The home building industry is transforming with a rise in demand for new homes. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported that the construction industry will grow by 7% in 2020–2030. It has undergone several changes in recent years that have increased the number of high-paying jobs. This field offers great opportunities for long-term employment, chances of development, and high job security.
Americans like to spend time at home. Their daily activities are becoming virtual due to the emergence of the internet and technology. The demand for large houses to accommodate remote learning, work-from-home and exercise-at-home needs has increased. Homeowners are increasingly focused on renovation. In response to these developments, there have been several shifts in the homebuilding industry. A career in this industry is suitable for those who may want a changing daily schedule. Entry-level workers or highly skilled and certified professionals can have employment because there is a job for everyone. We have compiled a list of the 22 best-paying jobs in homebuilding. This article is your ultimate guide to finding the best job for you.
Best Paying Jobs In Homebuilding Industry
1. Site Safety Manager
The site safety manager specialized in occupational health and safety. They design and implement safety regulations to minimize injuries on construction sites. The Site safety manager promotes health and safety awareness to fellow workers. It is the responsibility of the site safety supervisor to ensure compliance with health and safety standards. Site safety managers work with health and safety inspectors to ensure health and safety compliance at the work site. They conduct safety audits at regular intervals to ensure compliance with government regulations. The average annual salary of a site safety manager is $72,025. It may increase with years of experience.
2. Construction Managers
The construction manager is a professional who oversees the building of commercial, industrial, and residential structures. They work with other construction industry workers, like engineers and architects. They provide insight to workers in different employment situations. The construction manager’s role is to monitor the projects and provide guidance for construction activities. They prepare the budget, estimate the cost, and establish the time frame for work. They interpret contracts and technical information. They oversee onsite and offsite construction to ensure compliance with legal requirements like building safety codes. The average annual salary of a construction manager is $84193 in the US.
3. Elevator Mechanics
Elevator mechanics is one of the highest-paying blue-collar jobs in the homebuilding industry. The electrician installs elevators and escalators in newly constructed buildings. On the other hand, electric repairers provide maintenance and repair of already installed elevators. Elevator mechanics have the expertise to install, maintain, and repair elevators, escalators, and electric walkways. He also handles and repairs other electric machines like wheelchair lifts and electrical ramps. He runs electrical tests to ensure that the equipment is running smoothly. The elevator installer, repairers, or mechanics perform necessary repairs and advise the building inspectors on maintenance and repair decisions. The annual average salary of an elevator technician is $43,082.
4. Electricians
Electrical engineers perform various roles and responsibilities in the construction industry. They oversee direct electrical engineering projects. Construction electricians are responsible for the application of electricity in buildings and homes. They assemble, install, and wire the electrical systems in a new building or home. These electrical systems help to operate the light, heat, power, air-conditioning, and refrigeration operations. They also inspect the electrical components, like circuit breakers and transformers. The average annual salary is $52,272 for electricians. Which means it is the highest-paying blue-collar job in this field.
5. Plumbers
Homebuilders heavily rely on plumbers when building homes. The demand for plumbers is increasing in the housing market. Therefore, the pay and job opportunities for plumbers in this industry will remain strong. Plumbers install sinks, toilets, and other water fixtures in homes and buildings. Plumbers install sinks and toilets. They also repair and maintain the existing plumbing system. They are well-trained to do everything from digging the trenches for new pipelines to installing the hardware for showers, faucets, and lavatories in commercial and residential buildings. They read the blueprints and follow local and state building codes and standards. The yearly average income of licensed plumbers is $109,974.
6. Construction Equipment Operators
Construction equipment operators usually work on construction sites. They operate the heavy equipment necessary for the construction of buildings. They drive, maneuver, and control the heavy machinery used to construct roads, buildings, and other structures. The construction equipment operators are responsible for cleaning and maintaining the equipment through basic repairs. They report malfunctioning equipment to the supervisors and construction engineers. They also coordinate machine actions with crew members and ensure compliance with safety standards. Pile drivers, crane operators, and bulldozer operators are construction equipment operators. The average yearly salary of a construction equipment operator is $48284.
