Crew Orientation · PlanvyaCo
No login. No email. Just the real numbers. Here is what seven construction trades pay according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, how people get trained, and where to find a real apprenticeship.
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Under 18? Talk this over with a parent or a school counselor before you apply anywhere. Federal law keeps workers under 18 off power saws, nail guns, lifts, roofs and many other construction tasks; see Under 18: the rules.
BLS median annual pay for May 2025. Median means half of workers earned more and half earned less. The low end is the pay of the lowest-paid 10 percent. Apprentices start lower, and pay varies by state, city and employer. For comparison, the median for all U.S. occupations was $50,980.
Install, maintain and repair electrical power, communications, lighting and control systems.
Median pay $63,190/yr ($30.38/hr)
Lowest 10% earned less than $42,640/yr
Training path Usually a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship with about 2,000 paid on-the-job hours a year. Most states require a license.
Job outlook 9% growth, 2025–35 (much faster than average) · about 72,700 openings a year
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook · May 2025 wages · checked Oct 1, 2026 · BLS profile
Install and repair piping fixtures and systems that carry water, gas and other fluids.
Median pay $63,800/yr ($30.67/hr)
Lowest 10% earned less than $44,150/yr
Training path Usually a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship. Most states and some localities require plumbers to be licensed.
Job outlook 7% growth, 2025–35 (much faster than average) · about 42,000 openings a year
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook · May 2025 wages · checked Oct 1, 2026 · BLS profile
Build, repair and install building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials.
Median pay $60,580/yr ($29.12/hr)
Lowest 10% earned less than $40,410/yr
Training path Learn on the job or through an apprenticeship. Many employers, and some states, require the OSHA 10-hour construction safety course. OSHA says it is voluntary under federal rules.
Job outlook 4% growth, 2025–35 (about as fast as average) · about 62,800 openings a year
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook · May 2025 wages · checked Oct 1, 2026 · BLS profile
Install and repair heating, ventilation, cooling and refrigeration systems.
Median pay $61,010/yr ($29.33/hr)
Lowest 10% earned less than $40,050/yr
Training path Usually a 6-month to 2-year trade-school or college program, then long on-the-job training. Some train through an apprenticeship. EPA refrigerant certification is required for nearly all techs.
Job outlook 11% growth, 2025–35 (much faster than average) · about 40,600 openings a year
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook · May 2025 wages · checked Oct 1, 2026 · BLS profile
Install structural and reinforcing iron and steel that forms and supports buildings, bridges and roads.
Median pay, all ironworkers $61,910/yr ($29.77/hr)
Lowest 10%, structural iron and steel workers: under $44,580/yr
Lowest 10%, reinforcing iron and rebar workers: under $43,310/yr
Training path Many train in a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship; others learn on the job. BLS says apprentices usually start at about 50% of journey-level pay.
Job outlook 1% growth, 2025–35 (slower than average) · about 6,800 openings a year
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook · May 2025 wages · checked Oct 1, 2026 · BLS profile
Drive and control the heavy machinery used to build roads, bridges, buildings and other structures.
Median pay $59,600/yr ($28.66/hr)
Lowest 10% earned less than $41,550/yr
Training path Learn on the job, in a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship, or at a vocational school. A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is often needed.
Job outlook 4% growth, 2025–35 (about as fast as average) · about 42,500 openings a year
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook · May 2025 wages · checked Oct 1, 2026 · BLS profile
Prep and clean sites, move materials and tools, and assist tradesworkers. A common first job in construction.
Median pay $46,680/yr ($22.44/hr)
Lowest 10% earned less than $34,820/yr
Training path Learn on the job. Employers often require safety certification that meets OSHA guidelines. Some helpers move into a trade later.
Job outlook 6% growth, 2025–35 (faster than average) · about 137,000 openings a year
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook · May 2025 wages · checked Oct 1, 2026 · BLS profile
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The U.S. Department of Labor runs the official search for apprenticeships. Search by trade and place, then apply directly with the employer or program sponsor. If nothing is open near you, the site’s Partner Finder lists sponsors so you can ask when they take new applications. An American Job Center can also help you find one.
Open the Apprenticeship Job Finder on apprenticeship.gov
New to how apprenticeships work? Read this week’s Field Edition feature, How Construction Apprenticeships Work.
Want to practice jobsite math? Our free board feet, cubic yards and stairs calculators show the work.
Share of jobs held by self-employed workers, 2025 (BLS): carpenters 25%, construction laborers and helpers 24%, reinforcing iron and rebar workers 18%, plumbers 8%, electricians 7%, HVAC techs 6%.
Every number on this page comes from an official U.S. government page, checked Oct 1, 2026. BLS pages were last updated August 27, 2026, with May 2025 wages and 2025–35 projections. BLS wage data do not include self-employed workers.