Building Construction Specialist Certificate
Certificate
Industry, Manufacturing and ConstructionContact Information
(850) 201-8352
techedu@tcc.fl.edu
Explore this Program:

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About this Program
The Building Construction Specialist Certificate is devoted to providing students with introductory knowledge of the modern residential and commercial construction industries.
Total Credit Hours:
18
Estimated Time to Complete Program:
2 terms*
*based on 15 credit hours per term
Estimated Tuition Cost:
$1,814.94*
Eligible for Financial Aid:
No
Eligible for Veteran's Aid:
No
*based on current in-state tuition rate of $100.83 per credit hour
Program Overview & Requirements
Program Purpose:
To provide students with introductory knowledge of the modern residential and commercial construction industries. Topics include construction management, computer applications and materials science.
Coursework in this program articulates into the Building Construction Management, A.S. (2160) degree program.
Program Length:
18 credit hours
Academic Division:
Business, Industry and Technology
Contact:
(850) 201-8352 or techedu@tcc.fl.edu
View Information about Graduation Requirements and Year of Entry .
Program Courses (18 credit hours)
- BCN2230 Construction Materials and Methods 3 credit hour(s)
- BCT2705 Construction Management 3 credit hour(s)
- EGN1111C Engineering Graphics 3 credit hour(s)
- ETD1320 Introduction to CAD 3 credit hour(s)
- BCN2241 Construction Operations 3 credit hour(s)
- MAC1105 College Algebra 3 credit hour(s)
or
- BCN1001 Applied Math Concepts for Design and Construction 3 credit hour(s)
Related Careers
All career information is provided by Career Coach, and reflects data available for the Tallahassee area.
Operating Engineer or Other Construction Equipment Operator
Operating Engineer or Other Construction Equipment Operator
Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.
37Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Learn and follow safety regulations.
- Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
- Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.
- Monitor operations to ensure that health and safety standards are met.
- Adjust handwheels and depress pedals to control attachments, such as blades, buckets, scrapers, or swing booms.
- Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.
- Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.
- Load and move dirt, rocks, equipment, or other materials, using trucks, crawler tractors, power cranes, shovels, graders, or related equipment.
- Check fuel supplies at sites to ensure adequate availability.
- Drive and maneuver equipment equipped with blades in successive passes over working areas to remove topsoil, vegetation, or rocks or to distribute and level earth or terrain.
- Signal operators to guide movement of tractor-drawn machines.
- Keep records of material or equipment usage or problems encountered.
- Align machines, cutterheads, or depth gauge makers with reference stakes and guidelines or ground or position equipment, following hand signals of other workers.
- Operate tractors or bulldozers to perform such tasks as clearing land, mixing sludge, trimming backfills, or building roadways or parking lots.
- Repair and maintain equipment, making emergency adjustments or assisting with major repairs as necessary.
- Connect hydraulic hoses, belts, mechanical linkages, or power takeoff shafts to tractors.
- Operate equipment to demolish or remove debris or to remove snow from streets, roads, or parking lots.
- Operate loaders to pull out stumps, rip asphalt or concrete, rough-grade properties, bury refuse, or perform general cleanup.
- Select and fasten bulldozer blades or other attachments to tractors, using hitches.
- Push other equipment when extra traction or assistance is required.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($25,227.53) to highly-experienced workers ($40,793.03). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Employment Projections
A view of employment levels for the last 3 years, and projections for the next 7 years.
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Insulation Worker, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
Insulation Worker, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
Line and cover structures with insulating materials. May work with batt, roll, or blown insulation materials.
2Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Measure and cut insulation for covering surfaces, using tape measures, handsaws, power saws, knives, or scissors.
- Cover and line structures with blown or rolled forms of materials to insulate against cold, heat, or moisture, using saws, knives, rasps, trowels, blowers, or other tools and implements.
- Fit, wrap, staple, or glue insulating materials to structures or surfaces, using hand tools or wires.
- Distribute insulating materials evenly into small spaces within floors, ceilings, or walls, using blowers and hose attachments, or cement mortars.
- Move controls, buttons, or levers to start blowers and regulate flow of materials through nozzles.
- Fill blower hoppers with insulating materials.
- Cover, seal, or finish insulated surfaces or access holes with plastic covers, canvas strips, sealants, tape, cement or asphalt mastic.
- Read blueprints and select appropriate insulation, based on space characteristics and the heat retaining or excluding characteristics of the material.
- Remove old insulation such as asbestos, following safety procedures.
- Prepare surfaces for insulation application by brushing or spreading on adhesives, cement, or asphalt, or by attaching metal pins to surfaces.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($51,486.65) to highly-experienced workers ($122,823.69). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Employment Projections
A view of employment levels for the last 3 years, and projections for the next 7 years.
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Energy Auditor
Energy Auditor
Conduct energy audits of buildings, building systems, or process systems. May also conduct investment grade audits of buildings or systems.
157Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Identify opportunities to improve the operation, maintenance, or energy efficiency of building or process systems.
- Analyze technical feasibility of energy-saving measures, using knowledge of engineering, energy production, energy use, construction, maintenance, system operation, or process systems.
- Identify and prioritize energy-saving measures.
