Construction Career Pathways
Maybe you’re artistic, tech-savvy, or good with puzzles. Maybe you’re the mastermind behind complex budgets and schedules. Maybe you want to be the boss on a multi-million dollar project, fly drones and program robots, or save lives with construction safety training. The possibilities are endless with a career in construction!
No two people and no two career paths are the same. The built environment industry offers many options no matter what path you build for yourself. It may take two years, or it may take ten years to get through your training; the options all build on each other and are often interchangeable.
You could start off as a laborer and eventually become a construction manager. You could go to college to become an electrical engineer but decide that you are happier being an electrician. Or you could start off as an apprentice, become a master trade professional, own your own business, and maybe even go to college along the way. These pathways are yours to explore and they all lead to rewarding and meaningful careers.
Apprenticeship Basics
Sometimes called the “other four-year degree,” an apprenticeship includes classroom time and on-the-job training that leads to specific certifications and licenses for each trade. Some of the different trades that are apprenticeship-based include electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, carpenters, and more. Many apprenticeships now include the possibility of earning college credits that can be used at local community colleges.
A typical construction apprenticeship program can take anywhere from three to five years to complete, depending on the trade. Generally, an apprentice will spend 120 hours in class and complete 2,000 hours of on-the-job training per year. Once complete, you can take a test to earn a Journeyman’s license.
Instead of starting your career at 22 when you finish a typical college degree program, you could be earning a full-time salary at 18 after high school. That’s a very different scenario than going right into debt!
Why consider a construction apprenticeship?
- Earn While You Learn: Completing an apprenticeship allows you to finish a formal training program without incurring debt.
- Demand: The U.S. needs to fill 650,000 construction jobs in 2024, most of which can begin with a paid apprenticeship rather than traditional 4-year degrees.
- Earnings Potential: Many skilled trades have income that’s equal to or greater than careers requiring college degrees. An apprentice begins gainful employment 4-6 years earlier than their traditional college-bound counterparts and can make up to $300,000 more over the course of their careers.
- Starting Point: Apprentices have the chance to explore career options without student loans. Often, they go on to attain high-level industry credentials and become successful business owners.
- Portability: Construction is constantly happening throughout large cities, small suburbs, beach towns, and everywhere in between. You can even bring your training and certifications anywhere in the country!