Construction Laborers

What do they do?

Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.

What kind of training is available in North Dakota?

The there are no official post-secondary training opportunities for this occupation from the public North Dakota University System.

Job Openings in North Dakota by Year

What does the North Dakota market look like for this occupation?

$48,170.00
Median Salary (2022)
Higher than 37% of ND Occupations
$23.16
Median Hourly (2022)
Higher than 39% of ND Occupations
2.53%
Short Term Yearly Change (2025)
Higher than 91% of ND Occupations
1.37%
Long Term Yearly Change (2032)
Higher than 86% of ND Occupations

What are some of the daily tasks?

  • Apply caulking compounds by hand or caulking guns to protect against entry of water or air.
  • Apply weather-stripping to reduce energy loss.
  • Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
  • Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones.
  • Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes.
  • Erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures.
  • Grind, scrape, sand, or polish surfaces, such as concrete, marble, terrazzo, or wood flooring, using abrasive tools or machines.
  • Identify, pack, or transport hazardous or radioactive materials.
  • Install sewer, water, or storm drain pipes, using pipe-laying machinery or laser guidance equipment.
  • Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
  • Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
  • Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
  • Mix ingredients to create compounds for covering or cleaning surfaces.
  • Mix, pour, or spread concrete, using portable cement mixers.
  • Mop, brush, or spread paints, cleaning solutions, or other compounds over surfaces to clean them or to provide protection.
  • Operate jackhammers or drills to break up concrete or pavement.
  • Operate or maintain air monitoring or other sampling devices in confined or hazardous environments.
  • Perform building weatherization tasks, such as repairing windows, adding insulation, or applying weather-stripping materials.
  • Perform construction laborer duties at green building sites, such as renewable energy plants or wind turbine installations.
  • Perform site activities required of green certified construction practices, such as implementing waste management procedures, identifying materials for reuse, or installing erosion or sedimentation control mechanisms.
  • Place, consolidate, or protect case-in-place concrete or masonry structures.
  • Position or dismantle forms for pouring concrete, using saws, hammers, nails, or bolts.
  • Position, join, align, or seal structural components, such as concrete wall sections or pipes.
  • Provide assistance to craft workers, such as carpenters, plasterers, or masons.
  • Raze buildings or salvage useful materials.
  • Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
  • Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
  • Smooth or finish freshly poured cement or concrete, using floats, trowels, screeds, or powered cement finishing tools.
  • Spray materials, such as water, sand, steam, vinyl, paint, or stucco, through hoses to clean, coat, or seal surfaces.
  • Tend machines that pump concrete, grout, cement, sand, plaster, or stucco through spray guns for application to ceilings or walls.
  • Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt.
  • Transport or set explosives for tunnel, shaft, or road construction.
  • Use computers or other input devices to control robotic pipe cutters or cleaners.

What work experience does someone ususally need?

None

What is the typical on-the-job training?

Short-term on-the-job training

What is the entry level education?

No formal educational credential