7. Civil Engineer
When reviewing the highest-paying jobs in the home building industry, we cannot ignore career choices as civil engineers. Civil engineers are in charge of managing construction projects. The role of a construction manager is to carry out the design of the projects they are assigned. Whether it is a transport project, water or sewerage project, civil engineers in the construction industry play a significant role in the success of a project. Civil engineers are responsible for the construction crew’s management and equipment safety. They also ensure the smooth functioning of the construction operations at the bidding and planning stages. The life of a civil engineer on site is hectic, and the tasks are grueling. But, the salary and pride associated with their role make all the efforts worth it. The estimated average salary of a civil engineer is $78,457.
8. Construction Inspector
The construction inspector is the building inspector. The construction inspector is responsible for determining the structural soundness of a building. The construction inspectors assess the structural qualities of a building and ensure compliance with national building codes and zoning regulations. The construction and building inspectors examine the sites using their engineering skills. They scrutinized the developers’ plans and inspected the electrical and plumbing systems. After review, they create correction notices and build code reports highlighting the required improvements. The average salary of construction and building inspectors is $56,777.
9. Pipefitter
The pipefitter works with materials like steel and several other electrical products. Pipefitters fabricate, assemble, and install pipe systems in commercial and residential buildings. They build pipe systems to check heating and cooling. Pipefitters make steam engines to power machinery such as clothes iron or dishwasher. Pipefitters choose the material and size of the pipe. They manipulate the metal to fit the installation area with the help of techniques like threading, welding, cutting, bending, or grinding. The job of a pipefitter is to transport and install pipes and test the system.
10. Ironworkers
The career path as an iron worker can bring you to great heights. There are different types of ironworkers. For example, structural ironworkers unload, erect, and connect the fabricated iron beams and create the project skeleton. Structural ironworkers primarily work to build commercial and residential buildings. They also play a significant role in building towers and bridges. The Golden Gate Bridge and St. Louis Arch are famous landmarks that demonstrate the skills and expertise of the ironworker. The average annual salary of an ironworker is $49981.
11. Carpenter
Carpentry is the art of cutting, working, and joining timber. Carpenters play a significant role in the construction industry. The scope of the career path as a carpenter has altered, but still, carpenters are the principal building workers. Carpenters in the construction industry build, install, erect, and repair forms, structures, and other fixtures made of wood. They build decks, cabinets, porches, and lay floors. The role of a carpenter is to build footings, doorways, windows, and drywall. He measures the wood and other materials with several hands and power tools to shape and assemble the material for structural use. Industrial carpenters, commercial carpenters, and residential carpenters are a few types of carpenters. Carpenters have specialized occupations like building wooden ships or constructing film sets. The average annual salary of a carpenter is $52,956, making it one of the highest-paying blue-collar jobs in the construction industry.
12. Boilermaker
Boilermakers are the tradespeople. They cut, shape, assemble, and weld steel to construct and repair metal products and structures for boilers. The boilermaker fabricates, installs, maintains, and tests boilers, towers, tanks, and heat exchangers. He works in building manufacturing and power generation plants. The job of a boilermaker is physically demanding and hazardous. He also needs to travel to work sites and requires relocation. The average salary of $49,897 shows that boilermaker is the best-paying construction job. Therefore, limited positions are available in this field.
13. Metal Sheet Foreman
The role and responsibilities of the sheet metal foreman include the supervision of the installers and journeymen. The sheet metal foreman manages the crew, assigns tasks to employees, communicates safety issues, and provides protective equipment (PPE). They meet with civil engineers to review the project, materials, and equipment specifications. They are responsible for completing the paperwork related to the safety of employees. They conduct the job site analysis to identify safety concerns. The average annual salary of a sheet metal foreman is $60843.
14. Solar Installation Foreman
The primary function of the solar installation foreman is to ensure the successful installation of the ground, pole, and roof-mounted solar panel applications for customers. The Solar Insulation Foreman diagnoses and troubleshoots production-related issues on previous installations. The responsibility of the solar installation foreman is to manage the installation crew on the construction site. He ensures safety requirements and reviews the construction and safety plans. The average annual salary of a solar installation foreman is $56,659.