- Identify any health or safety issues related to planned weatherization projects.
- Inspect or evaluate building envelopes, mechanical systems, electrical systems, or process systems to determine the energy consumption of each system.
- Inspect newly installed energy-efficient equipment to ensure that it was installed properly and is performing according to specifications.
- Prepare audit reports containing energy analysis results or recommendations for energy cost savings.
- Collect and analyze field data related to energy usage.
- Perform tests such as blower-door tests to locate air leaks.
- Calculate potential for energy savings.
- Measure energy usage with devices such as data loggers, universal data recorders, light meters, sling psychrometers, psychrometric charts, flue gas analyzers, amp probes, watt meters, volt meters, thermometers, or utility meters.
- Quantify energy consumption to establish baselines for energy use or need.
- Prepare job specification sheets for home energy improvements, such as attic insulation, window retrofits, or heating system upgrades.
- Examine commercial sites to determine the feasibility of installing equipment that allows building management systems to reduce electricity consumption during peak demand periods.
- Educate customers on energy efficiency or answer questions on topics such as the costs of running household appliances or the selection of energy-efficient appliances.
- Oversee installation of equipment such as water heater wraps, pipe insulation, weatherstripping, door sweeps, or low-flow showerheads to improve energy efficiency.
- Recommend energy-efficient technologies or alternate energy sources.
- Determine patterns of building use to show annual or monthly needs for heating, cooling, lighting, or other energy needs.
- Compare existing energy consumption levels to normative data.
- Analyze energy bills, including utility rates or tariffs, to gather historical energy usage data.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($34,980.44) to highly-experienced workers ($100,338.50). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Employment Projections
A view of employment levels for the last 3 years, and projections for the next 7 years.
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Paperhanger
Paperhanger
Cover interior walls or ceilings of rooms with decorative wallpaper or fabric, or attach advertising posters on surfaces such as walls and billboards. May remove old materials or prepare surfaces to be papered.
0Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Smooth strips or sections of paper with brushes or rollers to remove wrinkles and bubbles and to smooth joints.
- Trim rough edges from strips, using straightedges and trimming knives.
- Trim excess material at ceilings or baseboards, using knives.
- Check finished wallcoverings for proper alignment, pattern matching, and neatness of seams.
- Mark vertical guidelines on walls to align strips, using plumb bobs and chalk lines.
- Cover interior walls and ceilings of rooms with decorative wallpaper or fabric, using hand tools.
- Apply adhesives to the backs of paper strips, using brushes, or dunk strips of prepasted wallcovering in water, wiping off any excess adhesive.
- Measure and cut strips from rolls of wallpaper or fabric, using shears or razors.
- Place strips or sections of paper on surfaces, aligning section edges and patterns.
- Fill holes, cracks, and other surface imperfections preparatory to covering surfaces.
- Measure surfaces or review work orders to estimate the quantities of materials needed.
- Apply sizing to seal surfaces and maximize adhesion of coverings to surfaces.
- Smooth rough spots on walls and ceilings, using sandpaper.
- Set up equipment, such as pasteboards and scaffolds.
- Remove old paper, using water, steam machines, or solvents and scrapers.
- Apply thinned glue to waterproof porous surfaces, using brushes, rollers, or pasting machines.
- Mix paste, using paste powder and water, and brush paste onto surfaces.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($24,927.53) to highly-experienced workers ($44,371.62). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Employment Projections
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Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School
Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School
Teach occupational, career and technical, or vocational subjects at the secondary school level in public or private schools.
8Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by law, district policy, and administrative regulations.
- Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injury and damage.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
- Prepare materials and classroom for class activities.
- Assign and grade class work and homework.
- Instruct students in the knowledge and skills required in a specific occupation or occupational field, using a systematic plan of lectures, discussions, audio-visual presentations, and laboratory, shop, and field studies.
- Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
- Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
- Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
- Enforce all administration policies and rules governing students.
- Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- Plan and supervise work-experience programs in businesses, industrial shops, and school laboratories.
- Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems, or special academic interests.
- Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress.
- Provide disabled students with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
- Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help.
- Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities.
- Place students in jobs or make referrals to job placement services.
- Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.
- Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.
- Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs.
- Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.
- Collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of secondary school programs.
- Select, order, store, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.
- Keep informed about trends in education and subject matter specialties.
- Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
- Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.
- Perform administrative duties, such as assisting in school libraries, hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($32,695.90) to highly-experienced workers ($64,315.88). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Employment Projections
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Construction and Building Inspector
Construction and Building Inspector
Inspect structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations. Inspections may be general in nature or may be limited to a specific area, such as electrical systems or plumbing.
17Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Inspect bridges, dams, highways, buildings, wiring, plumbing, electrical circuits, sewers, heating systems, or foundations during and after construction for structural quality, general safety, or conformance to specifications and codes.
- Inspect facilities or installations to determine their environmental impact.
- Monitor installation of plumbing, wiring, equipment, or appliances to ensure that installation is performed properly and is in compliance with applicable regulations.
- Measure dimensions and verify level, alignment, or elevation of structures or fixtures to ensure compliance to building plans and codes.
- Maintain daily logs and supplement inspection records with photographs.
