Career Path
Ready to build YOUR career in the highway construction industry?
Pre-Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship Readiness Course
Skill Arcade
Careers Paths & Jobs in Road Construction
Jobs in Road Construction
In the highway construction industry, there are career opportunities available for everyone, with or without a college degree.
Not sure what your future could hold? Review these career options for inspiration.
With a college Degree
Without a college Degree
Estimator
Estimators become involved in a project in the early stages while preparing the bid, identifying and projecting costs for each phase.
Degree: Construction management or engineering
Median Salary: $100,000
Logistics Manager
Oversee the movement, distribution, and storage of materials in an organization.
Degree: Supply chain management, logistics, or business administration
Median Salary: $75,000
Site Engineer
Offer advice in the planning, coordination and supervision of technical aspects of construction projects.
Degree: Construction management or civil engineering
Median Salary: $90,000
Fleet Manager
Manages the operation and main-tenance of the organization’s motor vehicles. Develops and implements vehicle and equipment preventive maintenance program.
Degree: Mechanical Engineering
Median Salary: $90,000
Project Manager
Organize the numerous parts of a project and make sure it runs smoothly. Includes communicating status and progress to internal and external clients.
Degree: Construction science, building science, or construction engineering
Median Salary: $120,000
Construction Laborer
Perform many tasks that require physical labor on construction sites, often at great heights or outdoors in all weather conditions.
Median Salary: $60,000
Foreman (First-Line Supervisor Of Construction Trades)
Schedule, coordinate, and supervise the activities of construction workers. Inspect work progress, equipment, or construction sites to verify safety or to ensure that specifications are met.
Median Salary: $80,000
Construction Equipment Operator (Operating Engineer)
Drive, maneuver or control the heavy machinery used to construct roads, bridges, buildings and other structures.
Median Salary: $70,000
Equipment Mechanic
Inspect, maintain, repair or overhaul trucks or any type of diesel engine.
Median Salary: $80,000
Construction Inspector
Ensure that construction meets local and national building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations and contract specifications.
Median Salary: $59,700
Carpenter - Heavy / Highway
Heavy/Highway Carpenters build and assemble forms for concrete structures such as bridges, retaining walls, tunnels, subways, drainage structures, hydroelectric developments, locks dams, and sewage treatment projects.
Median Salary: $70,000
Cement Mason
Cement masons smooth and finish exposed concrete surfaces on projects such as sidewalks, roads, and bridges.
Median Salary: $65,000
Pile Driver
Pile Drivers build and maintain all types of piling (heavy stakes or posts installed to support the foundations of a superstructure) and caissons (watertight retaining structure used to work on the foundations of a bridge pier or dam) and specialize in foundations for bridges and dams.
Median Salary: $65,000
Truck Driver
Truck Drivers operate on-road vehicles to transport equipment and materials to and from projects, and off-road vehicles to move earth and rock within a construction project. Trucks can be used on public highways, roads, in the yard area, and at various construction sites.
Median Salary: $60,000
Apprenticeship & Career Opportunities
CARPENTERS
Carpenters assemble and construct forms for concrete structures including bridges, retaining walls, tunnels, subways, drainage structures, hydroelectric developments, locks, and dams.
MASONS
Concrete is everywhere in the heavy/highway construction industry. A cement mason places, finishes, smooths, protects, and repairs exposed concrete surfaces such as sidewalks, driveways, roads, and dams.
LABORERS
Laborers are used for various projects in heavy/highway construction, working with hand, power, and air tools, rebar, traffic control, soil compaction, trenching/shoring projects, and more.
OPERATING ENGINEERS
Operating engineers oversee the operation, maintenance, and repair of heavy construction equipment including cranes, backhoes, loaders, scrapers, and bulldozers, which is essential for creating roads, dams, bridges, and airports.
CRAFT PROFESSIONALS
Skilled workers, heavy equipment operators, carpenters, concrete finishers, and laborers are needed! Learn about the benefits of union membership and career opportunities in western PA.
INSPECTORS
Construction Inspectors ensure projects follow plans and specifications and are responsible for projects being completed on time and within budget.
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