15. Mason
A mason is a construction professional who is responsible for the construction of the foundation and walls of a building. A mason works with materials on jobs like stone, concrete, and tile. He builds structures, cuts, shapes, and dresses the materials. Mason lifts, carries, and places prepared blocks. Mason is also responsible for texturing and polishing blocks of rock. They install dressed stone and restore old damaged work with the help of modern tools and techniques. Masons work with other professionals on the construction site to deliver high-quality work to satisfy the clients. The job of a mason is physically demanding. Heavy lifting and manual labor are involved, but it is also rewarding. The annual average salary for a mason is $40993 in the US.
16. Concrete Finisher
People pursue careers as concrete finishers to develop masonry skills. A concrete finisher is a skilled tradesperson primarily working in the construction industry. The concrete finishers are responsible for smoothing and finishing concrete surfaces in construction projects. No matter if it is the floor, sidewalks, roads, or curbs. The job of a concrete finisher is to ensure that the concrete used on a job is the desired thickness. Concrete finishers work and collaborate with other skilled tradespeople to complete their work. The annual average salary of a concrete finisher is $47081, which shows that it is one of the highest-paying jobs in the construction industry.
17. Tapers
In the homebuilding and construction industry, painters are the finishers. They prepare drywall for covering with paint, plaster, or wallpaper. They apply paper or fiberglass mesh tape to cover drywall seams. They specialize in the process of finishing interior walls for painting or wallpapering. The job of tapers pays well for skilled people. The average annual salary of drywall tilers is $42417.
18. Pile Driver/Operator
The pile driver Operators operate machines that pound steel, concrete, and wood posts into the ground for construction projects. Pile driver operators drive piles into the ground to construct structures like retaining walls and foundations for bridges and buildings. Less than 4,000 pile driver operators are working in the US, but the opportunities will increase shortly. The average yearly salary of a pile driver operator is $48014.
19. Glazier
Glaziers are construction industry professionals who are skilled in repairing windows. They work in the home building and construction industries, where windows are essential. Glaziers are typically responsible for replacing broken windows. They also repair damaged windows and install new windows. Glaziers have a good understanding of glass and how it works. They handle heavy construction equipment and work quickly and efficiently. The average annual salary of a glazier is $55325 in the US.
20. Surveyors
Land surveyors ensure the safety and accuracy of construction projects. They identify potential hazards on the construction site and address those issues efficiently. The land surveyors measure the land to determine the boundaries of the property. They provide data which is useful for construction and engineering projects. The surveyors are highly specialized professionals. Surveyors also determine the precise location of roads and the depth of building foundations through tools like GPS and tripod infrared reflectors. The average annual salary of land surveyors is $55,379.
21. Architect
There are many high-paying construction jobs for architects in the home building industry. Architects work in various locations. They create designs for construction projects through their knowledge of construction and high-level drawing skills to design functional, safe, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing buildings. The architects work with civil and structural engineers to discuss technical issues and the structural integrity of a building. Architects play a significant role in improving energy efficiency. They design buildings to increase natural light and ventilation and to reduce heating and cooling needs. The annual average salary of $84811 shows that being an architect is the highest-paying career choice for people interested in the construction industry.
22. Cost Estimator
Whether it’s the construction of a house or a large building, the role of a construction estimator is involved before the actual project begins. Cost estimators are the cost planners. They conduct Cost estimation, which means they predict the overall cost of a new building project. A cost estimator is a person who is capable of forecasting costs accurately. They estimate costs according to the project scope and magnitude. They create a financial overview, a development summary, and a contingency plan for the project. They calculate all the factors, which include labor, materials, and equipment required for construction. Cost estimation sounds straightforward, but it is both a time-consuming and tedious job. The average annual salary of cost estimators is $72,579.
A career in the construction industry would be rewarding for you if you like working with your hands, spending time outdoors, and enjoying being part of a team. Construction workers are generally well-paid. Their paychecks vary depending on the type of construction work they do. For example, most of the higher rates fall into the areas of specialization like elevator installers, boilermakers, and pile driver operators. Unlike the most common tradespeople, like general construction supervisors, inspectors, and electricians, they earn high pay rates. The list of 22 high-paying jobs in the construction industry can help you find the best-paying construction job suitable for you.
