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.

Construction Laborers

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.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Construction laborers may signal equipment operators to indicate proper equipment positioning.

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

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

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers and Weighers

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.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

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

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

O&M Technician

Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

O&M Technicians control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.

TYPICAL TASKS SRC

  • Adjust controls to generate specified electrical power or to regulate the flow of power between generating stations and substations.
  • Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.
  • Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels.
  • Control or maintain auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, fans, compressors, condensers, feedwater heaters, filters, or chlorinators, to supply water, fuel, lubricants, air, or auxiliary power.
  • Control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, or reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment.

EXAMPLE JOB TITLES SRC

Auxiliary Operator, Control Operator

MEDIAN PAY SRC

$81,540

EDUCATION & TRAINING LEVEL

High School Diploma

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

1-2 years

SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS

Operation Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Operation and Control, Speaking, Active Listening

SIMILAR OCCUPATIONS

Nuclear Technicians, Electrical and Electronics Repairers - Commercial and Industrial Equipment

Misc. Electrical Equipment Mechanic, Installer and Repairer

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

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Electrical Equipment Mechanics may train others in operational procedures.

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

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, Judgment 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

Industrial Machinery Installation, Repair, and Maintenance Worker

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

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair.

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

Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter

Fabricate, position, align, and fit parts of structural metal products.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly.

TYPICAL TASKS SRC

  • Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes.
  • Align and fit parts according to specifications, using jacks, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars, and hammers.
  • Move parts into position, manually or with hoists or cranes.
  • Position, align, fit, and weld parts to form complete units or subunits, following blueprints and layout specifications, and using jigs, welding torches, and hand tools.
  • Study engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences.

EXAMPLE JOB TITLES SRC

Fabricator, Welder,

MEDIAN PAY SRC

$40,390

EDUCATION & TRAINING LEVEL

Apprenticeship/Postsecondary Training or High School Diploma

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

1-2 years

SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking

SIMILAR OCCUPATIONS

Foundry Mold and Coremakers, Welders, Cutters and Welder Fitters, Welding, Soldering and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators and Tenders

Team Assembler

Team assemblers can perform all tasks conducted by the team in the assembly process and rotate through all or most of them, rather than being assigned to a specific task on a permanent basis. May participate in making management decisions affecting the work. Includes team leaders who work as part of the team.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Work as part of a team having responsibility for assembling an entire product or component of a product.

TYPICAL TASKS SRC

  • Perform quality checks on products and parts.
  • Review work orders and blueprints to ensure work is performed according to specifications.
  • Rotate through all the tasks required in a particular production process.
  • Determine work assignments and procedures.
  • Supervise assemblers and train employees on job procedures.

EXAMPLE JOB TITLES SRC

Assembler, Assembly Associate

MEDIAN PAY SRC

$33,950

EDUCATION & TRAINING LEVEL

High School Diploma

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

1-2 years

SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking

SIMILAR OCCUPATIONS

Welders, Molders, Shapers, Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

Material Moving Machine Operator

Material moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

Material moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects.

TYPICAL TASKS SRC

  • Perform tasks
  • Perform work assignments and procedures.

EXAMPLE JOB TITLES SRC

Operator, Material Mover

MEDIAN PAY SRC

$36,770

EDUCATION & TRAINING LEVEL

Apprenticeship/Post-secondary Training

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

0-2 years

SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS

Operation Monitoring, Monitoring, Active Listening

SIMILAR OCCUPATIONS

Team Assemblers, Construction Laborers, Deck Hands