The construction field encompasses a vast selection of specialties ranging from brick mason to carpenter to building inspector and roofer. Most types of construction jobs are physically demanding, but do range in degree of bodily demand and hazard. Similarly, some will focus on a particular type of equipment operation while others might concentrate on residential versus commercial construction. The work of construction laborers can be found along roads and highways, in neighborhoods and business centers, and in the buildings people work, shop, and go to school in. Most construction workers possess a basic set of skills as well as specialized training related to their field. Managers of construction workers typically have completed a formalized degree program to help them gain the skills needed to lead others on the job.
Construction Online Colleges
Construction laborers typically learn on the job through formal apprenticeship programs. However, those pursuing construction work can also attend training at a vocational or technical school. As hard as it might be to believe, online construction programs exist as well. Some of these are diploma based and somewhat tightly-focused as far as scope--like in carpentry, home inspection or mold and allergies. However, there are two-year and four-year science degrees programs online in construction management training. Programs such as these teach skills like blueprint reading, safety and health procedures and specifics on tool and equipment operating procedures. They also offer you knowledge about commercial and residential construction as well as cost estimating, surveying and more.You can even find online master's level degree programs in project management that focus in construction and infrastructure.
Depending on the area of specialty and degree level you pursue, a wide variety of career options and salaries could be available to you. Construction laborers in the U.S., of which there were nearly 800,000 in 2010, earned mean annual wages of $33,590, according to 2010 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, those looking for advanced opportunities and who have a bachelor's degree in areas such as construction management could find supervisory work. Those with master's degrees might even advance to running a company or real estate development firm. According to the BLS, the mean earned wages for the 190,000-plus construction managers employed in the U.S. were $94,240. However, those in the occupation should be confident in their skills and assured of their field. That's because approximately 60 percent of them were self-employed. Lesser known career options for graduates of construction programs include those such as cost estimators, engineering and natural science managers and landscape architects.