Construction Laborers
Construction and Extraction
Site work can mean digging and backfilling trenches, compacting earth, cleaning hazards, or loading and placing materials where the plans call for them. Tools and machines are tended, cleaned, and repaired; pumps, compressors, and generators are kept running to power equipment or move materials. Plans and specs are read to decide the day's tasks, openings and distances are measured and marked, and operators are signaled when machines need to line up or move. The job is on construction sites and involves lifting, digging, and long stretches of standing and moving. It suits people who like varied physical work on a crew and switching among tools as the job changes.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$47'120
Median Wage Market Position
$47'120
What you might do
- Dig trenches, backfill, and level earth to grade
- Load and unload materials where the job needs them
- Clean job sites and clear away debris and hazards
- Measure and mark areas where work will take place
- Signal operators to help align machines and materials
- Tend pumps and generators that power site tools
Skills that matter
- Clear signals to equipment operators
- Close listening for crew and machines
- Plans read before the layout starts
- Trenches dug, backfilled, and compacted
- Pumps and tools kept in working order
- Hazard cleanup before others begin
AI & the future of this role
Site work centers on physical labor, moving materials, and adapting to messy, changing conditions alongside skilled trades. Planning tools might improve coordination, yet demand for flexible hands-on help on construction projects tends to hold up well.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details