Find a Job You Really Want In
Yes, building products is a good career path. While the industry has its fair share of ups and downs as supplies and the construction industry ebb and flow, there are a significant number of jobs within the industry. This means there are plenty of specialties you can go into, from engineering to sales.
No matter what role you choose, one of the best parts about working in building materials is that you know you’re working to build a home for a family, a new building for a business, or some other permanent structure that will improve people’s lives.
The 5 Best-Paying Jobs in Building Products
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Fireproofing Consultant
Average Annual Salary: N/A
Fireproofing consultants work with builders to ensure new buildings follow all fire safety codes, from the materials used in construction to the smoke detection and sprinkler systems installed. Some of these professionals are also fireproofing engineers who create fireproof and fire-resistant materials and designs for buildings.
If the idea of applying your knowledge of science and engineering to help people in practical ways appeals to you, you may enjoy being a fireproofing consultant. To become one, you’ll need to become certified in fire protection and engineering and will often need a bachelor’s degree.
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Average Annual Salary: $86,000
The building products industry is always creating and testing new products, and they need materials engineers to do this. If you pursue this career path, you’ll need to earn at least an associate’s degree in engineering and manufacturing, and many companies may prefer you have a bachelor’s degree.
You’ll also need some experience in the industry to learn the ins and outs of codes and regulations before you can work somewhat independently. Although it requires a lot of work, materials engineering can be a fun way to use your creativity, problem-solving, and math skills.
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Custom Home Builder
Average Annual Salary: N/A
More and more people are building homes, and many of these are custom homes, which means the client contracts with a builder and helps design the home themselves rather than purchasing a predetermined floor plan.
If you enjoy working with your hands and you like the idea of working closely with a client to obtain the materials and expertise needed to make their home dreams come true, you might enjoy being a custom home builder.
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Average Annual Salary: $41,000
As a yard foreman, you’ll be managing a wide variety of workers – often both skilled and unskilled. Because of this, you’ll need a good understanding of the industry and excellent people and managerial skills.
Yard foremen work for construction companies and warehouses, and they hire and train employees and direct them so they complete their tasks on time and enforce safety protocols. They’re vital to ensuring that all runs smoothly and that their people are doing their jobs efficiently and safely.
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Building Materials Specifier
Average Annual Salary: N/A
Building materials specifiers are technical advisers who help architects, designers, construction contractors, and engineers select the right materials for their projects. They consider factors such as appearance, durability, and code requirements when they make their recommendations, so they ensure projects are safe and high-quality.
To become a building materials specifier, you’ll need a degree, some significant experience in the construction industry, and a Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) certification.
10 Entry-Level Jobs in Building Products
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Average Annual Salary: $55,000
Companies in the building products industry won’t get very far if no one buys their products, so salespeople are vital. These professionals find clients, work with them to find the materials they need, and even ensure that their order gets to them on time.
Most sales positions don’t require much prior education or experience, although a bachelor’s degree will always help. A job as a salesperson is a great way to get to know the building products industry so you can move up to managerial roles in the future with a solid base knowledge of the industry.
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Average Annual Salary: $35,000
Installers are professionals at installing the construction products that clients order. Whether it’s glass or stone, you’ll need to be excited to work with your hands and do detailed, high-quality work.
To become an installer, you’ll need to get any professional certifications required for your specialty. You’ll also likely need to complete an apprenticeship, but typically you’ll still be paid while you do that – you just won’t make as much as you will when you’re fully certified.
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Average Annual Salary: $58,000
Building products companies need CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) drivers to haul their products to their clients. As a result, if you have your CDL, you will likely be able to find plenty of employment opportunities in the building products industry.
These jobs are typically good fits for people who like to be out and enjoy driving large vehicles. You’ll typically be able to find everything from local delivery and construction jobs to long-haul trucking, so keep an eye out for positions that work well with your schedule and goals.
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Average Annual Salary: $33,000
Warehouses, lumberyards, and a host of other facilities in the building products industry need forklift operators to move and load materials. All you typically need to land one of these positions is a high school diploma and a forklift operator certification, which you can often obtain online.
If you enjoy working with people, have strong organization skills, and don’t want to sit behind a desk, you might enjoy working as a forklift operator.
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Materials Estimator
Average Annual Salary: N/A
A materials estimator helps clients determine how many building products they’ll need for their design. Once the project is underway, they’ll continue to work with the client to make any adjustments to orders as the design changes or other issues come up.
