Career Pathways
California's construction industry is filled with dynamic, unique career opportunities whether you earn a 4-year degree or start working after high school. Find a path that's right for you.
Top careers
- details
$53/hour +
Carpenters
Build, install, and repair structures made of wood, steel, and concrete.
Demand through 2030: Extreme
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$46/hour +
Cement Masons
Lay, bind, and finish structures and surfaces using concrete.
Demand through 2030: High
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$70/hour +
Electricians
Install and repair electrical wiring that provides power to homes and businesses.
Demand through 2030: Extreme
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$37/hour +
Laborers
Provide the physical strength and support to take a construction project from start to finish.
Demand through 2030: Extreme
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$52/hour +
Operating Engineers
Drive and control heavy machinery used to construct roads, bridges, buildings, and other structures.
Demand through 2030: High
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$47/hour +
Ironworkers
Weld, cut, fabricate, and reinforce iron and steel to form the framework of buildings, bridges, and other structures.
Demand through 2030: Medium
All careers
- details
$55/hour +
Carpenters:
Commercial carpenters build and finish walls and ceilings in hospitals, malls, schools, and stadiums using concrete forms and metal stud framing.
Industrial carpenters assemble scaffolding or bracing and build forms for tunnels, bridges, dams, and power plants.
Residential carpenters construct, fix, and renovate walls, floors, and frames in homes and apartments.Demand through 2030: Extreme
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$46/hour +
Cement Masons:
Cement masons expertly pour and finish concrete, crafting the essential structures. From walls and foundations to bridges and roads, they work across a diverse range of projects such as schools, government buildings, highways, dams, and parks.
Demand through 2026: High
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$70/hour +
Electricians
Residential electricians install and maintain wiring, outlets, and circuit breakers in homes and apartments. In contrast, commercial electricians focus on electrical systems in office buildings, stores, and restaurants. Industrial electricians, on the other hand, specialize in high-voltage machinery used in factories, power plants, and shipyards.
Demand through 2030: Extreme
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$53/hour +
Estimators
Calculate the time, money, materials, and labor required for a construction project.
Demand through 2030: High
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$53/hour +
Estimators:
Before a project begins, estimators play a critical role in estimating all construction-related costs using software and financial data.
During construction, they work with architects, engineers, and contractors to monitor and adjust project costs.Demand through 2030: High
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$47/hour +
Ironworkers:
In off-site shops, ironworkers fabricate the steel used on jobsites, or build ornamental finishings such as windows, walls, and stairs. On jobsites, ironworkers will call on their physical strength and scale great heights to move, set, and connect steel components.
Demand through 2030: Medium
