The entry roles compared
National medians are hourly, from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Requirements and demands are from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, August and September 2026.
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| Role | BLS occupation | National median | Typical requirements | Physical demands | Leads to a trade? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborer | Construction laborers (47-2061) | $22.66 | "Formal education is not typically required"; employers often ask for OSHA safety certification | "Strenuous tasks throughout the day"; one of the highest injury rates | Yes: helper, then laborers' or trade apprenticeship |
| Trade helper | Helpers of electricians (47-3013); helpers, other trades (47-3019) | $20.51 each | Same as laborer; a helper "might earn a high school equivalency to enter an electrician apprenticeship" | Carrying tools and materials, setting up equipment | Yes: the direct route into electrical, plumbing and HVAC |
| Warehouse laborer, material mover | Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand (53-7062) | $19.35 | "No formal educational credential"; short-term on-the-job training, "a few days" up to one month | Lifting and carrying heavy objects; nights and weekends common | Partly: forklift and lead roles; CDL for drivers |
| Landscaping laborer, groundskeeper | Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | $18.82 | No formal education; "1 month or less of on-the-job training"; a license for anyone applying pesticides in most states | Outdoor work in all weather, lifting and digging | Partly: crew lead, irrigation, tree care, pesticide applicator |
| Mover | Laborers and material movers (53-7062) | $19.35 | As above; some employers want a driver's license | "Pack materials for moving"; heavy lifting | Partly: CDL and driver roles |
| Demolition laborer | Posted as construction laborer (47-2061) | $22.66 | As laborer; Philadelphia requires OSHA 10 on construction and demolition sites (phila.gov) | Debris removal, dust, noise; the laborer injury rate applies | Yes: same path as laborer |
| Event setup crew | No separate BLS code; posted as general labor or material mover | $19.35 | Usually none; short shifts | Loading, carrying, standing | Rarely; often a second job |
Pay in the metros with general labor pages
Hourly medians from BLS OEWS, May 2025. Denver and Phoenix have JobPin city pages; the others have warehouse pages.
Scroll horizontally to view every column.
| Metro | Construction laborers | Helpers, other trades | Material movers | Landscaping workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $23.44 | $22.61 | $22.25 | $22.25 |
| Phoenix | $22.56 | $23.00 | $21.61 | $18.82 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $21.14 | $20.57 | $18.52 | $18.12 |
| Atlanta | $20.20 | $20.12 | $18.76 | $18.51 |
| Chicago | $29.27 | $26.36 | $19.50 | $21.77 |
| U.S. (national) | $22.66 | $20.51 | $19.35 | $18.82 |
Denver's four medians sit within $1.20 of each other; Chicago's construction laborer median is $9.77 above its material mover median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). City pages: general labor jobs in Denver and general labor jobs in Phoenix.
What each job asks for
- Construction laborer. "Formal education is not typically required, but some employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a high school diploma or the equivalent." Employers "often require" safety certification that meets OSHA guidelines, before or after hiring. Laborers "must be able to lift or move heavy materials and equipment" (BLS OOH, August 27, 2026). Full guide: construction laborer: your first job.
- Warehouse laborer and mover. Workers "usually receive on-the-job training"; "some workers might need only a few days of training, while others may need up to 1 month." They work "in stockrooms, warehouses, manufacturing plants, and other settings," some "pack materials for moving," and schedules "may include nights and weekends." These workers also "have some of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations" (BLS OOH, August 27, 2026).
- Landscaping and groundskeeping. "Entry-level grounds maintenance jobs typically have no formal education requirements," and workers "typically need 1 month or less of on-the-job training." Landscaping workers "plant flowers, shrubs, trees, and other vegetation"; groundskeepers maintain plants and trees and lay sod. "Most states require licensing for workers who apply pesticides" (BLS OOH, September 14, 2026).
- Event setup. BLS does not publish a separate wage for event crews. Most postings pay as general labor or material moving and run shift by shift.
Job outlook for each role
BLS projects these average annual openings for 2025 to 2035: about 137,000 for construction laborers and helpers (6 percent growth), about 904,200 for hand laborers and material movers (4 percent), and about 162,500 for grounds maintenance workers (5 percent). Most openings come from workers who change occupations or leave the labor force (BLS OOH, August and September 2026).
Where each entry point leads
- Construction laborer or helper to a trade. This is the clearest ladder. Helpers of electricians earned a national median of $20.51 an hour in May 2025, electricians $30.38, and HVAC mechanics and installers $29.33 (BLS OEWS). See electrician apprenticeship and HVAC apprenticeship. Data center campuses are hiring thousands of trade workers: data center construction jobs.
- Warehouse to forklift or driver. Industrial truck and tractor operators earned a national median of $22.32 an hour in May 2025, against $19.35 for hand material movers (BLS OEWS). See forklift certification and how to get a CDL.
- Landscaping to applicator or crew lead. A state pesticide applicator license is the first credential in most states (BLS OOH, September 14, 2026).
- Moving and events. These pay by the shift and rarely lead to a trade on their own, but they are quick to get and often pay weekly: jobs with weekly pay.
How to get hired fast
- Apply to staffing agencies as well as employers. PeopleReady lists "400+ local branches" and says "many of our jobs are eligible for next-day pay"; Aerotek lists "weekly pay" (company sites, read October 2026).
- Get an OSHA 10 card from an OSHA-authorized trainer if you want construction or demolition work; Nevada requires it within 15 days of hire, and several states require it on public work (state pages, October 2026).
- Keep a short work history ready: dates, employer, tasks, and the heaviest load you handled.
- A record is not a bar to most of these roles: second chance jobs.
Current openings
See general labor jobs nationwide, or by city: Denver, Phoenix. Warehouse laborer roles: warehouse jobs, Dallas, Phoenix, Atlanta, Chicago.
Source-linked openings
Current source-linked listings could not be confirmed in this sample. Check the category search and each original posting for availability.
How to verify a listing
Every opening on JobPin links to its source posting. Open it, check the date, and confirm the pay rate and pay schedule with the employer or agency. No real employer or staffing agency charges a fee to apply, for a uniform deposit, or for a "safety card" before you start. How we check: how JobPin verifies listings.
How JobPin dates and sources listings: How JobPin verifies listings and events. Report a listing.