How To Become A Labour Worker: What It Is and Career Path

What is a labour worker and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A labour worker performs physical tasks in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and transportation. They can be employed in various roles, including general labourer, machine operator, or skilled tradesperson. They usually work in teams under the direction of supervisors or project managers and must follow safety protocols. The job requires physical strength, stamina, and the ability to work in different weather conditions. It can be rewarding but also demanding, with long hours and strenuous tasks.

ScoreLabour WorkerUS Average

Salary

2.4

Avg. Salary $30,080

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.9

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.12%

Asian 4.32%

Black or African American 11.17%

Hispanic or Latino 21.55%

Unknown 4.08%

White 57.76%

Gender

female 13.76%

male 86.24%

Age - 35

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 - 35

Stress level

4.9

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.2

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a labour worker?

Pros

On-the-job training
Good pay for entry-level jobs
Variety of tasks and projects
Satisfaction from completing physical work
Job security in certain industries

Cons

Long hours and unpredictable schedules
Exposure to hazardous materials and environments
Limited benefits and job security in some industries
Lack of control over job assignments and tasks
Limited opportunities for professional development or education

Key steps to become a labour worker

Explore labour worker education requirements

Most common labour worker degrees

High School Diploma

59.4 %

Diploma

15.0 %

Associate

11.6 %

Start to develop specific labour worker skills

Skills	Percentages
Safety Procedures	15.19%
Power Drills	14.37%
Construction Sites	9.12%
Safety Rules	6.02%
Manual Labor	5.49%

Complete relevant labour worker training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New labour workers 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 labour worker based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real labour worker resumes.

Research labour worker duties and responsibilities

Perform routine physical labor at building, highway and heavy construction projects, tunnel and shaft excavations and demolition sites.
Light landscaping which include: mowing, planting flowers, and planting shrubs/trees, spreading grass seed and wood chips.
Remove snow from sidewalks, driveways, or parking areas, using snow plows, snow blowers, or shovels.
Work independently and with a team on construction projects that include general remodeling, roofing, additions and demolition

Prepare your labour worker resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your labour worker 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 labour worker resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable labour worker resume templates

Build a professional labour worker 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 labour worker resume.