If you have excellent interpersonal skills, love solving problems, and are good with numbers and programs like AutoCAD and ProEst, you might enjoy working as a materials estimator.
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Human Resources Representative
Average Annual Salary: N/A
All companies in the building products industry need HR representatives to handle hiring, payroll, and similar tasks. These professionals also have to pay close attention to the workers and client safety since there are so many hazards in this industry, and they often spend a large part of their time training employees.
If this side of HR appeals to you, you may enjoy working in this role in the building products industry. You’ll just need a bachelor’s degree in HR, business, or a related field and some strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills to get started.
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Average Annual Salary: $33,000
There are a lot of logistics that go into the purchasing and delivery of building materials, so dispatchers are needed to keep all of the truck drivers, clients, and contractors on the same page.
People with excellent communication, problem-solving, and organization skills typically thrive in this job, and it’s a great entry-level position since you don’t usually need more than a high school diploma to be qualified.
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Customer Service Representative
Average Annual Salary: $30,000
Customers will always have questions and concerns, so building materials companies need good customer service representatives to field their calls and provide them with excellent service.
Customer service representatives don’t usually need much education or work experience, making this an excellent entry-level job for people with strong communication, conflict management, and problem-solving skills.
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Average Annual Salary: $32,000
Materials handlers pull products, package them if needed, and load and unload them onto trucks. They typically work in warehouses or production facilities, and they’re the ones that make sure customers’ orders get fulfilled with the right products.
To become a materials handler, you typically don’t need any education besides possibly a high school diploma – you’ll just need a good work ethic, strong organization skills, and the ability to pay attention to detail. You might also need a forklift operator certification or something similar, depending on where you’re working.
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Average Annual Salary: $37,000
An inventory technician is in charge of keeping an accurate count of the warehouse or facility’s inventory at all times. That means they log when shipments come in, when orders go out, and everything in between.
Many inventory technician roles require an associate’s degree, and you’ll also need to have strong organizational skills and a love of keeping detailed, accurate records.
Why Choose a Career in Building Products?
There are many reasons why someone would choose a career in building products. Here are a few of them:
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It gives you the ability to work with your hands for a living. A large portion of the jobs in the building products industry aren’t desk jobs, which many people find highly desirable.
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It requires a lot of problem-solving and strategizing. From engineers to salespeople to truck drivers, the building products industry revolves around solving problems for clients so they can accomplish their construction goals. Many people find this fulfilling and are drawn to this industry as a result.
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You get to see what your efforts created. Even if you don’t get to physically go and look at the building you helped create, there is still a home or a business building out there that you left your mark on. To many people, this is the definition of fulfilling work.
Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Building Products
Every position in building products has a different set of education and certification requirements, but there are a few that you’ll commonly come across.
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High school diploma or equivalent. While not all of the jobs in the building products industry require a degree, the majority still require a high school diploma or a GED. So, if you’re interested in working in this area, you should start by obtaining that if you haven’t already.
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Associate’s degree. Having an associate’s degree will qualify you or make you a more attractive candidate for a variety of roles, and it will help make it easier if you decide you want to pursue your bachelor’s degree in order to qualify for a managerial role later on.
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Bachelor’s degree. Many jobs in building products require a bachelor’s degree, and even if they don’t, having one will open up more opportunities for you. Degrees in business administration, engineering, construction management, or similar fields are some of the most common in the industry.
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Master’s degree. If your goal is to become a building products manager or executive, it will behoove you to have a master’s degree in business or a construction-related field. Your employer may even pay for it, so look into their tuition reimbursement programs before you shell out any cash yourself.
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Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) certification. This certification focuses on the construction industry’s communication and documentation processes. It will also give you an understanding of the construction process and strengthen your administration skills, making it valuable to have for many jobs (and required for some).
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AutoCAD professional certificate. You may not necessarily need certification in AutoCAD in order to qualify for some jobs, but being able to show that you’re proficient in the program will go a long way in helping you qualify for positions within the building materials industry.
What Do People Working In Building Products Do?
People in the building products industry design, manufacture, and install the materials used to construct buildings. The industry also needs a significant number of professionals to store and transport those materials as well as handle sales and logistics for them.
Without the building products industry, homes, office buildings, and shopping centers wouldn’t come to fruition, as there would be nothing to build them with.
Author
Abby is a writer who is passionate about the power of story. Whether it’s communicating complicated topics in a clear way or helping readers connect with another person or place from the comfort of their couch. Abby attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she earned a degree in writing with concentrations in journalism and business.
