Find a Job You Really Want In
Yes, home building is a good career path. People are always going to want and need homes, so even when the economy isn’t great, there’s always going to be some work. Several of the careers in home building aren’t exclusive to strictly building, either, meaning that you can get work elsewhere if necessary.
Many of these careers allow you to transition into another role if you choose to. This can be because you think you’re going to want to change your career at some point, or it could be due to a short-term lack of opportunities. Either way, it gives you options.
Many of these jobs involve working with your hands, which many people find more satisfying, and even those that don’t build anything directly will still have a finished product at the end to point to.
Homebuilding includes both the planning and design stage as well as the actual construction. Different careers tend to focus on one aspect or the other, so the job you choose will depend on what part of the fabrication you want to be a part of.
Here are 20 great jobs in home building:
10 of the Best-Paying Jobs in Home Building
All of these careers require higher levels of education, experience, or a combination of the two. As with the majority of industries, higher education ends up giving you higher pay. However, with the right experience, there are careers in home building that pay quite well without a college education.
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Average Annual Salary: $90,000
Architecture is the art of building design. Architects must have a strong understanding of building design, materials, as well as cost in order to fit their project inside the budget. It also requires technical skills, as not only do you have to know some basics of construction, but the majority of drawing is now done in computer programs.
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Average Annual Salary: $96,000
Architectural engineers are less designers and more implementers. They make sure that the design is possible and reasonable to build with current materials. Their job also requires being sure that the building in question meets safety standards. They often work together with architects.
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Average Annual Salary: $74,000
Construction engineers are responsible for coming up with the implementation of a construction project. They work with different parts of the building project as a coordinator while making sure that everything is going to plan.
Depending on the job and individual responsibilities, they may be responsible for the budget as well as supervision. They make sure the project stays on track on the practical side.
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Average Annual Salary: $96,000
If you’re good at juggling several different tasks and overseeing others, then this position is a good goal to shoot for. Project managers aren’t specific to a home building; instead, working in almost every industry. As the name states, they manage projects.
Project managers are in charge of the entire project, from budgeting, planning, execution, and completion. They have to make sure it fits into what the company or client wants, as well as stay within budget and make sure that the different parts of the project fit together as they should.
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Average Annual Salary: $87,000
As the name implies, construction supervisors supervise the construction project. They make sure that safety regulations are followed, as well as keep track of the performance of the workers and equipment.
They’re also responsible for dealing with subcontractors and vendors, as well as keeping track of progress and generating reports to show to the stakeholders.
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Average Annual Salary: $60,000
Before a construction project can begin, it has to be approved by the appropriate authorities in terms of compliance with regulations and safety standards.
Plans examiners make sure that a construction project is in compliance with the local rules and zoning ordinances. They check over paperwork and requests in order to make sure that they meet all requirements.
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Average Annual Salary: $78,000
Real estate developers are the ones who acquire the land and come up with the general idea of the project. Most of their job will require working with others, and they are required to be familiar with construction and local ordinances; the workload is impossible for a single person.
They work with architects, the head of the construction team, as well as real estate agents and members of the local government.
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Average Annual Salary: $68,000
Making effective use of space isn’t as easy as it sounds. Space planners specialize in the practice, as well as knowing the rules and regulations in terms of how much space is required in certain circumstances. They can help with the design of the building as well as how much space various systems take up, allowing for accurate construction.
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Average Annual Salary: $65,000
This is mostly a managerial position. Construction foremen are responsible for making sure that the work is getting done properly as well as the proper dispersal of resources. The position of the foreman is still very hands-on, and applicants are expected to have a lot of construction experience in order to get the role.
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Average Annual Salary: $50,000
Construction inspectors make sure that building sites are up to code. They have the power to issue citations as well as stop-work orders if a project isn’t meeting requirements.
Most of their duties involve measuring and testing various systems. They sign off on the different systems in the house, such as plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, along with making sure that it’s within property limits and not encroaching on other utilities.
Almost all of the above jobs require some experience in the field or, at the very least, a bachelor’s degree in the required subject. However, once you meet the requirements, they’re well compensated.
However, if you’re just looking to get into the industry and gain some experience, the next list of jobs might be more up your alley.
10 Entry-Level Jobs in Home Building
Many of the jobs on this list are skilled trades. Just because they’re considered entry positions doesn’t mean that they won’t make an excellent long-term career. However, many of them also give you experience in building and construction that will allow you to move to another position if you choose to.
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Average Annual Salary: $49,000
The main duties of an architectural drafter are to create technical drawings. They assist an architect or an engineer by filling in the drawings for a project. This can be for any type of building, not just a house.
You have to be able to turn rough sketches and designs into fully fleshed-out drawings. It requires knowledge of architectural drawing programs as well as architectural design.
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Average Annual Salary: $40,000
Carpenters build with wood. This can be anything from making a set of shelves to putting together a deck to building the framework of a building. Most carpenters apprentice, but vocational schools will also teach you the necessary skills.
They need to be able to measure, cut wood, and know what types of wood to use in what circumstances. They also need to be familiar with tools and not be afraid of physical labor.
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Average Annual Salary: $53,000
Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical systems in buildings. That means it involves working behind the drywall and spending a lot of time in basements. It’s a skilled trade, meaning that there’s a long training period before being considered a full-fledged electrician.
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Average Annual Salary: $47,000
Despite the name, if you have this job, you don’t simply install HVAC systems (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning); you also repair and replace them. An HVAC installer is an expert in the system, meaning that they can read blueprints, are familiar with the best layouts for the system, and are excellent at working with their hands.