- Review and interpret plans, blueprints, site layouts, specifications, or construction methods to ensure compliance to legal requirements and safety regulations.
- Evaluate project details to ensure adherence to environmental regulations.
- Conduct inspections, using survey instruments, metering devices, tape measures, or test equipment.
- Inspect and monitor construction sites to ensure adherence to safety standards, building codes, or specifications.
- Monitor construction activities to ensure that environmental regulations are not violated.
- Confer with owners, violators, or authorities to explain regulations or recommend remedial actions.
- Train, direct, or supervise other construction inspectors.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($35,187.71) to highly-experienced workers ($72,593.39). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Employment Projections
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Carpet Installer
Carpet Installer
Lay and install carpet from rolls or blocks on floors. Install padding and trim flooring materials.
3Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Inspect the surface to be covered to determine its condition, and correct any imperfections that might show through carpet or cause carpet to wear unevenly.
- Roll out, measure, mark, and cut carpeting to size with a carpet knife, following floor sketches and allowing extra carpet for final fitting.
- Join edges of carpet and seam edges where necessary, by sewing or by using tape with glue and heated carpet iron.
- Cut and trim carpet to fit along wall edges, openings, and projections, finishing the edges with a wall trimmer.
- Plan the layout of the carpet, allowing for expected traffic patterns and placing seams for best appearance and longest wear.
- Stretch carpet to align with walls and ensure a smooth surface, and press carpet in place over tack strips or use staples, tape, tacks or glue to hold carpet in place.
- Take measurements and study floor sketches to calculate the area to be carpeted and the amount of material needed.
- Install carpet on some floors using adhesive, following prescribed method.
- Clean up before and after installation, including vacuuming carpet and discarding remnant pieces.
- Measure, cut and install tackless strips along the baseboard or wall.
- Cut carpet padding to size and install padding, following prescribed method.
- Nail tack strips around area to be carpeted or use old strips to attach edges of new carpet.
- Fasten metal treads across door openings or where carpet meets flooring to hold carpet in place.
- Draw building diagrams and record dimensions.
- Move furniture from area to be carpeted and remove old carpet and padding.
- Cut and bind material.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($20,295.40) to highly-experienced workers ($37,875.46). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Employment Projections
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Tile and Marble Setter
Tile and Marble Setter
Apply hard tile, marble, and wood tile to walls, floors, ceilings, and roof decks.
10Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Cut and shape tile to fit around obstacles and into odd spaces and corners, using hand and power cutting tools.
- Align and straighten tile using levels, squares, and straightedges.
- Lay and set mosaic tiles to create decorative wall, mural, and floor designs.
- Determine and implement the best layout to achieve a desired pattern.
- Finish and dress the joints and wipe excess grout from between tiles, using damp sponge.
- Measure and mark surfaces to be tiled, following blueprints.
- Mix, apply, and spread plaster, concrete, mortar, cement, mastic, glue or other adhesives to form a bed for the tiles, using brush, trowel and screed.
- Cut, surface, polish, and install marble and granite or install pre-cast terrazzo, granite or marble units.
- Apply mortar to tile back, position the tile, and press or tap with trowel handle to affix tile to base.
- Level concrete and allow to dry.
- Prepare surfaces for tiling by attaching lath or waterproof paper, or by applying a cement mortar coat to a metal screen.
- Mix and apply mortar or cement to edges and ends of drain tiles to seal halves and joints.
- Remove and replace cracked or damaged tile.
- Apply a sealer to make grout stain- and water-resistant.
- Remove any old tile, grout and adhesive using chisels and scrapers and clean the surface carefully.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($28,982.02) to highly-experienced workers ($46,206.36). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Employment Projections
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Construction Laborer
Construction Laborer
Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.
192Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones.
- Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
- Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
- Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
- Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
- Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
- Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes.
- Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt.
- Mix, pour, or spread concrete, using portable cement mixers.
- Erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures.
- Provide assistance to craft workers, such as carpenters, plasterers, or masons.
- Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
- Position or dismantle forms for pouring concrete, using saws, hammers, nails, or bolts.
- Smooth or finish freshly poured cement or concrete, using floats, trowels, screeds, or powered cement finishing tools.
- Operate jackhammers or drills to break up concrete or pavement.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($18,700.13) to highly-experienced workers ($32,984.24). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Employment Projections
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Glazier
Glazier
Install glass in windows, skylights, store fronts, and display cases, or on surfaces, such as building fronts, interior walls, ceilings, and tabletops.
4Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Fabricate or install metal sashes or moldings for glass installation, using aluminum or steel framing.
- Determine plumb of walls or ceilings, using plumb lines and levels.
- Fasten glass panes into wood sashes or frames with clips, points, or moldings, adding weather seals or putty around pane edges to seal joints.
- Cut, fit, install, repair, or replace glass or glass substitutes, such as plastic or aluminum, in building interiors or exteriors or in furniture or other products.
- Set glass doors into frames and bolt metal hinges, handles, locks, or other hardware to attach doors to frames and walls.
- Install pre-assembled metal or wood frameworks for windows or doors to be fitted with glass panels, using hand tools.
- Measure and mark outlines or patterns on glass to indicate cutting lines.
- Grind or polish glass, smoothing edges when necessary.
