How long does the training take?

Typically no schooling after high school, then 5 years or more of related work first. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

Do you need a degree for this work?

No. Most people are hired and trained on the job; a program is optional.

Where can you train for this work?

740 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

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First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers: pay, training and the programs that lead there

Construction trades · SOC 47-1011

$79,920US median pay, 2025

+5%Projected growth, 2025–35

67,000Openings per year

On the jobUsual way in

How you get in

Most people are hired and trained on the job, so school is optional. A program can still help you stand out.

High school diploma or equivalent (a program is optional for this job)
5 years or more of experience in a related job
Work in: first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Electrician	CIP 46.0302	477
Carpentry/Carpenter	CIP 46.0201	201
Building Construction Technology/Technician	CIP 46.0415	124
Plumbing Technology/Plumber	CIP 46.0503	119
Building/Property Maintenance	CIP 46.0401	92
Construction Trades, General	CIP 46.0000	74
Building/Construction Site Management/Manager	CIP 46.0412	67
Building/Home/Construction Inspection/Inspector	CIP 46.0403	29
Mason/Masonry	CIP 46.0101	28
Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter	CIP 46.0502	28
Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher	CIP 46.0402	6
Painting/Painter and Wall Coverer	CIP 46.0408	5
Drywall Installation/Drywaller	CIP 46.0404	4
Glazier	CIP 46.0406	2
Roofer	CIP 46.0410	1
Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker	CIP 46.0413	1
Insulator	CIP 46.0414	1
Well Drilling/Driller	CIP 46.0504	1
Blasting/Blaster	CIP 46.0505	0

See the 740 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does the training take?: Typically no schooling after high school, then 5 years or more of related work first. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers make?: The US median is $79,920 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree for this work?: No. Most people are hired and trained on the job; a program is optional.
Where can you train for this work?: 740 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

Related careers in Construction trades

Electricians · Carpenters · Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters · Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators · Painters, construction and maintenance · Construction and building inspectors · Cement masons and concrete finishers · Roofers