Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Miscellaneous construction and related workers support a range of construction activities and can find opportunities across the country. Nationally, this occupation has a median annual salary of $48,120 and employs about 35,000 people. Employment is projected to grow 3.5%, with around 3,000 openings each year, indicating a steady flow of opportunities from new positions and turnover. Top skills for success include physical strength and stamina, mechanical ability, attention to detail, fine motor skills, and strong interpersonal and customer service skills. Project management, leadership, mathematics, and science knowledge also support performance and advancement potential. States such as California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington stand out with higher opportunity scores, and several metro areas offer especially strong combinations of pay and demand. For individuals interested in construction-related work that values both physical capability and practical problem-solving, this occupation offers a path with defined skills, clear entry education, and multiple geographic options.
Miscellaneous construction and related workers earn a national median annual salary of $48,120. However, pay levels vary significantly by location. Among the top states, Massachusetts has the highest listed median salary at $70,540, followed by Washington at $69,380 and California at $60,890. New York and Colorado also exceed the national median, with median salaries of $56,170 and $54,380, respectively. At the metro level, San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA stands out with a median salary of $83,310, while Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH offers $74,880 and New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ offers $65,610. These figures show that workers who are mobile and able to relocate to high-opportunity metros or states may access higher earning potential compared with the national median, especially in select coastal and large metropolitan areas.
This occupation employs about 35,000 miscellaneous construction and related workers nationwide. Projected employment growth of 3.5% suggests that overall demand is expected to increase over time. In addition, there are approximately 3,000 annual openings, reflecting a combination of new job creation and the need to replace workers who change occupations, retire, or leave the labor force. The consistent projected growth rate of 3.5% shown across the highlighted states and metro areas indicates a broadly similar outlook in multiple regions. Together, these numbers point to an occupation with ongoing hiring needs across the country rather than one limited to a few local markets. Individuals entering this field can expect a steady flow of opportunities over the coming years, with the chance to align their job search with specific states or metro areas that show strong opportunity scores and attractive wage levels.
Location makes a clear difference for miscellaneous construction and related workers, both in pay and in overall opportunity. Among states, California has the largest listed employment at 2,560 workers and a median salary of $60,890, with an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts combines a smaller employment base of 960 with a higher median salary of $70,540 and an opportunity score of 65.87. New York, Colorado, and Washington also offer median salaries above the national median, with opportunity scores ranging from 56.29 to 65.78. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA and New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ show the highest opportunity scores, both above 77, signaling especially favorable overall conditions in those markets. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA lists the highest median salary at $83,310, while Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV also offer strong combinations of salary, employment, and growth.
The typical education requirement for miscellaneous construction and related workers is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the field accessible to individuals who have completed secondary education and are ready to move directly into the workforce or transition from other roles. While formal postsecondary education is not listed as typical, a broad mix of skills is important. Physical strength and stamina support the more demanding aspects of the work, while mechanical skills, fine motor abilities, and attention to detail contribute to accuracy and quality. Interpersonal and customer service skills help workers interact effectively on jobsites and with clients. Mathematics and science knowledge, leadership, and project management skills can support coordination, problem-solving, and potential advancement to more responsible roles. Together, these skills outline a profile that values both hands-on capability and solid communication and organizational abilities, all built on a foundation of a high school-level education.
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