The document discusses the career of a construction contractor. It describes the typical career path, starting as a construction tradesperson to gain experience before obtaining additional training or education to become a construction manager or contractor. It outlines the key responsibilities of a contractor, which include supervising construction projects, managing budgets and schedules, and ensuring work meets regulations. Contractors can earn between $50,000 to $150,000 annually depending on their experience and project size. The employment outlook for contractors is excellent as infrastructure and housing demand is expected to increase the need for construction workers in coming years.

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Jonathan Haynes
Ms. Tillery
British Literature
28 October 2011
Working in the Construction Field
The Contractor/Construction career field has been a vital part in the development of
infrastructure in cities and towns across the world all throughout history. The contractor is
responsible for supervising the construction project and seeing that everything gets done as the
owner wants in the appropriate time frame while staying at or under the budget if possible.
Though some do most people don’t start out as a construction manager, many get their start as a
construction tradesperson so they can get on the job training. The construction field is always
going to be a big part of any society, and requires time and training to make it to different
positions in the construction field.
Someone that wants to be a construction manager doesn’t usually start out as a
construction manager. Many get their start working for a construction manager as a construction
tradesperson. Here they would work on the job constructing the buildings with the team and
getting experience on the job site. In order to work in the construction field, one needs to possess
a number of skills. A few attributes that are important to have to be a construction tradesperson
are to have good communication skills and work well as part of a team (Construction
Tradesperson). These skills are important because while on the job site one might be having to
shout out measurements to the other workers or just communicating about the build in general
and needs to be comfortable doing so. Along with that one needs to be physically fit and have
good hand-eye coordination (Construction Tradesperson). Almost always will someone working

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in the construction field be working outside in the weather, sometimes year-round, so it will be
essential that they are fit enough to work all day and be able to perform the tasks at hand. To
perform these tasks it is important that one also has the appropriate training.
One of the best methods of training for the construction field is to get on the job training.
Occasionally a High School Diploma is all that is required to get into the field but more often
than not a construction license is required. An apprenticeship program or a tech college is great
means of learning about the field and getting prepared with all the necessary information to
become a construction tradesperson (Construction Tradesperson). With a career field such as
this, it would be very useful to get all the experience and knowledge possible so that one can be
ready for what the construction field throws at them. Schooling and on the job training will
familiarize one with the kind of tasks one would expect working on the job.
Construction tradespersons or carpenters perform a wide range of tasks while on the job
depending on their branch of construction/carpentry. Construction or carpentry, work can be
divided into two categories—rough carpentry and finish carpentry. Rough carpenters often work
outdoors where they begin projects using unfinished wood and other building materials. They
frame houses, build scaffolding, and make forms to be filled with concrete. Forms are used to
mold concrete for bridges, highways, and house foundations. Finish carpenters include those
who cut and fit doors, windows, and interior molding. They also build and install cabinets, lay
hardwood floors, and panel rooms (Carpenter). A construction worker needs to be comfortable
working with power tools and possess an understanding of how to read blueprints because these
tasks make up much of what one would do in this field. Once one gets lots of experience in
working as a construction tradesperson they will be more than ready to begin training to be the
head of crew as a construction manager.

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Typically once one gets lots of experience as a construction tradesperson they will begin
the proper training needed to become a construction manager. In order to become a construction
manager or contractor, it is almost required that one goes to college. While a bachelor’s degree in
civil engineering or a related field is often required, some do though enter the field after years of
experience in one of the construction trades, while others have an associate degree in
construction management or civil engineering technology (Construction Manager). Going to
college is important because all the skills and knowledge needed to be a contractor can’t be
learned on the job. Much of it requires taking programs to learn it. Many colleges and
universities offer 4-year degree programs in construction management, construction science, and
construction engineering. These programs include courses in project control and development,
site planning, design, and construction methods and materials. Business and financial
management programs are needed because being a contractor is a business that one needs to
know how to run (College Grad-Construction). One also needs to know building codes and
standards as well as inspection procedures to see that the structures get built correctly.
Contractors are the head of the building crew and it is important that they have the appropriate
training to manage the crew and have a successful business. Through these programs one can
acquire attributes and abilities that will be very helpful as a contractor.
Contractors need to possess certain attributes and abilities to be able to perform their job
at the highest level. Some abilities come natural to people while others can be picked up through
training and schooling. The typical contractor needs to have good communication skills and
work well as part of a team (Construction Manager). These are important because the contractor
is the head of the crew and needs to be able to communicate with his workers and see that the
structure gets built properly. Other abilities are being detail-oriented and organized, as well as

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encompassing problem-solving skills (Construction Manager). Organization is very important
because the contractor is in charge of blue-prints and many documents pertaining to the job and
it’s vital to not lose them. Contractors need to have good problem-solving skills because more
often than not they will run into a problem with the design of the structure and they need to be
able to come up with a quick solution so that not too much time is lost, while keeping the
integrity of the design. Once a contractor harnesses these attributes, they will be more than ready
to perform their everyday tasks while on the job.
Construction managers coordinate and supervise the construction process from the
conceptual development stage through final construction, making sure that the project gets
completed on time and within budget (Construction Managers-BLS). Some of the core tasks that
contractors perform during the beginning process of a build are meeting with clients, architects,
and engineers to plan the build and create a schedule (Construction Manager). The contractor
needs to meet with these people because the contractor is going to be the one in charge of the
construction of the structure and ultimately the finishing of it, so they need to make sure the
blueprints for the structure meet code and that the contractor’s crew will be able to finish the
project within schedule. Finally the contractor will calculate materials and labor needed for the
build, create a budget, and then track spending. The contractor will buy construction materials,
arrange equipment rentals, hire trades-people and lastly supervise the jobsite to ensure work is
being done right and to keep everyone on schedule (Construction Manager). Therefore the
contractor has a ton of responsibility on them from the beginning to the end of the job.
Multiple factors can play into how much money a contractor makes. Most contractors
earn between $50,000 and $150,000 a year with a median of $84,000 a year. The salary of
contractors depends on how much experience they have, how many projects they have at a time,

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the size of those projects and how well the economy is doing (Construction Managers). The
location of the projects can also affect the salary of contractors because if one is building in more
expensive areas of the country they can ultimately make more money off the builds. Therefore
the salary of contractors depends greatly on multiple scenarios, mainly though the economy and
how high the demand is for contractors.
The employment opportunities for contractors through 2014 are excellent because the
number of job openings will exceed the number of qualified individuals seeking to enter the
construction field (College Grad-Construction). The construction of 1,000 single-family homes
generates 2,448 jobs in construction and construction-related industries and as the economy gets
better the demand for more homes will go up increasing the need for workers and thus creating
jobs (About the Home). Therefore someone looking for a career in the construction field as a
contractor should not be apprehensive about it because the job outlook for the future looks good.
Anytime someone goes outside they are sure to see the work of a construction worker
somewhere around them. Construction is one of the most important parts of the development of
cities and towns across the world. Homes and buildings everywhere would be almost non-
existent without construction and the construction workers. With the many opportunities in the
construction field and the great out-look for it, the construction field is a very important aspect of
infrastructure and will always be the reason for the structures everyone sees each day.

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“Carpenter.” 2007. Career Information Center. 9th ed. Vol. 4. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 34-36. 13 vols.
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“Construction Managers.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. 2010-2011 Edition ed. N.p.: n.p.,
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ocos005.htm>
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