher than the $31,842 average annual salary of a construction worker.

The top three skills for a construction labour include hand tools, asphalt and demolition. The most important skills for a construction worker are roofing, safety rules, and sheetrock.

Construction labour vs construction worker overview

Construction LabourConstruction Worker
Yearly salary$32,628$31,842
Hourly rate$15.69$15.31
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs48,91453,067
Job satisfaction54.33
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 51%High School Diploma, 51%
Average age3939
Years of experience--

What does a construction labour do?

When it comes to Construction Labour, responsibilities will always revolve around physical work on construction sites. Most of the tasks will vary daily, depending on what kind of structure is required. Still, mostly it will involve following instructions and guidelines while working as a team, assembling and disassembling materials, cleaning certain areas and removing debris, building temporary structures such as scaffolding, lifting heavy objects, and even climbing high places. Furthermore, one must also operate construction devices such as mixers and grills.

What does a construction worker do?

Construction workers are part of a crew laborers responsible for a number of easy to extremely challenging and hazardous on-site constructions tasks such as preparing the area, clearing debris, building scaffolding, bracing, loading and unloading building materials, and assisting with operating heavy equipment like concrete mixers. They specialize in a variety of occupations that involve building homes and businesses, roads and highways, tearing down properties, removing high-risk materials, and in the digging of tunnels and mine shafts. They test machinery and equipment to ensure they are working properly. They may also transport stocks and materials from suppliers and vehicles to the job site.

Construction labour vs construction worker salary

Construction labours and construction workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Construction LabourConstruction Worker
Average salary$32,628$31,842
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $43,000Between $23,000 And $43,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateHawaiiNew York
Best paying companyHill InternationalCDM Smith
Best paying industryConstructionConstruction

Differences between construction labour and construction worker education

There are a few differences between a construction labour and a construction worker in terms of educational background:

Construction LabourConstruction Worker
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 51%High School Diploma, 51%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Construction labour vs construction worker demographics

Here are the differences between construction labours' and construction workers' demographics:

Construction LabourConstruction Worker
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 93.6% Female, 6.4%Male, 93.8% Female, 6.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 26.0% Asian, 2.9% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 27.7% Asian, 2.8% White, 52.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between construction labour and construction worker duties and responsibilities

Construction labour example responsibilities.

  • Operate hand and power tools, air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, and small mechanical hoists.
  • Operate hand and power tools of all types: chain see, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists.
  • Clean and prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, and rakes.
  • Work on bobcat and excavation equipment; drive heavy trucks - no CDL.
  • Clean and prepare sites, dig trenches and set braces to support the sides of excavations.
  • Clean grounds, using rakes, brooms and hoses.
  • Show more

Construction worker example responsibilities.

  • Manage and decide all remodel activities.
  • Operate cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments.
  • Operate the recycle baler machine.
  • Require PPE / OSHA requirements and respirator tests perform.
  • General cleaning responsibilities; run cash register and greet customers.
  • Assist in all phases of construction, demo, and remodeling on an apprentice basis
  • Show more

Construction labour vs construction worker skills

Common construction labour skills
  • Hand Tools, 13%
  • Asphalt, 6%
  • Demolition, 6%
  • Ladders, 5%
  • Scaffolding, 5%
  • OSHA, 4%
Common construction worker skills
  • Roofing, 17%
  • Safety Rules, 12%
  • Sheetrock, 5%
  • Tape Measure, 4%
  • Equipment Operators, 4%
  • Masonry, 4%

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