Construction Workerhigh-growth icon

high-growth icon This job type includes specializations that have been identified as high-growth occupations in the Massachusetts Clean Energy Workforce Needs Assessment .

Construction Workers ensure that buildings and other structures are erected, renovated, or demolished, follow strict guidelines and environmental standards, and complete the project in a timely fashion. They follow instructions from craftsman and tradesmen to complete the contracted project.

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers and Weighers

Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.

TYPICAL TASKS SRC

  • Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications.
  • Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
  • Read blueprints, data, manuals, or other materials to determine specifications, inspection and testing procedures, adjustment methods, certification processes, formulas, or measuring instruments required.
  • Record inspection or test data, such as weights, temperatures, grades, or moisture content, and quantities inspected or graded.
  • Mark items with details such as grade or acceptance-rejection status.

EXAMPLE JOB TITLES SRC

Inspector, Picker / Packer, Quality Assurance Inspector (QA Inspector), Quality Assurance Technician, Quality Auditor, Quality Inspector

MEDIAN PAY SRC

$39,140

EDUCATION & TRAINING LEVEL

Apprenticeship/Post-secondary Training

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

0-2 years

SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS

Quality Control Analysis, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Coordination, Judgement and Decision Making, Operation Monitoring

SIMILAR OCCUPATIONS

Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks, Team Assemblers, Food Batchmakers

Construction Laborers

Construction Laborers direct vehicle traffic when transporting large wind turbine blades or substructures.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.

TYPICAL TASKS SRC

  • Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones.
  • Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
  • Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
  • Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
  • Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.

EXAMPLE JOB TITLES SRC

Construction Laborer, Construction Worker, Drain Layer, Drop Crew Laborer, Skill Labor

MEDIAN PAY SRC

$36,860

EDUCATION & TRAINING LEVEL

Apprenticeship/Post-secondary Training

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

0-2 years

SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS

Active Listening, Coordination, Operation Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking

SIMILAR OCCUPATIONS

Terrazzo Workers and Finishers, Helpers - Brick Masons, Stone Masons, and Tile and Marble Setters, Helpers - Carpenters

Misc. Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers

They are responsible for effectively disassembling equipment for repair or replacement.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Perform work involving the skills of two or more maintenance or craft occupations to keep machines, mechanical equipment, or the structure of an establishment in repair. Duties may involve pipe fitting; boiler making; insulating; welding; machining; carpentry; repairing electrical or mechanical equipment; installing, aligning, and balancing new equipment; and repairing buildings, floors, or stairs.

TYPICAL TASKS SRC

  • Inspect, operate, or test machinery or equipment to diagnose machine malfunctions.
  • Dismantle machines, equipment, or devices to access and remove defective parts, using hoists, cranes, hand tools, or power tools.
  • Perform routine maintenance, such as inspecting drives, motors, or belts, checking fluid levels, replacing filters, or doing other preventive maintenance actions.
  • Diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary.
  • Repair machines, equipment, or structures, using tools such as hammers, hoists, saws, drills, wrenches, or equipment such as precision measuring instruments or electrical or electronic testing devices.

EXAMPLE JOB TITLES SRC

Building Maintenance Mechanic, Equipment Engineering Technician, Facilities Manager, Maintenance Mechanic, Maintenance Technician

MEDIAN PAY SRC

$39,080

EDUCATION & TRAINING LEVEL

Apprenticeship/Post-secondary Training

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

1-2 years

SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS

Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, Troubleshooting, Critical Thinking, Equipment Selection, Monitoring, Operation and Control, Operation Monitoring, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving

SIMILAR OCCUPATIONS

Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters, Plumbers, Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians

Industrial Machinery Installation, Repair, and Maintenance Workers

These workers are able to observe equipment in operation to detect potential problems.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems.

TYPICAL TASKS SRC

  • Repair or maintain the operating condition of industrial production or processing machinery or equipment.
  • Repair or replace broken or malfunctioning components of machinery or equipment.
  • Disassemble machinery or equipment to remove parts and make repairs.
  • Observe and test the operation of machinery or equipment to diagnose malfunctions, using voltmeters or other testing devices.
  • Reassemble equipment after completion of inspections, testing, or repairs.

EXAMPLE JOB TITLES SRC

Industrial Machinery Mechanic, Loom Fixer, Machine Adjuster, Maintenance Technician, Overhauler

MEDIAN PAY SRC

$53,590

EDUCATION & TRAINING LEVEL

Apprenticeship/Postsecondary Training

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

1-2 years

SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS

Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, Operation Monitoring, Troubleshooting, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Critical Thinking, Equipment Selection, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving

SIMILAR OCCUPATIONS

Electric Motor, Power Tool and Related Repairers, Automotive Master Mechanics, Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

Electrical and Electronic Equipment Mechanics, Installers and Repairers

Installers schedule repair, installation or maintenance activities.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers.

TYPICAL TASKS SRC

  • Determine schedules, sequences, and assignments for work activities, based on work priority, quantity of equipment, and skill of personnel.
  • Inspect and monitor work areas, examine tools and equipment, and provide employee safety training to prevent, detect, and correct unsafe conditions or violations of procedures and safety rules.
  • Investigate accidents or injuries and prepare reports of findings.
  • Monitor employees’ work levels and review work performance.
  • Requisition materials and supplies, such as tools, equipment, or replacement parts.

