A career in construction can take you all the way to CEO.
There’s no single path to a successful career in construction.
You can start exploring in middle or high school, learn a craft through an apprenticeship or training program, attend a technical school or college, enter the workforce and build your skills on the job — or combine several of these options throughout your career.
Explore the career path below to see the many ways you can get started, gain skills and credentials, advance into leadership and build a career that fits your goals.
Start Your Career Path
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CAREER AWARENESS
It’s never too early to discover where your interests and skills could take you. Whether you’re a students exploring your future, an adult considering a new career or a veteran transitioning to civilian life, there’s a place for you in construction. Start by exploring career options, discovering what matches your interests and strengths, and learning about the education, training and experience that can help you take your next step.
You can:
- Explore construction careers and the different sectors of the industry.
- Take a career quiz to find careers that match your interests and strengths.
- Get hands-on through career days, camps, classroom activities and jobsite tours.
- Explore CTE programs, training, apprenticeships and other opportunities.
- Talk with educators, counselors, family members and industry professionals about your options.
Additional Resources
High School
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High School / Technical Center
High school is a great time to turn career exploration into hands-on experience and begin preparing for your next step after graduation.
You can:
- Take CTE classes and gain hands-on experience.
- Earn industry-recognized credentials through your program.
- Participate in internships, pre-apprenticeships, jobsite visits or other work-based learning.
- Explore apprenticeships, technical schools, colleges and scholarships.
- Create a CareerStarter profile to connect with education, training and employment opportunities.
Industry Apprentice
Community College
University Degree
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University Degree
A four-year degree can lead to a wide range of careers within the construction industry, particularly in management, design, engineering and other professional roles. Depending on your interests, you may study:
- Construction Management
- Engineering
- Architecture
- Safety
- Business
- Estimating
- Building Science
- Other construction-related fields
During college, internships, co-ops and other work experiences can help you gain industry experience and build professional connections. College can also be a next step later in your career as you advance into management or other roles.
Assistant Project Manager
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Assistant Project Manager
After completing a construction-related degree or gaining relevant industry experience, you may begin your career in a supporting professional or management role. Depending on your career path, you could work in:
- Project Management
- Estimating
- Scheduling
- Safety
- Quality
- Engineering
- Human Resources
- Business Operations
At this stage, you’ll gain experience working with project teams, understanding construction operations and taking on increasing responsibility.
Project Manager
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Project Manager
Project managers coordinate the people, resources, schedules and budgets needed to successfully complete construction projects.
In this role, you may:
- Plan and manage project schedules and budgets.
- Coordinate with craft professionals, superintendents, subcontractors, owners and other project partners.
- Track progress, costs, documentation and project requirements.
- Help solve challenges that arise throughout the project.
- Manage one or multiple projects depending on their size and complexity.
- Develop the leadership and business experience needed for senior management.
Project managers can come from several backgrounds, including construction management programs, engineering, field supervision and the skilled crafts.
Senior Management
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Community College / Technical College
Community colleges and technical schools offer another path to gaining the technical knowledge and hands-on skills needed for a construction career.
Depending on the program, you can:
- Learn a construction craft or technical specialty.
- Develop skills through hands-on labs and training.
- Earn certificates, credentials or an associate’s degree.
- Connect with local employers and work-based learning opportunities.
- Begin working in the field while completing your education.
- Apply eligible credentials or coursework toward additional education.
University Degree
Entry Level
Industry Apprentice
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Entry Level
Ready to put your skills to work? An entry-level construction position can help you gain experience, learn from experienced professionals and discover where you want your career to go. As your skills and experience grow, so can your opportunities.
You can:
- Begin working as a helper, laborer, apprentice or other entry-level team member.
- Learn from experienced craft professionals and supervisors.
- Develop technical skills and safe work practices on the job.
- Build your resume and industry experience.
- Earn credentials and complete additional training as you progress.
- Explore different crafts and specialties to find the right fit for you.Your first job is just the beginning.
Craft Professional
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Industry Apprentice
An apprenticeship combines structured education with paid, on-the-job training, allowing you to develop skills while gaining real-world experience. As an apprentice, you can:
- Earn a paycheck while you learn a skilled craft.
- Train alongside experienced craft professionals.
- Build technical skills through hands-on training and classroom instruction.
- Work toward industry credentials and certifications.
- Increase your responsibilities and earning potential as your skills grow.
- Build the experience needed to advance toward journey-level craft professional and leadership positions.
*Apprenticeship requirements and structures vary by program and employer.
Craft Professional
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Craft Professional
As a craft professional, you’ve developed the technical skills and experience needed to perform specialized construction work. Your experience in the field can become the foundation for your next step into leadership.
At this stage, you can:
- Build expertise in your chosen craft.
- Earn additional credentials and certifications.
- Take on more complex work and greater responsibility.
- Mentor apprentices and new team members.
- Pursue leadership training to prepare for supervisory roles.
- Continue your education through advanced training, technical programs or college.
- Explore opportunities with different employers, projects or locations.
Additional Resources
Crew Leader / Foreman
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Crew Leader / Foreman
Experienced craft professionals can move into field leadership roles such as crew leader or foreman.
In these positions, you may:
- Lead and coordinate a crew of craft professionals.
- Communicate daily work plans and expectations.
- Help keep work safe, productive and on schedule.
- Coordinate materials, equipment and workforce needs.
- Mentor developing craft professionals.
- Continue building leadership, planning and supervisory skills.
Field leadership experience can open the door to positions such as superintendent, safety manager, project manager and other management roles.
Site Superintendent
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Site Superintendent
Site superintendents help turn project plans into reality by coordinating the day-to-day work happening on a construction site.
As a superintendent, you may:
- Coordinate crews, subcontractors and jobsite activities.
- Help maintain project schedules and productivity.
- Promote safe work practices and quality standards.
- Communicate with project managers, contractors, owners and other stakeholders.
- Solve problems and keep work moving forward.
- Lead increasingly larger or more complex projects as your experience grows.
Experienced superintendents may advance into senior field leadership, project management or other management positions.
Project Manager
Senior Management
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Senior Management
Senior construction leaders use years of field, project and business experience to help guide teams and organizations.
Depending on the company, senior leaders may oversee:
- Operations
- Project Management
- Safety
- Estimating
- Quality
- Workforce Development
- Business Development
- Human Resources
- Regional or Company-Wide Operations
At this level, your decisions can influence not only individual projects but the direction and success of the organization.
CEO / Officer
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CEO, Executive, Owner
There isn't one route to the top of the construction industry. Executives and business owners come from many backgrounds — many begin in the crafts, others enter through college or professional roles, and many combine field experience, education and business leadership throughout their careers.
At this stage, you may:
- Lead a construction company or major business division.
- Set company strategy and make key business decisions.
- Build teams and create opportunities for others.
- Develop relationships with clients and industry partners.
- Mentor the next generation of construction professionals.
- Start, grow or own your own construction business.
Where you start doesn't determine how far you can go. Construction gives you the opportunity to keep learning, build new skills and create a career path of your own.