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
- details
$46/hour +
Cement Masons
Lay, bind, and finish structures and surfaces using concrete.
Demand through 2030: High
- details
$70/hour +
Electricians
Install and repair electrical wiring that provides power to homes and businesses.
Demand through 2030: Extreme
- details
$37/hour +
Laborers
Provide the physical strength and support to take a construction project from start to finish.
Demand through 2030: Extreme
- details
$52/hour +
Operating Engineers
Drive and control heavy machinery used to construct roads, bridges, buildings, and other structures.
Demand through 2030: High
- details
$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
$37/hour +
Laborers:
They work through all phases of construction from pouring concrete and moving earth, to operating power tools, and applying finishing touches. Laborers are in high-demand on highway and transportation projects, and residential or commercial sites across the state.
Demand through 2030: Extreme
- details
$53/hour +
Plumbers/Pipefitters
Plan, install, and repair pipelines that carry liquid, steam, or air.
Demand through 2030: High
- details
$63/hour +
Project Managers
Plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise building projects from start to finish.
Demand through 2030: Extreme
- details
$63/hour +
Project Managers:
Project managers plan, coordinate, and supervise building projects from start to finish, overseeing budgets and ensuring everything runs smoothly. They work closely with architects, engineers, suppliers, and skilled workers throughout the construction process. Using planning and scheduling software, they manage design plans, adapt to changes, and ensure compliance with building and safety codes.
Demand through 2030: Extreme
- details
$47/hour +
Safety Managers
Develop and evaluate safety procedures that help protect people and property on jobsites.
Demand through 2030: Medium
- details
$57/hour +
Sheet Metal Workers
Measure, saw, weld, and bend pieces of sheet metal for buildings and ventilation equipment.
Demand through 2030: Medium
Want to know more?
5 Reasons to Join the Construction Industry
California’s construction industry is thriving! Whether you’re college-bound or looking for opportunities to start working right after high school, this inclusive, dynamic industry has a fulfilling career path that’s perfect for you. Need more convincing? No problem. We get it. Top 5 Reasons to Join the Construction Industry #1. Jobs! Whether you aspire to …
continue readingHow You Can Help Rebuild California
In 2019, families and communities across the state were impacted by wildfires, storms, floods, and countless other natural disasters. According to the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection, 5,600 wildfires alone burned nearly 130,000 acres of land. As a result, residents throughout California have been displaced and are starting …
continue readingQ&A on Construction Tech with Procore’s Miles Anderson
All month long, we've been sharing information on how technology and construction go hand in hand to make the building process safer and more efficient. Today, we get to dive deeper into this topic with the help of Miles Anderson, manager at Procore.org, an organization that creates continuing education courses …
continue readingTogether, We Are Building Something Awesome
Build California is a comprehensive and innovative statewide effort to inspire a new generation of construction professionals led by Associated General Contractors of California (AGC CA) through the AGC Construction Education Foundation (AGC CEF). To successfully launch this effort, AGC CA and AGC CEF joined forces with a coalition of organizations …
continue readingTop 5 Tech-Related Jobs in Construction
The construction industry is constantly evolving. If you're into gaming, website development, robotics, and new gadgets, you'll be thrilled to know construction and technology go hand-in-hand. The latest developments in everything from power tools and heavy equipment to software, mobile apps, drones, and virtual reality make building safer, efficient, and …
continue readingWe Build California!
Only 9 percent of Generation Z is interested in a future in construction.* It’s up to us, the industry, that quite literally builds our state, to change that number and transform our future. Now’s our chance. Together we are going to change hearts and minds, redefine our industry, and invest in California’s …
continue reading