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Occupation Categories
Construction and Extraction
 

Category: Construction and Extraction

These occupations focus on constructing or repairing buildings, roads or bridges, or digging in the earth. Examples include Carpenters, Plumbers, Highway Maintenance Workers, and Drill Operators.

Subcategories

Construction Trades Workers

Boilermakers 47-2011.00
Construct, assemble, maintain, and repair stationary steam boilers and boiler house auxiliaries. Align structures or plate sections to assemble boiler frame tanks or vats, following blueprints. Work involves use of hand and power tools, plumb bobs, levels, wedges, dogs, or turnbuckles. Assist in testing assembled vessels. Direct cleaning of boilers and boiler furnaces. Inspect and repair boiler fittings, such as safety valves, regulators, automatic-control mechanisms, water columns, and auxiliary machines.

Brickmasons and Blockmasons 47-2021.00
Lay and bind building materials, such as brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and terra-cotta block, with mortar and other substances to construct or repair walls, partitions, arches, sewers, and other structures.

Carpenters 47-2031.00
Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation. Includes brattice builders who build doors or brattices (ventilation walls or partitions) in underground passageways to control the proper circulation of air through the passageways and to the working places.

Carpet Installers 47-2041.00
Lay and install carpet from rolls or blocks on floors. Install padding and trim flooring materials.

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers 47-2051.00
Smooth and finish surfaces of poured concrete, such as floors, walks, sidewalks, roads, or curbs using a variety of hand and power tools. Align forms for sidewalks, curbs, or gutters; patch voids; use saws to cut expansion joints.

Construction Trades Workers, Continued

Construction Carpenters 47-2031.01
Construct, erect, install, and repair structures and fixtures of wood, plywood, and wallboard, using carpenter's hand tools and power tools.

Construction Laborers 47-2061.00
Perform tasks involving physical labor at building, highway, and heavy construction projects, tunnel and shaft excavations, and demolition sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, clean up rubble and debris, and remove asbestos, lead, and other hazardous waste materials. May assist other craft workers.

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers 47-2081.00
Apply plasterboard or other wallboard to ceilings or interior walls of buildings. Apply or mount acoustical tiles or blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing materials to ceilings and walls of buildings to reduce or reflect sound. Materials may be of decorative quality. Includes lathers who fasten wooden, metal, or rockboard lath to walls, ceilings or partitions of buildings to provide support base for plaster, fire-proofing, or acoustical material.

Electricians 47-2111.00
Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.

Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles 47-2042.00
Apply blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings to floors.

Construction Trades Workers, Continued

Floor Sanders and Finishers 47-2043.00
Scrape and sand wooden floors to smooth surfaces using floor scraper and floor sanding machine, and apply coats of finish.

Glaziers 47-2121.00
Install glass in windows, skylights, store fronts, and display cases, or on surfaces, such as building fronts, interior walls, ceilings, and tabletops.

Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall 47-2131.00
Line and cover structures with insulating materials. May work with batt, roll, or blown insulation materials.

Insulation Workers, Mechanical 47-2132.00
Apply insulating materials to pipes or ductwork, or other mechanical systems in order to help control and maintain temperature.

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators 47-2073.00
Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.

Construction Trades Workers, Continued

Painters, Construction and Maintenance 47-2141.00
Paint walls, equipment, buildings, bridges, and other structural surfaces, using brushes, rollers, and spray guns. May remove old paint to prepare surface prior to painting. May mix colors or oils to obtain desired color or consistency.

Paperhangers 47-2142.00
Cover interior walls and ceilings of rooms with decorative wallpaper or fabric, or attach advertising posters on surfaces, such as walls and billboards. Duties include removing old materials from surface to be papered.

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators 47-2071.00
Operate equipment used for applying concrete, asphalt, or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways, or equipment used for tamping gravel, dirt, or other materials. Includes concrete and asphalt paving machine operators, form tampers, tamping machine operators, and stone spreader operators.

Pile-Driver Operators 47-2072.00
Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures, such as buildings, bridges, and piers.

Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters 47-2152.01
Lay out, assemble, install, and maintain pipe systems, pipe supports, and related hydraulic and pneumatic equipment for steam, hot water, heating, cooling, lubricating, sprinkling, and industrial production and processing systems.

Construction Trades Workers, Continued

Pipelayers 47-2151.00
Lay pipe for storm or sanitation sewers, drains, and water mains. Perform any combination of the following tasks: grade trenches or culverts, position pipe, or seal joints.

Plasterers and Stucco Masons 47-2161.00
Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. May also set ornamental plaster.

Plumbers 47-2152.02
Assemble, install, and repair pipes, fittings, and fixtures of heating, water, and drainage systems, according to specifications and plumbing codes.

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters 47-2152.00
Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. May install heating and cooling equipment and mechanical control systems.

Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers 47-2171.00
Position and secure steel bars or mesh in concrete forms in order to reinforce concrete. Use a variety of fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, and hand tools.

Construction Trades Workers, Continued

Roofers 47-2181.00
Cover roofs of structures with shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, and related materials. May spray roofs, sidings, and walls with material to bind, seal, insulate, or soundproof sections of structures.

Rough Carpenters 47-2031.02
Build rough wooden structures, such as concrete forms, scaffolds, tunnel, bridge, or sewer supports, billboard signs, and temporary frame shelters, according to sketches, blueprints, or oral instructions.

