Green Construction

In some positions, days start early in the morning so that as much work as possible can get done before the heat of the day. Other positions may follow a more traditional 8am - 5pm work day at the construction site. Weekend hours are also not uncommon in this job.

While construction may seem like a very straightforward job, it actually requires multiple physical and mental skills. Among the physical skills is strength, endurance, dexterity, hand-eye coordination. Beyond that and what is possibly more important are the mental skills required such as leadership, memory, strong reading and math skills, organization, a willingness to learn, and extensive building and engineering knowledge.

A college degree is not required to obtain a construction job. Construction workers typically learn through on-the-job training after being hired by a construction contractor. Although the majority of construction workers learn by assisting experienced workers, some construction positions may opt for apprenticeship programs. These programs generally include 2 to 4 years of technical instruction in addition to on-the-job training. Curriculum consists of specialized training in building construction, demolition and deconstruction, environmental remediation, road and utility construction, tunneling, masonry, landscaping, and pipeline construction.

The green buildings and energy efficiency industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States. Although different workplaces have different pay rates, the US National average pay for a green construction worker is roughly $56,922 per year (or $27 per hour). This is the equivalent of $1,094 per week or $4,743 per month. This is subject to change due to the fact that green construction is increasing in demand.