SOC 47-1011.00Bright outlook

    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

    Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.

    Median pay
    $79,920
    Growth
    +5.0%
    Faster than average
    Openings a year
    67,000
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $53,280
    Median
    $79,920
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $128,260
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    812,210 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers direct and coordinate the daily activities of building and extraction crews. The career offers a median annual pay of $79,920.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers do

    Job Zone 3: Medium preparation

    Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.

    Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.

    What the work is like

    These supervisors oversee teams of construction or extraction workers to ensure projects are completed safely and efficiently. Daily activities center around organizing, planning, and scheduling work, as well as coordinating the activities of others. Supervisors spend significant time inspecting equipment, structures, and materials to ensure quality and safety standards are met. They gather information, make decisions, and solve complex problems on-site while communicating with crew members, upper management, and external partners.

    Success in this role requires strong leadership orientation, dependability, and cooperation. Supervisors must possess skills in active listening, speaking, personnel management, and critical thinking. They rely on knowledge of building and construction, administration, mechanics, and public safety. This career strongly appeals to individuals with enterprising interests who enjoy leading teams, managing projects, and taking responsibility for business decisions.

    How to get there

    To enter this career, candidates typically need a high school diploma, though the role generally requires medium preparation, such as vocational training, an associate degree, or related work experience. Relevant college majors include construction trades, carpentry, masonry, plumbing, electrical installation, and building finishing and inspection.

    Professional certifications can help candidates advance. Available options include the Certified Associate Construction Manager, Certified Safety and Health Official, and credentials from the National Center for Construction Education and Research, such as Construction Foreman or Construction Superintendent. Additionally, some states list a license for this work.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for these supervisors is $79,920. Earnings vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $53,280 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $128,260.

    With 812,210 people employed in this field, the occupation is projected to grow by 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than average. This growth, combined with retirement and career transitions, is expected to generate 67,000 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    61 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    15 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    32 / 100
    Enterprising (E) · strongest
    83 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    66 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code ECR. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    82
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    79
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    78
    Getting Information
    77
    Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
    76
    Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    74
    Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    73
    Scheduling Work and Activities
    73
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    72
    Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    71
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Coordination
    • Active Listening
    • Speaking
    • Critical Thinking
    • Management of Personnel Resources
    • Monitoring
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Time Management
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Complex Problem Solving

    Knowledge

    • Administration and Management
    • Building and Construction
    • Mechanical
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • English Language
    • Design
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Mathematics
    • Engineering and Technology
    • Personnel and Human Resources

    Abilities

    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Information Ordering
    • Near Vision
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Speech Clarity
    • Written Comprehension
    • Far Vision

    Work styles

    • Leadership Orientation
    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Perseverance
    • Cooperation
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Attention to Detail
    • Integrity
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Self-Control

    Also called

    Acoustical Tile Carpenters' Supervisor · Adjustable Steel Joist Setting Supervisor · Asbestos Removal Supervisor · Asphalt Paving Supervisor · Awning Hanger Supervisor · Bailer Operators' Supervisor · Bailer Tenders' Supervisor · Billposting Supervisor · Brick Chimney Supervisor · Bricklayer Supervisor

    Career pathway

    From your interests to first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,920 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1
      Utah Valley University

      Orem, UT · Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $82,443
      4 yrs after
      $97,793
      Median debt
      $11,042
    2. 2The University of Texas at San Antonio logo
      The University of Texas at San Antonio

      San Antonio, TX · Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $74,627
      4 yrs after
      $90,691
      Median debt
      $17,750
    3. 3Tuskegee University logo
      Tuskegee University

      Tuskegee, AL · Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $74,054
      4 yrs after
      $87,107
      Median debt
      Not reported
    4. 4
      Pennsylvania College of Technology

      Williamsport, PA · Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $69,819
      4 yrs after
      $74,310
      Median debt
      $27,000

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work. Showing 12 of 19.

    • Blasting/Blaster
    • Building Construction Technology/Technician
    • Building/Construction Site Management/Manager
    • Building/Home/Construction Inspection/Inspector
    • Building/Property Maintenance
    • Carpentry/Carpenter
    • Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker
    • Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher
    • Construction Trades, General
    • Drywall Installation/Drywaller
    • Electrician
    • Glazier

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    17 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some common job titles for this career?

    Workers in this field are known by many titles depending on their specialty. Examples include asphalt paving supervisors, bricklayer supervisors, asbestos removal supervisors, and construction superintendents.

    What level of education is typically required to start?

    A high school diploma is the typical entry-level education. However, most supervisors also have vocational training, an associate degree, or significant hands-on experience in the construction trades.

    Are there professional certifications available for this role?

    Yes, supervisors can earn certifications such as the Certified Associate Construction Manager, Construction Foreman, or specialized credentials like the Masonry Field Testing Technician to demonstrate their expertise.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.