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Average Annual Salary: $54,000
Besides the electrical system, plumbing is arguably the most important system in a building. Water damage can be catastrophic and extremely expensive, meaning that proper plumbing is a must.
Like all skilled tradespeople, plumbers are trained via an apprenticeship or a vocational school and must be licensed. You have to be willing to spend a lot of time in basements, crawlspaces, and dealing with parts of a house that most people would prefer to pretend don’t exist.
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Average Annual Salary: $43,000
Masons work with mortar and different types of blocks for construction. It can be stone, brick, concrete, or even marble. There is a high level of overlap between a mason, a stonemason, and a bricklayer, with some differentiating between them and others not.
It’s a physically demanding job that requires practice and knowledge of tools and different types of materials and mortars.
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Average Annual Salary: $30,000
Drywall is used in most new construction to cover up the bones of the house and seal in the insulation. A drywall hanger has to be able to cut drywall to spec, cut out holes for electrical outlets, and properly affix it in place. It’s another very physical job that requires precision and training.
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Average Annual Salary: $34,000
Once the walls are finished being put up, someone has to paint them. Painters are experts in different types of paints and painting tools, such as brushes, paint thinners, rollers, and painter’s tape. It involves being on and around ladders on a regular basis and doing a lot of reaching over your head, meaning that it requires physical fitness.
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Average Annual Salary: $41,000
Construction projects involve a number of pieces of heavy equipment, from excavators to bulldozers to backhoes. Different machines require licenses, and many employers would prefer you have more than one.
Excavators are big machines used to move the earth and other obstructions, followed by smoothing and compacting the surface afterward. Experience in construction is preferred but not required.
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Average Annual Salary: $35,000
Roofers do exactly what it sounds like. They put the roof on the building. Most houses have shingles, but rooves can also be made of copper, slate, or terracotta, among other things.
Roofers spend a lot of their workday up on the roof of buildings, meaning that they have to deal with heights, pitched rooves, and heat. They have to know about different materials and the best way to install them.
Many of these trades will allow you to acquire experience in the industry and then be able to move on to another position. However, gaining experience in your chosen field will also lead to better compensation and more contacts.
So whether you choose to remain, say, a carpenter or use your experience in carpentry to move on to something else, starting there is a good way to get into the industry.
Why Choose a Career in Home Building?
Home building is a complicated industry with many different potential career paths. However, most of the jobs in the field have certain things in common. Here are some traits to consider if you’re looking to get a career in home building:
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You like to make things. Even if you aren’t directly involved in the construction, you still get to see houses come together. When it’s finished, there is physical proof of your labors.
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Details don’t escape your notice. Whether you’re drawing up the plans for a house, selecting the right building material, or making sure that you’re cutting the sheet of drywall to the right size, details are important.
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You work well with a team. Even the more solitary professions in the home building require working with others. Building a house is a big endeavor, requiring several different types of experts to make sure it’s done properly. You have to be able to work as a team and take instructions from others who are knowledgeable in areas you aren’t.
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You like being outdoors. Many home building jobs require being outside to work on the construction project. And even those that don’t will often require you to go out to survey the progress. Meaning you have to be willing and able to spend large parts of the day outdoors.
If the above qualities describe you, then this is absolutely a sector that you should consider starting a career in.
Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Home Building
Several of the career paths in the home building don’t require a diploma, but if you’re looking to get one, here are some suggestions:
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Architecture. This is great if you want to be an architect. Even if you don’t, knowledge of architecture will benefit you in the majority of home-building jobs.
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Architectural Engineering. This is great if you want to be an architectural engineer. However, this degree will also help you with many other jobs in the field.
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Interior Architecture. This is focused more on the interior of the building than the entire building, so it’s great for interior design or space planners. However, knowing about the interior also helps with various other finishing jobs in the building.
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Construction Engineering. This is great if you want to be a construction engineer or understand the mechanics of construction as a whole.
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Construction Management. This is aimed at those already working in construction but want to move up into a management position. It isn’t necessary to have construction experience for this degree, but having knowledge of the lower-level positions generally makes you a better manager.
If you want to be a skilled tradesperson, you need to be licensed. Most of them are also bonded, which is a special sort of insurance. Training and license are required for these trades:
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Carpenter
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Electrician
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Plumber
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Mason
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Roofer
If you want to operate heavy machinery, you also need to have the appropriate training and licensing, depending on the machine.
What Do People Working in Home Building Do?
People working in home building build houses. Home building is a varied field, though a lot of careers in it involve working with your hands.
Building houses is both a science and an art, as the building has to be structurally sound and all the interior systems have to work properly (plumbing, climate control, electoral system), but it also has to be inviting and fit into a price range.
Like most job sectors, the duties vary depending on where you are in the hierarchy and process. You can either be involved in the building, doing carpentry, hanging drywall, or installing the HVAC system.
Or you can manage the project, making sure everything is getting done on time and within budget. In that case, you’re also responsible for making sure that different groups are communicating with one another and getting the materials they need.
On the other end, you can be part of the planning and design process. The architect draws up the plans, which are then checked to ensure that they’re safe, accurate, and approved before being sent out.
Whatever part of the process you’re in, you end up helping to build a house. And there’s something to be said for that.
Author
Di has been a writer for more than half her life. Most of her writing so far has been fiction, and she’s gotten short stories published in online magazines Kzine and Silver Blade, as well as a flash fiction piece in the Bookends review. Di graduated from Mary Baldwin College (now University) with a degree in Psychology and Sociology.