- Prepare glass for cutting by resting it on rack edges or against cutting tables and brushing thin layer of oil along cutting lines or dipping cutting tools in oil.
- Read and interpret blueprints or specifications to determine size, shape, color, type, or thickness of glass, location of framing, installation procedures, or staging or scaffolding materials required.
- Drive trucks to installation sites and unload mirrors, glass equipment, or tools.
- Measure mirrors and dimensions of areas to be covered to determine work procedures.
- Cut, assemble, fit, or attach metal-framed glass enclosures for showers, bathtubs, display cases, skylights, solariums, or other structures.
- Move furniture to clear work sites and cover floors or furnishings with drop cloths.
- Load and arrange glass or mirrors onto delivery trucks, using suction cups or cranes to lift glass.
- Pack spaces between moldings and glass with glazing compounds and trim excess material with glazing knives.
- Cut and remove broken glass prior to installing replacement glass.
- Score glass with cutters' wheels, breaking off excess glass by hand or with notched tools.
- Secure mirrors in position, using mastic cement, putty, bolts, or screws.
- Assemble, erect, or dismantle scaffolds, rigging, or hoisting equipment.
- Cut and attach mounting strips, metal or wood moldings, rubber gaskets, or metal clips to surfaces in preparation for mirror installation.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($22,337.31) to highly-experienced workers ($31,751.88). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
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Cost Estimator
Cost Estimator
Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction projects, or services to aid management in bidding on or determining price of product or service. May specialize according to particular service performed or type of product manufactured.
29Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.
- Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.
- Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
- Prepare estimates used by management for purposes such as planning, organizing, and scheduling work.
- Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.
- Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops.
- Prepare estimates for use in selecting vendors or subcontractors.
- Set up cost monitoring and reporting systems and procedures.
- Prepare and maintain a directory of suppliers, contractors and subcontractors.
- Establish and maintain tendering process, and conduct negotiations.
- Review material and labor requirements to decide whether it is more cost-effective to produce or purchase components.
- Conduct special studies to develop and establish standard hour and related cost data or to effect cost reduction.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($38,773.28) to highly-experienced workers ($108,123.10). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
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Painter, Construction and Maintenance
Painter, Construction and Maintenance
Paint walls, equipment, buildings, bridges, and other structural surfaces, using brushes, rollers, and spray guns. May remove old paint to prepare surface prior to painting. May mix colors or oils to obtain desired color or consistency.
44Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting.
- Fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives.
- Smooth surfaces, using sandpaper, scrapers, brushes, steel wool, or sanding machines.
- Read work orders or receive instructions from supervisors or homeowners to determine work requirements.
- Apply primers or sealers to prepare new surfaces, such as bare wood or metal, for finish coats.
- Apply paint, stain, varnish, enamel, or other finishes to equipment, buildings, bridges, or other structures, using brushes, spray guns, or rollers.
- Erect scaffolding or swing gates, or set up ladders, to work above ground level.
- Mix and match colors of paint, stain, or varnish with oil or thinning and drying additives to obtain desired colors and consistencies.
- Calculate amounts of required materials and estimate costs, based on surface measurements or work orders.
- Polish final coats to specified finishes.
- Wash and treat surfaces with oil, turpentine, mildew remover, or other preparations, and sand rough spots to ensure that finishes will adhere properly.
- Select and purchase tools or finishes for surfaces to be covered, considering durability, ease of handling, methods of application, and customers' wishes.
- Remove old finishes by stripping, sanding, wire brushing, burning, or using water or abrasive blasting.
- Remove fixtures such as pictures, door knobs, lamps, or electric switch covers prior to painting.
- Use special finishing techniques such as sponging, ragging, layering, or faux finishing.
- Cut stencils and brush or spray lettering or decorations on surfaces.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($19,774.11) to highly-experienced workers ($35,806.35). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
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Civil Engineering Technician
Civil Engineering Technician
Apply theory and principles of civil engineering in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of structures and facilities under the direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.
9Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Calculate dimensions, square footage, profile and component specifications, and material quantities using calculator or computer.
- Read and review project blueprints and structural specifications to determine dimensions of structure or system and material requirements.
- Draft detailed dimensional drawings and design layouts for projects and to ensure conformance to specifications.
- Confer with supervisor to determine project details such as plan preparation, acceptance testing, and evaluation of field conditions.
- Analyze proposed site factors and design maps, graphs, tracings, and diagrams to illustrate findings.
- Prepare reports and document project activities and data.
- Report maintenance problems occurring at project site to supervisor and negotiate changes to resolve system conflicts.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($30,983.33) to highly-experienced workers ($64,447.64). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
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Sheet Metal Worker
Sheet Metal Worker
Fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as ducts, control boxes, drainpipes, and furnace casings. Work may involve any of the following: setting up and operating fabricating machines to cut, bend, and straighten sheet metal; shaping metal over anvils, blocks, or forms using hammer; operating soldering and welding equipment to join sheet metal parts; or inspecting, assembling, and smoothing seams and joints of burred surfaces. Includes sheet metal duct installers who install prefabricated sheet metal ducts used for heating, air conditioning, or other purposes.
12Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Convert blueprints into shop drawings to be followed in the construction or assembly of sheet metal products.
