• Reading and interpreting blueprints, plans, and diagrams
• Using and maintaining hand and power tools
• Planning and building foundations, including staking out excavation site, excavating, calculating volume of concrete required, and pouring cement
• Constructing roofing systems, including establishing locations of attic access and lift trusses
• Performing plumbing work, from rough in of plumbing to installing sinks/drains
• Roughing in housing frame; performing basic welding; building and installing stairways
• Landscaping sites, which may involve applying finishing grades and top soils
• May manage projects, including setting timelines, supervising work, and sub-contracting

• Secondary school diploma is required
• While not mandatory, completion of 4,000-hour apprenticeship, including 480 in-school theory hours, is recommended

• Full-time (35-40 hrs); may work project-by-project or for construction company
• Indoor and outdoor work; may be exposed to variety of weather conditions and noise
• Must be willing to travel to where work is
• Employers include residential developers, construction firms, and contractors

Apprentice wage increases with skills and expertise. Fully qualified workers earn an average of $14.00 per hour, though supervisors and forepersons can earn significantly more.