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First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

Also called: Construction Foreman, Construction Supervisor, Electrical Supervisor, Roustabout Field Supervisor

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.

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Median pay BLS, 2025$79,920
Openings a year BLS, 2025–3567,000
Typical education to start BLSHigh school diploma or equivalent
AI exposure BLS, Aug 2026 Moderate
Projected job growth BLS, 2025–35 +5.0%

What the data says: AI could halve the time on 6 of its 15 tasks, and jobs are projected to grow 5.0% by 2035. How to think about this →

About this projection

BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”

It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”

On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”

BLS figures cover the broader occupation “First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers”, which includes this one and others.

Recent conditions

  • In 2024, 1.8% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
  • From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 12.8 hires for every 10 job openings in construction, which employs about 78% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.

How to read these

Pay compared with all occupations BLS median wages Pays more than 73% of 825 occupations
lowest-paidhighest-paid

Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates

$61k$110knot published

Median pay in every state
StateMedianMiddle half earnJobs
Alabama$64,120$55,640 to $80,34013,580
Alaska$102,140$81,760 to $126,6802,690
Arizona$78,550$64,670 to $94,15021,550
Arkansas$61,230$50,840 to $75,0406,590
California$97,680$76,740 to $128,69071,750
Colorado$81,230$70,720 to $100,65021,380
Connecticut$92,260$77,960 to $103,7406,980
Delaware$81,100$64,840 to $100,0002,590
District of Columbia$86,520$75,920 to $108,3201,420
Florida$75,790$60,490 to $95,20069,830
Georgia$78,430$61,960 to $95,83026,770
Guam$51,370$46,620 to $59,670610
Hawaii$102,630$84,470 to $121,4902,890
Idaho$75,550$62,260 to $93,4006,730
Illinois$105,750$82,550 to $124,46019,340
Indiana$82,530$67,450 to $99,98016,450
Iowa$78,510$63,900 to $95,9309,660
Kansas$76,780$61,520 to $94,7508,940
Kentucky$73,490$59,390 to $85,1109,620
Louisiana$75,360$59,660 to $90,05014,070
Maine$77,290$63,310 to $93,7203,130
Maryland$78,760$64,270 to $99,34015,400
Massachusetts$97,850$79,960 to $120,33018,330
Michigan$78,180$64,670 to $97,62016,660
Minnesota$97,610$75,790 to $109,77013,580
Mississippi$66,910$54,400 to $82,0407,040
Missouri$87,520$71,650 to $106,04013,330
Montana$76,910$64,150 to $94,3304,350
Nebraska$75,570$61,520 to $91,0306,020
Nevada$81,990$66,660 to $108,4109,680
New Hampshire$81,220$66,780 to $99,1703,590
New Jersey$105,510$79,970 to $131,71016,230
New Mexico$75,130$59,090 to $94,8906,790
New York$95,700$74,920 to $121,86029,600
North Carolina$75,270$61,430 to $89,61032,460
North Dakota$81,370$66,440 to $116,9904,350
Ohio$79,580$65,530 to $96,14023,640
Oklahoma$73,040$55,380 to $95,07011,520
Oregon$103,070$78,410 to $129,1707,890
Pennsylvania$81,540$66,940 to $102,81026,860
Puerto Rico$37,860$34,260 to $45,9005,100
Rhode Island$98,590$76,730 to $122,1102,060
South Carolina$75,350$60,790 to $91,32013,150
South Dakota$77,690$67,400 to $87,7902,360
Tennessee$74,470$59,190 to $93,13017,770
Texas$74,520$58,830 to $89,68090,010
Utah$77,280$63,310 to $94,15014,270
Vermont$82,490$72,780 to $102,1801,010
Virgin Islands$74,210$59,990 to $82,810200
Virginia$78,640$63,010 to $96,15024,970
Washington$109,570$85,790 to $137,92019,550
West Virginia$80,060$62,440 to $103,7705,380
Wisconsin$85,350$68,430 to $102,05015,150
Wyoming$78,250$64,000 to $102,9103,270

Nationally: $79,920. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this

How AI touches the work

What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.

AI could halve the time on 6 of its 15 tasks

0 · AI alone could halve the time 6 · AI + software built on it could 9 · Not much
AI ratingIts main tasks Share of Claude conversations
May 2026
Not much Inspect work progress, equipment, or construction sites to verify safety or to ensure that specifications are met. Not published
Not much Supervise, coordinate, or schedule the activities of construction or extractive workers. Not published
Not much Assign work to employees, based on material or worker requirements of specific jobs. Not published
AI + software Coordinate work activities with other construction project activities. Not published
Not much Read specifications, such as blueprints, to determine construction requirements or to plan procedures. Not published
AI + software Estimate material or worker requirements to complete jobs. 0.01%
See all 15 tasks
Not much Order or requisition materials or supplies. Not published
AI + software Analyze worker or production problems and recommend solutions, such as improving production methods or implementing motivational plans. Not published
AI + software Confer with managerial or technical personnel, other departments, or contractors to resolve problems or to coordinate activities. Not published
Not much Locate, measure, and mark site locations or placement of structures or equipment, using measuring and marking equipment. Not published
Not much Provide assistance to workers engaged in construction or extraction activities, using hand tools or other equipment. Not published
Not much Train workers in construction methods, operation of equipment, safety procedures, or company policies. Not published
AI + software Arrange for repairs of equipment or machinery. Not published
AI + software Record information, such as personnel, production, or operational data on specified forms or reports. 0.01%
Not much Suggest or initiate personnel actions, such as promotions, transfers, or hires. Not published

Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 2 of the 15 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.