- Determine project requirements, such as scope, assembly sequences, or required methods or materials, using blueprints, drawings, or written or verbal instructions.
- Lay out, measure, and mark dimensions and reference lines on material, such as roofing panels, using calculators, scribes, dividers, squares, or rulers.
- Fasten seams or joints together with welds, bolts, cement, rivets, solder, caulks, metal drive clips, or bonds to assemble components into products or to repair sheet metal items.
- Trim, file, grind, deburr, buff, or smooth surfaces, seams, or joints of assembled parts, using hand tools or portable power tools.
- Select gauges or types of sheet metal or nonmetallic material, according to product specifications.
- Fabricate ducts for high efficiency heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to maximize efficiency of systems.
- Finish parts, using hacksaws or hand, rotary, or squaring shears.
- Fabricate or alter parts at construction sites, using shears, hammers, punches, or drills.
- Shape metal material over anvils, blocks, or other forms, using hand tools.
- Transport prefabricated parts to construction sites for assembly and installation.
- Install assemblies, such as flashing, pipes, tubes, heating and air conditioning ducts, furnace casings, rain gutters, or downspouts in supportive frameworks.
- Hire, train, or supervise new employees or apprentices.
- Maintain equipment, making repairs or modifications when necessary.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($26,508.77) to highly-experienced workers ($50,550.94). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
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Construction Carpenter
Construction Carpenter
Construct, erect, install, and repair structures and fixtures of wood, plywood, and wallboard, using carpenter's hand tools and power tools.
95Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
- Study specifications in blueprints, sketches, or building plans to prepare project layout and determine dimensions and materials required.
- Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
- Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.
- Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.
- Install structures or fixtures, such as windows, frames, floorings, trim, or hardware, using carpenters' hand or power tools.
- Select and order lumber or other required materials.
- Arrange for subcontractors to deal with special areas, such as heating or electrical wiring work.
- Maintain records, document actions, and present written progress reports.
- Build or repair cabinets, doors, frameworks, floors, or other wooden fixtures used in buildings, using woodworking machines, carpenter's hand tools, or power tools.
- Erect scaffolding or ladders for assembling structures above ground level.
- Assemble and fasten materials to make frameworks or props, using hand tools and wood screws, nails, dowel pins, or glue.
- Inspect ceiling or floor tile, wall coverings, siding, glass, or woodwork to detect broken or damaged structures.
- Remove damaged or defective parts or sections of structures and repair or replace, using hand tools.
- Finish surfaces of woodwork or wallboard in houses or buildings, using paint, hand tools, or paneling.
- Apply shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative paneling to ceilings or walls.
- Cover subfloors with building paper to keep out moisture and lay hardwood, parquet, or wood-strip-block floors by nailing floors to subfloor or cementing them to mastic or asphalt base.
- Fill cracks or other defects in plaster or plasterboard and sand patch, using patching plaster, trowel, and sanding tool.
- Perform minor plumbing, welding, or concrete mixing work.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($25,464.61) to highly-experienced workers ($45,883.27). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Employment Projections
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Floor Sander and Finisher
Floor Sander and Finisher
Scrape and sand wooden floors to smooth surfaces using floor scraper and floor sanding machine, and apply coats of finish.
0Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Inspect floors for smoothness.
- Scrape and sand floor edges and areas inaccessible to floor sanders, using scrapers, disk-type sanders, and sandpaper.
- Guide sanding machines over surfaces of floors until surfaces are smooth.
- Attach sandpaper to rollers of sanding machines.
- Apply filler compound and coats of finish to floors to seal wood.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($21,291.75) to highly-experienced workers ($31,042.83). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Employment Projections
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Terrazzo Worker and Finisher
Terrazzo Worker and Finisher
Apply a mixture of cement, sand, pigment, or marble chips to floors, stairways, and cabinet fixtures to fashion durable and decorative surfaces.
1Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Measure designated amounts of ingredients for terrazzo or grout according to standard formulas and specifications, using graduated containers and scales, and load ingredients into portable mixer.
- Cut metal division strips and press them into the terrazzo base for joints or changes of color to form designs or patterns or to help prevent cracks.
- Grind surfaces with a power grinder or polish surfaces with polishing or surfacing machines.
- Blend marble chip mixtures, place into panels, and push a roller over the surface to embed the chips.
- Modify mixing, grouting, grinding, or cleaning procedures, according to type of installation or material used.
- Spread, level, or smooth concrete or terrazzo mixtures to form bases or finished surfaces, using rakes, shovels, hand or power trowels, hand or power screeds, or floats.
- Grind curved surfaces or areas inaccessible to surfacing machine, such as stairways or cabinet tops, with portable hand grinder.
- Wash polished terrazzo surface, using cleaner and water, and apply sealer and curing agent according to manufacturer's specifications, using brush or sprayer.
- Position and secure moisture membrane and wire mesh in preparation for pouring base materials for terrazzo installation.
- Sprinkle colored marble or stone chips, powdered steel, or coloring powder over surface to produce prescribed finish.
- Clean installation site, mixing and storage areas, tools, machines, and equipment, and store materials and equipment.
