Construction and Extraction Occupations
41 occupations sit in this SOC major group. Each one links to the degree programs that feed it, the schools that graduate the most people into it, and what it pays state by state.
41 occupations in this group
Ordered by how many people the job employs nationally. Graduates per year counts everyone finishing a program that feeds the job.
| Occupation | Median pay | Jobs | Growth | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers 47-1011 | $79,920 | 812,210 | +5.3% | 795 | 55,833 |
| Electricians 47-2111 | $63,190 | 757,220 | +9.5% | 505 | 35,302 |
| Carpenters 47-2031 | $60,580 | 670,090 | +4.5% | 205 | 6,053 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators 47-2073 | $59,850 | 478,090 | +3.6% | 50 | 1,010 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters 47-2152 | $63,800 | 465,840 | +4.5% | 162 | 4,187 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance 47-2141 | $49,400 | 225,190 | +3.8% | 4 | 29 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers 47-2051 | $57,020 | 206,170 | +1.8% | 6 | 79 |
| Highway Maintenance Workers 47-4051 | $50,260 | 154,960 | +3.0% | 50 | 1,010 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors 47-4011 | $74,690 | 146,720 | -0.8% | 31 | 334 |
| Roofers 47-2181 | $55,440 | 135,490 | +5.9% | 3 | 42 |
| Sheet Metal Workers 47-2211 | $61,800 | 119,770 | +2.4% | 18 | 415 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers 47-2081 | $58,930 | 83,080 | +4.2% | 3 | 254 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers 47-2221 | $62,780 | 68,380 | +4.4% | 1 | 5 |
| Glaziers 47-2121 | $57,080 | 58,480 | +3.3% | 1 | 11 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons 47-2021 | $62,120 | 52,550 | +3.2% | 33 | 422 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Workers 47-4041 | $49,450 | 51,710 | +1.0% | 14 | 118 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall 47-2131 | $49,120 | 44,440 | +3.8% | 1 | 35 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas 47-5013 | $58,160 | 43,140 | +0.4% | 3 | 61 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators 47-2071 | $53,340 | 41,820 | +3.2% | 50 | 1,010 |
| Tile and Stone Setters 47-2044 | $55,690 | 35,850 | +10.1% | 34 | 452 |
| Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining 47-5022 | $57,430 | 34,480 | -0.4% | 50 | 1,010 |
| Solar Photovoltaic Installers 47-2231 | $53,140 | 31,350 | +42.1% | 41 | 395 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners 47-4071 | $49,880 | 30,650 | +7.6% | 150 | 3,426 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical 47-2132 | $58,340 | 25,660 | +4.7% | 1 | 35 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers 47-4021 | $109,910 | 23,790 | +5.0% | 268 | 9,155 |
| Floor Layers 47-2042 | $56,460 | 23,640 | +9.5% | 2 | 30 |
| Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators 47-4061 | $70,070 | 19,580 | +1.6% | 50 | 1,010 |
| Earth Drillers 47-5023 | $60,190 | 19,450 | +2.9% | 51 | 1,017 |
| Continuous Mining Machine Operators 47-5041 | $61,810 | 14,000 | +0.6% | 50 | 1,010 |
| Carpet Installers 47-2041 | $50,340 | 13,780 | -9.6% | 2 | 30 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas 47-5012 | $67,890 | 12,600 | +0.2% | 1 | 7 |
| Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas 47-5011 | $58,620 | 10,590 | +0.5% | 1 | 7 |
| Boilermakers 47-2011 | $76,410 | 10,190 | -2.4% | 2 | 15 |
| Stonemasons 47-2022 | $57,390 | 7,820 | -3.0% | 33 | 422 |
| Extraction Workers, All Other 47-5099 | $57,010 | 5,540 | +1.4% | 50 | 1,010 |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters 47-5032 | $61,390 | 5,100 | -0.9% | 51 | 1,017 |
| Floor Sanders and Finishers 47-2043 | $50,440 | 3,720 | +2.6% | 2 | 30 |
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other 47-5049 | $70,130 | 3,180 | -6.1% | 50 | 1,010 |
| Pile Driver Operators 47-2072 | $73,300 | 2,310 | +4.3% | 50 | 1,010 |
| Paperhangers 47-2142 | $52,140 | 1,570 | +5.3% | 4 | 29 |
| Terrazzo Workers and Finishers 47-2053 | $76,170 | 1,180 | -11.1% | 2 | 30 |
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · IPEDS Fall 2025–26 provisional · College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Graduates per year are IPEDS completions across every program that feeds the occupation. All sources & release dates →
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