Jobs Similar to Construction Laborers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to construction laborers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters and Roofers.
Construction Laborers: $47,120 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Construction Laborers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | 80% | $57,430+22% | High school |
| 2 | Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters | 79% | $47,550+1% | High school |
| 3 | RoofersSame group | 78% | $55,440+18% | High school |
| 4 | Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsSame group | 78% | $53,340+13% | High school |
| 5 | Floor Sanders and FinishersSame group | 77% | $50,440+7% | High school |
| 6 | Pile Driver OperatorsSame group | 77% | $73,300+56% | High school |
| 7 | GlaziersSame group | 77% | $57,080+21% | High school |
| 8 | Riggers | 76% | $62,640+33% | High school |
| 9 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsSame group | 76% | $59,850+27% | High school |
| 10 | Structural Iron and Steel WorkersSame group | 76% | $62,780+33% | High school |
| 11 | Commercial Divers | 75% | $72,990+55% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Helpers--Carpenters | 75% | $43,780−7% | High school |
| 13 | Terrazzo Workers and FinishersSame group | 75% | $76,170+62% | High school |
| 14 | Brickmasons and BlockmasonsSame group | 75% | $62,120+32% | High school |
| 15 | Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | 75% | $39,630−16% | High school |
| 16 | PipelayersSame group | 75% | $49,000+4% | High school |
| 17 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 74% | $49,880+6% | High school |
| 18 | Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallSame group | 74% | $49,120+4% | High school |
| 19 | Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 74% | $42,360−10% | High school |
| 20 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersSame group | 74% | $63,800+35% | Training or associate |
- 1Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
80% similar · $57,430 (+22%) · High school
- 2Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
79% similar · $47,550 (+1%) · High school
- 3Roofers
78% similar · $55,440 (+18%) · High school · Same group
- 4Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
78% similar · $53,340 (+13%) · High school · Same group
- 5Floor Sanders and Finishers
77% similar · $50,440 (+7%) · High school · Same group
- 6Pile Driver Operators
77% similar · $73,300 (+56%) · High school · Same group
- 7Glaziers
77% similar · $57,080 (+21%) · High school · Same group
- 8Riggers
76% similar · $62,640 (+33%) · High school
- 9Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
76% similar · $59,850 (+27%) · High school · Same group
- 10Structural Iron and Steel Workers
76% similar · $62,780 (+33%) · High school · Same group
- 11Commercial Divers
75% similar · $72,990 (+55%) · Training or associate
- 12Helpers--Carpenters
75% similar · $43,780 (−7%) · High school
- 13Terrazzo Workers and Finishers
75% similar · $76,170 (+62%) · High school · Same group
- 14Brickmasons and Blockmasons
75% similar · $62,120 (+32%) · High school · Same group
- 15Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
75% similar · $39,630 (−16%) · High school
- 16Pipelayers
75% similar · $49,000 (+4%) · High school · Same group
- 17Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
74% similar · $49,880 (+6%) · High school
- 18Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
74% similar · $49,120 (+4%) · High school · Same group
- 19Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
74% similar · $42,360 (−10%) · High school
- 20Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
74% similar · $63,800 (+35%) · Training or associate · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than construction laborers.
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers75% similar · $76,170 (+62%)
- Pile Driver Operators77% similar · $73,300 (+56%)
- Riggers76% similar · $62,640 (+33%)
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers76% similar · $62,780 (+33%)
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons75% similar · $62,120 (+32%)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators76% similar · $59,850 (+27%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for construction laborers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where construction laborers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (85)
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters (83)
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (81)
- Rock Splitters, Quarry (79)
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas (79)
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (78)
- Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (78)
- Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers (78)
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners (78)
- Fence Erectors (77)
Questions about jobs like construction laborers
What jobs are most similar to construction laborers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators (80% similar), Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters (79% similar), Roofers (78% similar), Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (78% similar) and Floor Sanders and Finishers (77% similar).
Which jobs like construction laborers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Terrazzo Workers and Finishers ($76,170, +62%; usually a high school diploma), Pile Driver Operators ($73,300, +56%; usually a high school diploma) and Commercial Divers ($72,990, +55%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with construction laborers ($47,120). Without more preparation than construction laborers usually need: Terrazzo Workers and Finishers, Pile Driver Operators and Riggers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.