- Fill slight grinding depressions with matching grout material and hand trowel for a smooth, uniform surface.
- Mix cement, sand, and water to produce concrete, grout, or slurry, using hoe, trowel, tamper, scraper, or concrete-mixing machine.
- Wet surface to prepare for bonding, fill holes and cracks with grout or slurry, and smooth with a trowel.
- Chip, scrape, or grind high spots, ridges, or rough projections to finish concrete, using pneumatic chisel, hand chisel, or other hand tools.
- Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, or straightedges.
- Move terrazzo installation materials, tools, machines, or work devices to work areas, manually or using wheelbarrow.
- Clean chipped area, using wire brush, and feel and observe surface to determine if it is rough or uneven.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($17,368.38) to highly-experienced workers ($35,422.90). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
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Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer
Apply plasterboard or other wallboard to ceilings or interior walls of buildings. Apply or mount acoustical tiles or blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing materials to ceilings and walls of buildings to reduce or reflect sound. Materials may be of decorative quality. Includes lathers who fasten wooden, metal, or rockboard lath to walls, ceilings or partitions of buildings to provide support base for plaster, fire-proofing, or acoustical material.
13Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Read blueprints or other specifications to determine methods of installation, work procedures, or material or tool requirements.
- Measure and mark surfaces to lay out work, according to blueprints or drawings, using tape measures, straightedges or squares, and marking devices.
- Fit and fasten wallboard or drywall into position on wood or metal frameworks, using glue, nails, or screws.
- Measure and cut openings in panels or tiles for electrical outlets, windows, vents, plumbing, or other fixtures, using keyhole saws or other cutting tools.
- Assemble or install metal framing or decorative trim for windows, doorways, or vents.
- Inspect furrings, mechanical mountings, or masonry surfaces for plumbness and level, using spirit or water levels.
- Cut fixture or border tiles to size, using keyhole saws, and insert them into surrounding frameworks.
- Cut metal or wood framing and trim to size, using cutting tools.
- Hang drywall panels on metal frameworks of walls and ceilings in offices, schools, or other large buildings, using lifts or hoists to adjust panel heights when necessary.
- Trim rough edges from wallboard to maintain even joints, using knives.
- Cut and screw together metal channels to make floor or ceiling frames, according to plans for the location of rooms or hallways.
- Coordinate work with drywall finishers who cover the seams between drywall panels.
- Suspend angle iron grids or channel irons from ceilings, using wire.
- Install horizontal and vertical metal or wooden studs to frames so that wallboard can be attached to interior walls.
- Scribe and cut edges of tile to fit walls where wall molding is not specified.
- Hang dry lines to wall moldings to guide positioning of main runners.
- Fasten metal or rockboard lath to the structural framework of walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings, using nails, screws, staples, or wire-ties.
- Seal joints between ceiling tiles and walls.
- Install blanket insulation between studs and tack plastic moisture barriers over insulation.
- Remove existing plaster, drywall, or paneling, using crowbars and hammers.
- Apply or mount acoustical tile or blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing materials to ceilings or walls of buildings to reduce reflection of sound or to decorate rooms.
- Mount tile, using adhesives, or by nailing, screwing, stapling, or wire-tying lath directly to structural frameworks.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($23,107.47) to highly-experienced workers ($44,101.84). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
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Construction Manager
Construction Manager
Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.
52Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Confer with supervisory personnel, owners, contractors, or design professionals to discuss and resolve matters such as work procedures, complaints, or construction problems.
- Plan, schedule, or coordinate construction project activities to meet deadlines.
- Prepare and submit budget estimates, progress reports, or cost tracking reports.
- Inspect or review projects to monitor compliance with environmental regulations.
- Inspect or review projects to monitor compliance with building and safety codes or other regulations.
- Plan, organize, or direct activities concerned with the construction or maintenance of structures, facilities, or systems.
- Investigate damage, accidents, or delays at construction sites to ensure that proper construction procedures are being followed.
- Study job specifications to determine appropriate construction methods.
- Prepare contracts or negotiate revisions to contractual agreements with architects, consultants, clients, suppliers, or subcontractors.
- Develop or implement environmental protection programs.
- Develop or implement quality control programs.
- Implement new or modified plans in response to delays, bad weather, or construction site emergencies.
- Interpret and explain plans and contract terms to representatives of the owner or developer, including administrative staff, workers, or clients.
- Perform, or contract others to perform, pre-building assessments, such as conceptual cost estimating, rough order of magnitude estimating, feasibility, or energy efficiency, environmental, and sustainability assessments.
- Apply for and obtain all necessary permits or licenses.
- Evaluate construction methods and determine cost-effectiveness of plans, using computer models.
- Contract or oversee craft work, such as painting or plumbing.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($41,126.91) to highly-experienced workers ($108,160.04). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Employment Projections
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Insulation Worker, Mechanical
Insulation Worker, Mechanical
Apply insulating materials to pipes or ductwork, or other mechanical systems in order to help control and maintain temperature.
2Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Measure and cut insulation for covering surfaces, using tape measures, handsaws, knives, and scissors.
- Fit insulation around obstructions, and shape insulating materials and protective coverings as required.
- Determine the amounts and types of insulation needed, and methods of installation, based on factors such as location, surface shape, and equipment use.
