Do you like to build things? Are you comfortable working on a project until all the pieces fit together? If you answered yes, the Building Trades and Construction Industry Sector may hold the career for you. The four pathways provide opportunities with a variety of construction skills, directly associated with completing building projects. High school curriculum in this sector integrates academic and technical preparation and leads to hands-on, work-based instruction. Project and work-based instruction offers opportunities in work experience, community classroom, or other internship types of instruction.
The Cabinetmaking and Wood Products Pathway provides learning opportunities for students considering careers in cabinet construction, millwork, and wood products, and covers the construction of both custom and production products. Planning and layout, following plans, and use of hand, power and stationary tools are all parts of the training process.
Typical engineering and heavy construction careers focus on the planning and construction of complex projects associated with roads, highways, and subdivisions.Creating and following specifications and blueprints, as well as complying with state and local building codes are all important elements of this career.
Mechanical construction is the general term used to describe the skills associated with the plumbing, electrical, heating, cooling, ventilation, refrigeration, and piping careers. Planning, fabrication, installation, and maintenance of related facilities and equipment are all part of the career skills necessary for success in this pathway.
Large and small residential and commercial construction projects are the bread and butter of the construction industry. Many skilled workers with diverse specialty skills take a project from start to finish. The majority of the skill areas in this pathway are classified as individual trades.
The information below is just a small sample of the many great employment related resources available on the State of California website www.edd.ca.gov. We encourage you to visit the website and explore the available information.
| Occupation Title | Employment Levels in 2006 | Projected Employment Level 2016 | Projected Job Growth | Percent of Job Growth | 2008 Hourly ¹Mean Wage | 2008 ²Weekly Mean Wage | 2008 ³Monthly Mean Wage | 2008 Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons & Blockmasons | 13,400 | 14,800 |
1,400 |
10.4% |
$22.52 |
$900.80 |
$3,783.36 |
$45,400.30 |
| Cabinetmakers & Bench Carpenters | 17,800 | 19,100 |
1,300 |
7.3% |
$15.06 |
$602.40 |
$2,530.08 |
$30,361.00 |
| Carpenters | 210,000 | 235,700 |
25,700 |
12.2% |
$24.67 |
$986.80 |
$4,144.56 |
$49,734.70 |
| Civil Engineers | 34,100 | 39,200 |
5,100 |
15.0% |
$39.91 |
$1,596.40 |
$6,704.88 |
$80,458.60 |
| Construction & Building Inspectors | 12,500 | 15,100 |
2,600 |
20.8% |
$31.46 |
$1,258.40 |
$5,285.28 |
$63,423.40 |
| Construction Laborers | 171,300 | 199,800 |
28,500 |
16.6% |
$17.80 |
$712.00 |
$2,990.40 |
$35,884.80 |
| Construction Managers | 47,100 | 55,200 |
8,100 |
17.2% |
$49.96 |
$1,998.40 |
$8,393.28 |
$100,719.00 |
| Construction Trades Supervisors | 86,300 | 96,600 |
10,300 |
11.9% |
$34.50 |
$1,380.00 |
$5,796.00 |
$69,552.00 |
| Electricians | 68,300 | 75,300 |
7,000 |
10.2% |
$26.42 |
$1,056.80 |
$4,438.56 |
$53,262.70 |
| Engineers, All Others | 29,200 | 31,700 |
2,500 |
8.6% |
$45.91 |
$1,836.40 |
$7,712.88 |
$92,554.60 |
| Floor Sanders & Finishers | 2,100 | 2,100 |
0 |
0.0% |
$19.36 |
$774.40 |
$3,252.48 |
$39,029.80 |
| Furniture Finishers | 4,300 | 4,600 |
300 |
7.0% |
$12.66 |
$506.40 |
$2,126.88 |
$25,522.60 |
| Glaziers | 7,500 | 8,300 |
800 |
10.7% |
$24.10 |
$964.00 |
$4,048.80 |
$48,585.60 |
| Heating/Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Workers | 19,700 | 22,200 |
2,500 |
12.7% |
$22.81 |
$912.40 |
$3,832.08 |
$45,985.00 |
| Helpers, Brickmasons & Tile Setters | 9,700 | 10,900 |
1,200 |
12.4% |
$15.34 |
$613.60 |
$2,577.12 |
$30,925.40 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling & Wall | 3,000 | 3,200 |
200 |
6.7% |
$19.06 |
$762.40 |
$3,202.08 |
$38,425.00 |
| Painters, Construction & Maintenance | 73,700 | 83,900 |
10,200 |
13.8% |
$19.51 |
$780.40 |
$3,277.68 |
$39,332.20 |
| Pipelayers | 6,000 | 6,700 |
700 |
11.7% |
$22.91 |
$916.40 |
$3,848.88 |
$46,186.60 |
| Plumbers. Pipefitters, & Steamfitters | 56,000 | 62,900 |
6,900 |
12.3% |
$24.68 |
$987.20 |
$4,146.24 |
$49,754.90 |
| Structural Iron & Steel Workers | 5,100 | 5,500 |
400 |
7.8% |
$24.78 |
$991.20 |
$4,163.04 |
$49,956.50 |
| Surveying & Mapping Technicians | 4,100 | 4,600 |
500 |
12.2% |
$26.51 |
$1,060.40 |
$4,453.68 |
$53,444.20 |
| Surveyors | 5,900 | 6,700 |
800 |
13.6% |
$34.83 |
$1,393.20 |
$5,851.44 |
$70,217.30 |
This material is made pursuant to agreement number 07-0170a of the CTE Community Collaborative Supplemental grant. Funds were administered by the Governor’s CTE Initiative SB70/SB 1133 through the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
Activity that is the subject of this document was supported in whole or part by the U.S. Department of Education. However, the opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and no official endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education should be inferred.
