Construction laborers
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.
Construction laborers perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. The role reports a median annual salary of $46,730 in the US and is projected to grow 7% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a No formal educational credential, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.48 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Speaking, Coordination, Active Listening, Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £28,591 a year for Elementary construction occupations n.e.c. (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £24,654 to £34,378 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 9129). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Elementary occupations” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Construction laborers, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 9. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Building and Construction
- Public Safety and Security
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Design
- Mathematics
A day in the life
You arrive at the construction site early, collecting your helmet, gloves and boots and joining the morning briefing. The foreman explains the day's plan, and you read the instructions for your part of the job. First you clear debris and level the ground where a new wall will go, then measure and mark the layout with stakes and string. Mid-morning you mix concrete and help pour it into forms, spreading it evenly while an equipment operator lowers the bucket; you signal to guide each movement. After lunch you carry materials, tend a generator that powers the tools and clean and oil equipment. You also help lift steel bars into place for the next stage. Late in the day you tidy the site to remove tripping hazards. The work is physically demanding and exposed to weather, but watching a structure take shape from bare ground gives you a real sense of achievement.
In India: In India most construction labourers are hired through labour contractors on a daily or project basis, and many are seasonal migrants from rural areas who live on or near the site.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt.
- Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
- Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
- Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
- Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
- Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Construction laborers 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 does a typical day look like in Construction laborers?
You arrive at the construction site early, collecting your helmet, gloves and boots and joining the morning briefing. The foreman explains the day's plan, and you read the instructions for your part of the job. First you clear debris and level the ground where a new wall will go, then measure and mark the layout with stakes and string. Mid-morning you mix concrete and help pour it into forms, spreading it evenly while an equipment operator lowers the bucket; you signal to guide each movement.
How much does Construction laborers earn?
The median annual salary for Construction laborers in the US is $46,730.
What is the job outlook for Construction laborers?
The role is projected to grow 7% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 1,457,000 workers.
How do I become construction laborers?
The typical entry education is a No formal educational credential. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Construction laborers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Speaking, Coordination, Active Listening, Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Construction laborers?
Our AI-durability model gives Construction laborers a score of 0.48 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Construction laborers has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.