- Install sheet metal around insulated pipes with screws to protect the insulation from weather conditions or physical damage.
- Apply, remove, and repair insulation on industrial equipment, pipes, ductwork, or other mechanical systems such as heat exchangers, tanks, and vessels, to help control noise and maintain temperatures.
- Select appropriate insulation, such as fiberglass, Styrofoam, or cork, based on the heat retaining or excluding characteristics of the material.
- Read blueprints and specifications to determine job requirements.
- Cover, seal, or finish insulated surfaces or access holes with plastic covers, canvas strips, sealants, tape, cement, or asphalt mastic.
- Prepare surfaces for insulation application by brushing or spreading on adhesives, cement, or asphalt, or by attaching metal pins to surfaces.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($18,592.39) to highly-experienced workers ($42,347.58). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
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Sustainability Specialist
Sustainability Specialist
Address organizational sustainability issues, such as waste stream management, green building practices, and green procurement plans.
157Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Create or maintain plans or other documents related to sustainability projects.
- Develop sustainability project goals, objectives, initiatives, or strategies in collaboration with other sustainability professionals.
- Assess or propose sustainability initiatives, considering factors such as cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and acceptance.
- Provide technical or administrative support for sustainability programs or issues.
- Monitor or track sustainability indicators, such as energy usage, natural resource usage, waste generation, and recycling.
- Research or review regulatory, technical, or market issues related to sustainability.
- Review and revise sustainability proposals or policies.
- Collect information about waste stream management or green building practices to inform decision makers.
- Develop reports or presentations to communicate the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives.
- Identify or procure needed resources to implement sustainability programs or projects.
- Write grant applications, rebate applications, or project proposals to secure funding for sustainability projects.
- Create marketing or outreach media, such as brochures or Web sites, to communicate sustainability issues, procedures, or objectives.
- Identify or create new sustainability indicators.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($34,980.44) to highly-experienced workers ($100,338.50). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Employment Projections
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Roofer
Roofer
Cover roofs of structures with shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, or related materials. May spray roofs, sidings, and walls with material to bind, seal, insulate, or soundproof sections of structures.
77Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Inspect problem roofs to determine the best repair procedures.
- Remove snow, water, or debris from roofs prior to applying roofing materials.
- Set up scaffolding to provide safe access to roofs.
- Estimate materials and labor required to complete roofing jobs.
- Cement or nail flashing strips of metal or shingle over joints to make them watertight.
- Install partially overlapping layers of material over roof insulation surfaces, using chalk lines, gauges on shingling hatchets, or lines on shingles.
- Cut felt, shingles, or strips of flashing to fit angles formed by walls, vents, or intersecting roof surfaces.
- Apply plastic coatings, membranes, fiberglass, or felt over sloped roofs before applying shingles.
- Install, repair, or replace single-ply roofing systems, using waterproof sheet materials such as modified plastics, elastomeric, or other asphaltic compositions.
- Cover roofs or exterior walls of structures with slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, gravel, gypsum, or related materials, using brushes, knives, punches, hammers, or other tools.
- Waterproof or damp-proof walls, floors, roofs, foundations, or basements by painting or spraying surfaces with waterproof coatings or by attaching waterproofing membranes to surfaces.
- Attach roofing paper to roofs in overlapping strips to form bases for other materials.
- Install vapor barriers or layers of insulation on flat roofs.
- Cover exposed nailheads with roofing cement or caulking to prevent water leakage or rust.
- Apply alternate layers of hot asphalt or tar and roofing paper to roofs.
- Apply reflective roof coatings, such as special paints or single-ply roofing sheets, to existing roofs to reduce solar heat absorption.
- Smooth rough spots to prepare surfaces for waterproofing, using hammers, chisels, or rubbing bricks.
- Glaze top layers to make a smooth finish or embed gravel in the bitumen for rough surfaces.
- Mop or pour hot asphalt or tar onto roof bases.
- Install attic ventilation systems, such as turbine vents, gable or ridge vents, or conventional or solar-powered exhaust fans.
- Apply gravel or pebbles over top layers of roofs, using rakes or stiff-bristled brooms.
- Install skylights on roofs to increase natural light inside structures or to reduce energy costs.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($21,700.12) to highly-experienced workers ($39,151.89). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Employment Projections
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First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Worker
First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Worker
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.
116Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Supervise, coordinate, or schedule the activities of construction or extractive workers.
- Read specifications, such as blueprints, to determine construction requirements or to plan procedures.
- Inspect work progress, equipment, or construction sites to verify safety or to ensure that specifications are met.
- Locate, measure, and mark site locations or placement of structures or equipment, using measuring and marking equipment.
- Estimate material or worker requirements to complete jobs.
- Coordinate work activities with other construction project activities.
- Assign work to employees, based on material or worker requirements of specific jobs.
- Confer with managerial or technical personnel, other departments, or contractors to resolve problems or to coordinate activities.
- Order or requisition materials or supplies.
- Analyze worker or production problems and recommend solutions, such as improving production methods or implementing motivational plans.
- Train workers in construction methods, operation of equipment, safety procedures, or company policies.
