What the job is
Laborers do the physical work that every trade depends on. BLS lists tasks such as "clean and prepare construction sites by removing debris and possible hazards" and "dig trenches, backfill holes, or compact earth to prepare for construction." Helpers "assist construction tradesworkers with a variety of tasks," such as carrying tools and materials and setting up equipment (BLS OOH, August 27, 2026).
Two warnings from the same source. Laborers "must be able to do strenuous tasks throughout the day" and "have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations." Most work full time, and "work schedules may vary" (BLS OOH, August 27, 2026).
What it pays
Nationally, construction laborers and helpers earned a median of $46,680 a year, or $22.44 an hour, in 2025. BLS projects 6 percent growth from 2025 to 2035 and "about 137,000 openings for construction laborers and helpers" each year on average, with 1,674,400 jobs in 2025 (BLS OOH, August 27, 2026).
Metro hourly figures below are from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. The 10th percentile is close to a first-job rate.
Scroll horizontally to view every column.
| Metro | Construction laborers: median | Laborers: 10th percentile | Helpers, other trades: median |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. (national) | $22.66 | $16.87 | $20.51 |
| Atlanta | $20.20 | $13.60 | $20.12 |
| Austin | $21.16 | $16.31 | $18.63 |
| Boston | $30.49 | $22.34 | $22.82 |
| Chicago | $29.27 | $18.80 | $26.36 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $21.14 | $17.06 | $20.57 |
| Denver | $23.44 | $18.74 | $22.61 |
| Houston | $19.88 | $16.77 | $21.09 |
| Los Angeles | $28.28 | $19.08 | $23.48 |
| Miami | $21.88 | $16.96 | $19.25 |
| New York | $29.46 | $16.50 | $28.16 |
| Orlando | $19.66 | $14.69 | $18.56 |
| Phoenix | $22.56 | $17.68 | $23.00 |
| Seattle | $28.72 | $20.99 | not published |
What the first week looks like
- Orientation and safety training. Employers "often require that construction laborers and helpers complete safety certification that meets" OSHA guidelines, before or after hiring (BLS OOH, August 27, 2026).
- PPE. Under federal rules, protective equipment "shall be provided by the employer at no cost to employees," with exceptions: the employer need not pay for "non-specialty safety-toe protective footwear (including steel-toe shoes or steel-toe boots)" or everyday clothing such as long pants and normal work boots (29 CFR 1926.95(d), current as of October 15, 2026). Plan to buy your own boots.
- The work. Site cleanup, carrying materials, digging, and helping a trade crew (BLS OOH).
- Hours. Most laborers work full time, and schedules "may vary" (BLS OOH).
The OSHA 10 card
OSHA's Outreach Training Program "provides basic safety and health information and education." OSHA states: "this is a voluntary program and does not meet the training requirements for any OSHA standards," and "none of the courses within the Outreach Training Program is considered a certification." The 10-hour class gives workers "awareness of common job-related safety and health hazards"; the 30-hour class "is more appropriate for supervisors or workers with some safety responsibility." Trainers have 90 days after the course to issue cards (osha.gov, Outreach Training Program page, read October 2026).
OSHA adds that "some states, municipalities or others may require outreach training as a condition of employment." These rules are confirmed on official state or local pages, read October 2026:
Scroll horizontally to view every column.
| Place | Rule | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| New York | Labor Law 220-h | Public work contracts of $250,000 or more; applies to workers paid prevailing wage; proof with the first certified payroll; NYS does not require renewal (dol.ny.gov) |
| Nevada | NRS 618.983 and 618.987 | Every construction worker must obtain an OSHA-10 card "not later than 15 days after" hire; supervisors need OSHA-30; without it "the employer shall suspend or terminate" employment (leg.state.nv.us) |
| Connecticut | CGS 31-53b | Public works contracts since July 1, 2009; proof with the first weekly certified payroll; card dated within five years; removal if not fixed by the 15th day (Public Act 11-63) |
| Massachusetts | MGL c.30 s.39S | Public work estimated above $10,000; documentation with the first certified payroll; workers without it "subject to immediate removal" (malegislature.gov) |
| Missouri | RSMo 292.675 | Public works; complete within 60 days of starting; penalty of $2,500 plus $100 per employee per day; the state says 10-hour cards "do not expire" (revisor.mo.gov; labor.mo.gov) |
| Rhode Island | RIGL 37-23-1 | Municipal and state projects of $100,000 or more; every worker must carry the card (rilegislature.gov) |
| New Hampshire | RSA 277:5-a | Public work of $100,000 or more, or paid with state funds; removal by the 15th day after noncompliance (gc.nh.gov) |
| West Virginia | WV Code 21-3-22 | Public improvement contracts over $50,000; complete within 21 days; civil penalties of $100 to $1,000 (code.wvlegislature.gov) |
| Philadelphia, PA (city) | L&I contractor rules | All workers on permitted construction or demolition sites; contractors keep proof on site (phila.gov) |
| Miami-Dade County, FL | Implementing Order 3-61 | County construction contracts over $1,000,000; "all persons employed by the contractor to perform construction" (miamidade.gov, effective July 24, 2015) |
Where no law applies, employers still "often require" OSHA-based safety certification (BLS OOH, August 27, 2026). Take the class from an OSHA-authorized trainer; the trainer issues the card.
How and when you get paid
Pay frequency is set by state law and the employer. New York requires a weekly payday for manual workers; Massachusetts requires hourly employees to be paid weekly or biweekly; Texas requires non-exempt employees to be paid at least twice a month (U.S. DOL payday requirements page, revised January 1, 2023). Ask about the pay schedule before you start. More: pay frequency laws by state and jobs with weekly pay.
Staffing agencies that place laborers
From the agencies' own sites, read October 2026:
- PeopleReady: "400+ local branches & service teams across all 50 states"; "many of our jobs are eligible for next-day pay"; jobs are booked through the JobStack app (peopleready.com).
- Labor Finders: "almost 200 offices nationwide," in business since 1975; construction, landscaping and light industrial (laborfinders.com).
- Tradesmen International: "nearly 150 local labor market service teams" and "110,457 onboarded craftworkers"; lists data center staffing and trades such as electricians and pipefitters (tradesmeninternational.com).
- Aerotek: "170,000+ talented workers with 18,000+ employers each year," with "weekly pay" and about 200 offices (aerotek.com).
The path to a trade
- Laborer to helper. Helpers of electricians earned a national median of $20.51 an hour in May 2025 (BLS OEWS). Helping a crew is how you learn the trade's tools and terms.
- Laborers' apprenticeship. LIUNA Training, founded in 1969, lists more than 80 U.S. and Canadian training centers and is registered with the Department of Labor for the Construction Craft Laborer program (liunatraining.org, read October 2026).
- Trade apprenticeship. BLS notes that "an electrician's helper might earn a high school equivalency to enter an electrician apprenticeship" (BLS OOH, August 27, 2026). See electrician apprenticeship and HVAC apprenticeship.
Where the big projects are: data center construction jobs. Other first jobs compared: general labor entry points. Hiring with a record: second chance jobs.
Current openings
See general labor jobs nationwide, or by city: Denver, Phoenix.
More general labor openings
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