EXAMPLE JOB TITLES SRC

Electrical Foreman, Facilities Manager, Maintenance Manager, Production Crew Supervisor, Superintendent

MEDIAN PAY SRC

$67,460

EDUCATION & TRAINING LEVEL

High School Diploma

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

1-2 years

SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS

Management of Personnel Resources, Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Coordination, Speaking, Time Management, Active Listening, Judgement and Decision Making, Quality Control Analysis, Reading Comprehension

SIMILAR OCCUPATIONS

Industrial Production Managers, Municipal Fire Fighting and Prevention Supervisors, First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

Laborers and Freight Stock and Material Movers, Hand

Manually move freight, stock, or other materials or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Assist in loading shipments, belongings or materials.

TYPICAL TASKS SRC

  • Move freight, stock, or other materials to and from storage or production areas, loading docks, delivery vehicles, ships, or containers, by hand or using trucks, tractors, or other equipment.
  • Sort cargo before loading and unloading.
  • Attach identifying tags to containers or mark them with identifying information.
  • Read work orders or receive oral instructions to determine work assignments or material or equipment needs.
  • Stack cargo in locations, such as transit sheds or in holds of ships as directed, using pallets or cargo boards.

EXAMPLE JOB TITLES SRC

Manually move freight, stock, or other materials or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified., Dock Worker, Laborer, Line Tender, Merchandise Pickup/Receiving Associate

MEDIAN PAY SRC

$29,510

EDUCATION & TRAINING LEVEL

Apprenticeship/Postsecondary Training

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

0-2 years

SIMILAR OCCUPATIONS

Meter Readers, Utilities, Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers, Fence Erectors

Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers

These workers would review blueprints or specifications to determine work requirements

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Position and secure steel bars or mesh in concrete forms in order to reinforce concrete. Use a variety of fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, and hand tools. Includes rod busters.

TYPICAL TASKS SRC

  • Determine quantities, sizes, shapes, and locations of reinforcing rods from blueprints, sketches, or oral instructions.
  • Space and fasten together rods in forms according to blueprints, using wire and pliers.
  • Position and secure steel bars, rods, cables, or mesh in concrete forms, using fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, or hand tools.
  • Cut rods to required lengths, using metal shears, hacksaws, bar cutters, or acetylene torches.
  • Place blocks under rebar to hold the bars off the deck when reinforcing floors.

EXAMPLE JOB TITLES SRC

Field Ironworker, Iron Installer, Ironworker Foreman, Rodbuster, Steel Tier

MEDIAN PAY SRC

$49,100

EDUCATION & TRAINING LEVEL

Apprenticeship/Postsecondary Training or High School Diploma

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

0-2 years

SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS

Coordination, Critical Thinking

SIMILAR OCCUPATIONS

Brick Masons and Block Masons, Construction Carpenters, Rough Carpenters

Construction Equipment Operators

Construction Equipment Operators are responsible for pile-driving substructure bases into the seafloor.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.

TYPICAL TASKS SRC

  • Learn and follow safety regulations.
  • Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
  • Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.
  • Monitor operations to ensure that health and safety standards are met.
  • Adjust handwheels and depress pedals to control attachments, such as blades, buckets, scrapers, or swing booms.

EXAMPLE JOB TITLES SRC

Back Hoe Operator, Engineering Equipment Operator, Loader Operator, Motor Grader Operator, Operating Engineer

MEDIAN PAY SRC

$48,980

EDUCATION & TRAINING LEVEL

High School Diploma or Apprenticeship/Postsecondary Training

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

0-2 years

SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS

Operation and Control, Operation Monitoring, Monitoring, Coordination, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting

SIMILAR OCCUPATIONS

Paving, Surfacing and Tamping Equipment Operators, Pile-Driver Operators, Highway Maintenance Workers

Assemblers of Electrical and Electromechanical Equipment

Assemble or modify electrical or electronic equipment, such as computers, test equipment telemetering systems, electric motors, and batteries.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Assemblers would read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.

TYPICAL TASKS SRC

  • Read and interpret schematic drawings, diagrams, blueprints, specifications, work orders, or reports to determine materials requirements or assembly instructions.
  • Assemble electrical or electronic systems or support structures and install components, units, subassemblies, wiring, or assembly casings, using rivets, bolts, soldering or micro-welding equipment.
  • Adjust, repair, or replace electrical or electronic component parts to correct defects and to ensure conformance to specifications.
  • Position, align, or adjust workpieces or electrical parts to facilitate wiring or assembly.
  • Explain assembly procedures or techniques to other workers.

EXAMPLE JOB TITLES SRC

Assembler, Electronic Assembler, Factory Worker, Production Worker, Transformer Assembler

MEDIAN PAY SRC

$34,810

EDUCATION & TRAINING LEVEL

Apprenticeship/Post-secondary Training

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

0-2 years

SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS

Reading Comprehension, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Operation Monitoring, Active Listening

SIMILAR OCCUPATIONS

Coil Winders, Tapers and Finishers, Solderers and Brazers, Print Binding and Finishing Workers