Where people already use AI

The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 15 tasks fall under 13 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.

Tasks AI could speed up6 of 15 tasksEloundou et al. ratings (2023)
Its activities among the 50 people ask AI for help with most2 of 13 activities
  • #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
  • #36 Purchase goods or services
Microsoft Copilot (2024), ranked among all 332 activities. The cut-off of 50 is ours.
Work activity This occupation's tasks under it People asked AI for help
in 10,000 conversations		 AI did it for them
in 10,000 conversations
Direct construction or extraction activities 0.06#321 0.03#293
Read documents or materials to inform work processes 197#8 47#28
Purchase goods or services 47#36 0.39#220
Communicate with others about operational plans or activities 9.39#92 28#39
Determine resource needs of projects or operations 6.29#111 2.93#115
Assess characteristics of land or property 3.92#149 1.08#164
Inspect completed work or finished products 3.91#150 1.95#130
Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance 3.59#153 0.73#180
Show all 13 activities
Maintain operational records 2.92#170 0.49#209
Position materials or components for assembly 1.64#208 0.45#213
Train others on operational or work procedures 1.60#211 29#38
Perform general construction or extraction activities 1.25#226 0.15#256
Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment 0.84#245 0.32#232
Task: AI alone Task: AI + software Task: not much #: rank among all 332 activities Microsoft measured (#1 = most common; activities that never came up share last place, shown as “tied”)
Where the two sources differ: “Direct construction or extraction activities” holds 3 tasks rated AI + software, yet people asked AI for help with it in 0.06 of every 10,000 conversations, #321 of 332.

How people in this work use Claude

What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations

  • Data or a spreadsheet22%
  • A document or report22%
  • Math or a calculation11%
  • An analysis or summary8%
  • Advice or a recommendation6%

How they worked with Claude

71% handed the task off29% worked on it together

39% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.

How to read this

Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.

The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.

More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude

High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs

BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.

AI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213 growingModerate151 of 206 growingHigh165 of 206 growingVery high141 of 206 growing11 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Click a dot to see that occupation.First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers: +5.0%First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersAI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213Moderate151 of 206High165 of 206Very high141 of 20611 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Tap a dot.First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers: +5.0%First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

Career moves into and out of this occupation

From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.

Where people moved next

of 64,885 moves out

  1. 1 Construction Managers High +9.1% 14%
  2. 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 11%
  3. 3 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 6%
  4. 4 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 3%
  5. 5 Electricians Moderate +9.2% 3%

Where people moved in from

of 60,402 moves in

  1. 1 Construction Managers High +9.1% 9%
  2. 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 9%
  3. 3 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 5%
  4. 4 Electricians Moderate +9.2% 4%
  5. 5 Carpenters Low +3.9% 3%

Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).

Education and training for the occupation

Education people in it hold

O*NET survey of workers in this occupation

  • 22% less than high school
  • 21% high school
  • 27% postsecondary certificate
  • 8% some college
  • 12% associate's
  • 10% bachelor's

O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 36 people answered.

Census survey (American Community Survey)

  • 18% less than high school
  • 42% high school
  • 22% some college
  • 8% associate's
  • 9% bachelor's
  • 2% master's

Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 6,061 people surveyed.

Why the two can differ

O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide

Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation

Programs that prepare people for it (NCES)
19 programs, such as Construction Trades, General, Mason/Masonry and Carpentry/Carpenter.
See all
  • Construction Trades, General
  • Mason/Masonry
  • Carpentry/Carpenter
  • Electrician
  • Building/Property Maintenance
  • Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher
  • Building/Home/Construction Inspection/Inspector
  • Drywall Installation/Drywaller
  • Glazier
  • Painting/Painter and Wall Coverer
  • Roofer
  • Building/Construction Site Management/Manager
  • Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker
  • Insulator
  • Building Construction Technology/Technician
  • Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter
  • Plumbing Technology/Plumber
  • Well Drilling/Driller
  • Blasting/Blaster

Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023

87.0% this occupation

45.3% all occupations

By kindThis occupationAll occupations
a license14.2%19.1%
a certification11.4%5.8%
an educational certificate<0.5%2.8%

Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this

Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor

These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide

See where your own career could go Start by uploading your resume Browse careers

BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS

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