Sheet Metal Workers 47-2211.00
Fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as ducts, control boxes, drainpipes, and furnace casings. Work may involve any of the following: setting up and operating fabricating machines to cut, bend, and straighten sheet metal; shaping metal over anvils, blocks, or forms using hammer; operating soldering and welding equipment to join sheet metal parts; inspecting, assembling, and smoothing seams and joints of burred surfaces.

Stonemasons 47-2022.00
Build stone structures, such as piers, walls, and abutments. Lay walks, curbstones, or special types of masonry for vats, tanks, and floors.

Structural Iron and Steel Workers 47-2221.00
Raise, place, and unite iron or steel girders, columns, and other structural members to form completed structures or structural frameworks. May erect metal storage tanks and assemble prefabricated metal buildings.

Construction Trades Workers, Continued

Tapers 47-2082.00
Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surface for painting or papering.

Terrazzo Workers and Finishers 47-2053.00
Apply a mixture of cement, sand, pigment, or marble chips to floors, stairways, and cabinet fixtures to fashion durable and decorative surfaces.

Tile and Marble Setters 47-2044.00
Apply hard tile, marble, and wood tile to walls, floors, ceilings, and roof decks.

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Extraction Workers

Continuous Mining Machine Operators 47-5041.00
Operate self-propelled mining machines that rip coal, metal and nonmetal ores, rock, stone, or sand from the face and load it onto conveyors or into shuttle cars in a continuous operation.

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas 47-5011.00
Rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud through drill hole.

Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas 47-5021.00
Operate a variety of drills—such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic—to tap sub-surface water and salt deposits, to remove core samples during mineral exploration or soil testing, and to facilitate the use of explosives in mining or construction. May use explosives. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters 47-5031.00
Place and detonate explosives to demolish structures or to loosen, remove, or displace earth, rock, or other materials. May perform specialized handling, storage, and accounting procedures. Includes seismograph shooters.

Extraction Workers, All Other 47-5099.99
All extraction workers not listed separately.

Extraction Workers, Continued

Helpers—Extraction Workers 47-5081.00
Help extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers, blasters and explosives workers, derrick operators, and mining machine operators, by performing duties of lesser skill. Duties include supplying equipment or cleaning work area.

Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators 47-5042.00
Operate machinery—such as longwall shears, plows, and cutting machines—to cut or channel along the face or seams of coal mines, stone quarries, or other mining surfaces to facilitate blasting, separating, or removing minerals or materials from mines or from the earth's surface.

Mining Machine Operators, All Other 47-5049.99
All mining machine operators not listed separately.

Rock Splitters, Quarry 47-5051.00
Separate blocks of rough dimension stone from quarry mass using jackhammer and wedges.

Roof Bolters, Mining 47-5061.00
Operate machinery to install roof support bolts in underground mine.

Extraction Workers, Continued

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas 47-5012.00
Set up or operate a variety of drills to remove petroleum products from the earth and to find and remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration.

Roustabouts, Oil and Gas 47-5071.00
Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. Perform other tasks as needed.

Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining 47-5013.00
Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells. May also perform similar services in mining exploration operations.

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Helpers, Construction Trades

Helpers, Construction Trades, All Other 47-3019.99
All construction trades helpers not listed separately.

Helpers—Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters 47-3011.00
Help brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, or tile and marble setters by performing duties of lesser skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.

Helpers—Carpenters 47-3012.00
Help carpenters by performing duties of lesser skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.

Helpers—Electricians 47-3013.00
Help electricians by performing duties of lesser skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.

Helpers—Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons 47-3014.00
Help painters, paperhangers, plasterers, or stucco masons by performing duties of lesser skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.

Helpers—Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters 47-3015.00
Help plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, or pipelayers by performing duties of lesser skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.

Helpers—Roofers 47-3016.00
Help roofers by performing duties of lesser skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.

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Other Construction and Related Workers

Construction and Building Inspectors 47-4011.00
Inspect structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations. Inspections may be general in nature or may be limited to a specific area, such as electrical systems or plumbing.

Construction and Related Workers, All Other 47-4099.99
All construction and related workers not listed separately.

Elevator Installers and Repairers 47-4021.00
Assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.

Fence Erectors 47-4031.00
Erect and repair metal and wooden fences and fence gates around highways, industrial establishments, residences, or farms, using hand and power tools.

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers 47-4041.00
Identify, remove, pack, transport, or dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead-based paint, waste oil, fuel, transmission fluid, radioactive materials, contaminated soil, etc. Specialized training and certification in hazardous materials handling or a confined entry permit are generally required. May operate earth-moving equipment or trucks.

Highway Maintenance Workers 47-4051.00
Maintain highways, municipal and rural roads, airport runways, and rights-of-way. Duties include patching broken or eroded pavement, repairing guard rails, highway markers, and snow fences. May also mow or clear brush from along road or plow snow from roadway.

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators 47-4061.00
Lay, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines. Includes ballast cleaning machine operators and road bed tamping machine operators.

Segmental Pavers 47-4091.00
Lay out, cut, and paste segmental paving units. Includes installers of bedding and restraining materials for the paving units.

Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners 47-4071.00
Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or drains. May patch walls and partitions of tank, replace damaged drain tile, or repair breaks in underground piping.

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Supervisors

First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers 47-1011.00
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.

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