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

What is a contractor assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Steve Harris

A contractor assistant helps the construction team on a building site and in an office. Their responsibilities include preparing and securing equipment and maintaining a clean workspace and safe work area. A contractor assistant attends meetings and takes notes when necessary. You will also communicate with architecture, subcontractors, and team members to ensure they follow guidelines and ensure that each structure is safe and meets code requirements. Plus, you will also collaborate with team members to complete each project, direct subcontractors, and temporary staff on daily duties.

Although the work appears straightforward, it can be physically and mentally draining. Hence, you need physical strength and endurance, as these are necessary for carrying out activities. You must also possess great hand-eye coordination and dexterity, as the job requires lying and standing for long hours. Plus, you must possess building and engineering knowledge, coupled with good communication skills. A degree in engineering, construction management, or architecture is needed as a contractor assistant. A contractor assistant earns an annual salary of $47,450 on average.

What general advice would you give to a contractor assistant?

Steve Harris

Executive Director of Education and Business Development, SCTE·ISBE

Given connectivity's essential role in our daily lives, telecommunication networks must be extremely reliable, and installers are expected to operate at a higher level than ever before. Installers must be well-trained and have the proper certifications to safely work on telecom networks - to reduce the risk of human error and ensure issues are addressed as efficiently as possible.

ScoreContractor AssistantUS Average

Salary

3.1

Avg. Salary $39,453

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.6

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.08%

Asian 1.44%

Black or African American 5.63%

Hispanic or Latino 22.52%

Unknown 3.89%

White 65.45%

Gender

female 31.80%

male 68.20%

Age - 46

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 - 46

Stress level

8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.1

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a contractor assistant

Explore contractor assistant education requirements

Most common contractor assistant degrees

Bachelor's

50.2 %

High School Diploma

19.7 %

Associate

16.9 %

Start to develop specific contractor assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Drywall Installation	11.57%
Purchase Orders	9.00%
Administrative Tasks	6.42%
Contract Terms	5.89%
Construction Sites	5.35%

Complete relevant contractor assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New contractor 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 contractor assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real contractor assistant resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed contractor assistant usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed contractor assistant in most of states. 20 states require contractor assistants to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License url
Alabama	-	State exam required	Licensed General Contractor
Georgia	Specific course required	State exam required	General Contractor Individual
Alaska	-	State exam required	Contractor, Construction
California	-	State exam required	General Building Contractor
Connecticut	-	State exam required	Major Contractor

Gain additional contractor assistant certifications

Contractor 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 contractor assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for contractor assistants include Medical Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

More About Certifications

Research contractor assistant duties and responsibilities

Manage and decide all remodel activities.
Construct undergrounds for new homes, complete water systems in copper, pex and cpvc.
Remodel bathrooms, install windows and doors, roofing, siding, fencing, landscaping, and general house repairs.
Certificate in upnor PEX water line install.

Prepare your contractor assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your contractor 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 contractor 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 contractor assistant resume templates

Build a professional contractor 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 contractor assistant resume.