All of us have to work, but how many of us actually love the work we do?
According to one recent survey, around 65% of employees in the United States are satisfied with their current job. But that percentage drops significantly when you only count workers from the millennial generation. Only 45% of workers in that age group are satisfied with their work.
Among the most satisfying jobs in that survey are those where workers do something different every day. The work is never repetitive.
And in jobs where you build things, you’re doing something completely new almost every day.
What do we mean by “jobs where you build things?”
That’s a good question! When we talk about building things, we’re referring to jobs you do with your hands (and your brain, of course) that result in new physical structures.
Those structures might be apartment buildings, offices, homes, bridges, or parking lots. They might be sidewalks or grocery stores. Or hospitals. Public water supply infrastructure. Really any large structure that people can build qualifies.
The people who build things are skilled tradespeople. They hold job titles, such as:
- Carpenter
- Roofer
- HVAC Technician
- Electrician
- Plumber
- Concrete Finisher
- Heavy Equipment Operator
They work on construction teams to create new structures and built environments where nothing existed before. Unlike a job as, say, a fast food employee, they can point to the building they helped build and say, “I did that.” They can show it to their friends, their children, and even their grandchildren.
The structures these workers build also help other people. They give people places to live, work, shop, worship, and gather. The things they build help make peoples’ lives better – not just for a moment, but for many years into the future.
What construction workers say about jobs where you design and build things
Here at Construction Ready, we meet with lots of construction workers. We talk to them because we’re the ones who train them.
Our 20-day training program in construction prepares adult job seekers from all walks of life for careers in the construction industry. The program is fully funded by outside sources, so the trainees pay nothing to attend. During the program, they also attend interviews with potential employers. 97% of our graduates have construction jobs lined up before they even complete the training.
We don’t just send our graduates off into the workforce – we talk to them afterwards, too. One thing we hear over and over again is that our graduates find their work to be fulfilling. They say things like:
- I enjoy building real things that people can see and touch
- I take my kids to see the new buildings I’ve helped build
- It’s great knowing that something I built can help so many other people
- It feels good to go home at the end of the day and know that I’m helping create something real
Unlike many jobs – or even most jobs – construction work is rarely repetitive. Even if they’re exercising the same skills on a regular basis, they’re doing so on different job sites and with different objectives. The goal is always different and nearly always requires a different approach.
It’s probably why 83% of skilled trades professionals are satisfied with their careers! Construction professionals and tradespeople get the benefit of dynamic, non-repetitive work in addition to the satisfaction of building something they can be proud of.
Can I make good money building things?
Yes! You absolutely can.
New construction workers typically start out earning an hourly wage. As they gain exposure to new areas of construction, prove themselves as a diligent and capable worker, and become more experienced, that wage can increase very quickly. It’s not uncommon for new hourly workers to command a respectable salary after a year or less on the job!
And if you’re asking, “how much does construction pay,” here’s a list of average annual compensation for some of the most common jobs where you can build things:
- Sheet Metal Worker: $61,776
- Commercial Electrician: $65,398
- Drywall Installer: $54,473
- Heavy equipment operator: $62,910
- HVAC Technician: $65,341
- Structural Welder: $62,446
- Pipe Welder: $70,482
- Framer: $52,495
- Plumber: $73,320
Since those salaries are averages, they reflect a combination of less experienced worker salaries as well as compensation for more experienced tradespeople.
Also keep in mind that construction companies and trades contractors usually offer excellent benefit packages. In addition to your wage or salary, you’ll usually get health, dental, insurance, and retirement benefits – even new, wage-earning workers often receive these benefits!
Construction sounds like a great option! What comes next?
There’s a lot to love about jobs where you build things. From job satisfaction to pay to the upward career trajectory, the trades are full of amazing opportunities.
To learn more about Construction Ready or to explore career opportunities in the trades, contact us today!
