Construction Jobs: Pay, Top Employers, and Requirements

Pay and demand for construction jobs

Hourly wages for construction jobs vary across the industry. The middle half of active hourly postings start between $23.00 an hour and $45.87 an hour, with a median hourly rate of $29.40 an hour.

Annual salary ranges are also widely posted. The middle half of annual postings start between $80,000 a year and $134,300 a year, with a median annual salary of $102,000 a year.

Demand has shown recent shifts. Over the last 30 days, new construction jobs are down by 37% compared to the prior 30 days. This follows a weekly trend tracked over 8 weeks, where the latest weekly postings reached 255 against an average of 270 weekly postings.

Who is hiring for construction jobs

The employer with the largest number of postings is CDM Smith with 440 active listings. They are followed by J.E. Dunn Construction Company with 237 open postings.

Other leading employers actively hiring include Kiewit with 131 postings, Oracle with 82 postings, and Jacobs with 65 listings.

How to get hired for construction jobs

Applying for construction jobs requires meeting specific credential and experience targets. Among employers posting these positions, 55% ask for a bachelor's degree or higher. Experience is also heavily emphasized, with a median requirement of 5 years of experience. However, entry-level opportunities are available, as 16% of postings are marked as entry level.

The most common credential requested is a valid driver's license which appears in 16% of listings, followed by a valid unrestricted driver's license in 5% of listings. For professional roles, a PMP certification is requested in 5% of construction jobs. Key required skills include Microsoft Office in 9% of listings and project management in 5% of postings.

• Obtain a valid driver's license or a valid unrestricted driver's license to satisfy the primary credential requirements listed by employers.
• Build proficiency in project management and office software to align with the top listed skill requirements.

Interview questions for construction jobs

Hiring managers for construction jobs look for practical problem-solving, safety mindfulness, and organizational skills. Expect questions that test how you handle project challenges and coordinate with team members.

• A subcontractor delivers materials that do not meet the project specifications just hours before they are scheduled to be installed. What do you do?
• Tell me about a time when a weather delay threatened to push a major milestone past its deadline. How did you adjust the schedule?
• You notice a worker on the site refusing to wear the required safety gear. How do you handle this situation?
• How do you manage disputes between different specialty crews working in the same physical space at the same time?
• Describe a time when you had to explain a complex structural issue or delay to a client who did not have a building background.

Where the construction jobs are

Geographically, Texas leads all states with 277 open construction jobs. Other top states include California with 131 listings, Ohio with 118 listings, Florida with 109 listings, and Virginia with 106 listings.

At the city level, the top metropolitan areas are Houston, TX with 41 open postings, Austin, TX with 37 postings, and Dallas, TX with 36 postings. Additional active metros include Atlanta, GA with 31 postings and Denver, CO with 27 postings.

Remote work options are extremely limited, with only 1% of postings offering remote work, representing 26 active openings. Hybrid arrangements account for just 4% of construction jobs.

Questions people ask

How much do construction jobs pay?

The median hourly rate starts at $29.40 an hour with the middle range starting between $23.00 an hour and $45.87 an hour. On an annual basis, the median posted salary starts at $102,000 a year.

What are the entry level construction jobs requirements?

While 16% of construction jobs are open to entry-level candidates, the overall median experience requested is 5 years. Additionally, 55% of postings requiring a degree ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Who is hiring for construction jobs near me?

The top employer is CDM Smith with 440 active postings, followed by J.E. Dunn Construction Company with 237 and Kiewit with 131 postings.

What licenses do you need for construction jobs?

A valid driver's license is requested in 16% of listings, and a valid unrestricted driver's license is found in 5% of listings. Professional roles may also ask for a PMP certification which is in 5% of postings.