- Record information such as personnel, production, or operational data on specified forms or reports.
- Provide assistance to workers engaged in construction or extraction activities, using hand tools or other equipment.
- Arrange for repairs of equipment or machinery.
- Suggest or initiate personnel actions, such as promotions, transfers, or hires.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($35,322.92) to highly-experienced workers ($83,054.63). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
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Maintenance and Repair Worker, General
Maintenance and Repair Worker, General
Perform work involving the skills of two or more maintenance or craft occupations to keep machines, mechanical equipment, or the structure of an establishment in repair. Duties may involve pipe fitting; boiler making; insulating; welding; machining; carpentry; repairing electrical or mechanical equipment; installing, aligning, and balancing new equipment; and repairing buildings, floors, or stairs.
225Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Dismantle machines, equipment, or devices to access and remove defective parts, using hoists, cranes, hand tools, or power tools.
- Perform routine maintenance, such as inspecting drives, motors, or belts, checking fluid levels, replacing filters, or doing other preventive maintenance actions.
- Diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary.
- Inspect, operate, or test machinery or equipment to diagnose machine malfunctions.
- Repair machines, equipment, or structures, using tools such as hammers, hoists, saws, drills, wrenches, or equipment such as precision measuring instruments or electrical or electronic testing devices.
- Maintain or repair specialized equipment or machinery located in cafeterias, laundries, hospitals, stores, offices, or factories.
- Assemble, install, or repair wiring, electrical or electronic components, pipe systems, plumbing, machinery, or equipment.
- Clean or lubricate shafts, bearings, gears, or other parts of machinery.
- Adjust functional parts of devices or control instruments, using hand tools, levels, plumb bobs, or straightedges.
- Order parts, supplies, or equipment from catalogs or suppliers.
- Plan and lay out repair work, using diagrams, drawings, blueprints, maintenance manuals, or schematic diagrams.
- Perform general cleaning duties of buildings or properties.
- Paint or repair roofs, windows, doors, floors, woodwork, plaster, drywall, or other parts of building structures.
- Record type and cost of maintenance or repair work.
- Operate cutting torches or welding equipment to cut or join metal parts.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($21,253.90) to highly-experienced workers ($42,629.82). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
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Floor Layer, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
Floor Layer, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
Apply blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings to floors.
1Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Sweep, scrape, sand, or chip dirt and irregularities to clean base surfaces, correcting imperfections that may show through the covering.
- Cut flooring material to fit around obstructions.
- Inspect surface to be covered to ensure that it is firm and dry.
- Trim excess covering materials, tack edges, and join sections of covering material to form tight joint.
- Form a smooth foundation by stapling plywood or Masonite over the floor or by brushing waterproof compound onto surface and filling cracks with plaster, putty, or grout to seal pores.
- Measure and mark guidelines on surfaces or foundations, using chalk lines and dividers.
- Cut covering and foundation materials, according to blueprints and sketches.
- Roll and press sheet wall and floor covering into cement base to smooth and finish surface, using hand roller.
- Apply adhesive cement to floor or wall material to join and adhere foundation material.
- Determine traffic areas and decide location of seams.
- Lay out, position, and apply shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings to floors, walls, and cabinets, following guidelines to keep courses straight and create designs.
- Remove excess cement to clean finished surface.
- Disconnect and remove appliances, light fixtures, and worn floor and wall covering from floors, walls, and cabinets.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($21,516.93) to highly-experienced workers ($35,449.63). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
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Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher
Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher
Smooth and finish surfaces of poured concrete, such as floors, walks, sidewalks, roads, or curbs using a variety of hand and power tools. Align forms for sidewalks, curbs, or gutters; patch voids; and use saws to cut expansion joints.
34Annual Openings
Sample Daily Tasks
- Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.
- Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them.
- Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float.
- Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process.
- Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge.
- Signal truck driver to position truck to facilitate pouring concrete, and move chute to direct concrete on forms.
- Direct the casting of the concrete and supervise laborers who use shovels or special tools to spread it.
- Produce rough concrete surface, using broom.
- Apply hardening and sealing compounds to cure surface of concrete, and waterproof or restore surface.
- Operate power vibrator to compact concrete.
- Wet surface to prepare for bonding, fill holes and cracks with grout or slurry, and smooth, using trowel.
- Install anchor bolts, steel plates, door sills and other fixtures in freshly poured concrete or pattern or stamp the surface to provide a decorative finish.
- Waterproof or restore concrete surfaces, using appropriate compounds.
- Mix cement, sand, and water to produce concrete, grout, or slurry, using hoe, trowel, tamper, scraper, or concrete-mixing machine.
- Chip, scrape, and grind high spots, ridges, and rough projections to finish concrete, using pneumatic chisels, power grinders, or hand tools.
- Cut out damaged areas, drill holes for reinforcing rods, and position reinforcing rods to repair concrete, using power saw and drill.
- Wet concrete surface, and rub with stone to smooth surface and obtain specified finish.
- Clean chipped area, using wire brush, and feel and observe surface to determine if it is rough or uneven.
- Build wooden molds, and clamp molds around area to be repaired, using hand tools.
Wages
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($19,417.14) to highly-experienced workers ($44,208.58). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
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