Nebraska Career Information System

Architecture and Construction Career Cluster

Level of Education and Earnings

The training and education requirements to work in the occupations in the Architecture and Construction cluster depend on the pathway and the type of work performed. Some occupations require less than a month of on-the-job training; however, some urban and regional planners require a masters degree.

The information provided in the table below, presents the level of education or training required to work in the occupations and the national and Nebraska annual median wages. Note that some occupations may have more than one required level of education because the type of work performed may vary in specific jobs.

Check the related programs of study to explore the educational programs that would prepare you to work in this cluster.

Earnings for people working in some of the occupations in this career cluster can vary greatly during the year, depending on the season, because some jobs in these occupations are part time or seasonal. For construction workers, earnings can vary from month to month. This may be because they cannot work during the cold winter weather.

Also, keep in mind that there are non-wage benefits that workers receive. These types of benefits are health insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, and retirement plans. It is important to consider these benefits when you are looking at pay. Some benefits, such as health care, are worth a lot of money. You should carefully weigh a job that pays well but does not have many benefits against one that has good benefits and lower pay. Remember, how much an occupation pays is only one factor to consider when making career choices.

The information provided below lists the level of education or training most commonly required to work in the occupations in this cluster. Some employers might prefer to hire people with more education, training, or experience.

	National Annual Median Wage		Nebraska Annual Median Wage
Short-Term On-the-Job Training (Less than One Month)
Construction Helpers	$21,740	$21,448
Electrician Helpers	$23,090	$22,930
Janitors	$18,250	$17,800
Landscapers and Groundskeepers	$23,240	$21,440
Moderate-Term On-the-Job Training (One to Twelve Months)
Bulldozer and Grader Operators	$35,240	$30,400
Construction and Well Drillers	$32,490	$27,670
Tapers	$39,000	$35,960
Drywall Installers	$33,710	$33,190
Fence Builders	$22,160	$20,160
Floor and Carpet Installers	$33,090	$36,465
Floor Sanders and Finishers	$27,500	$25,110
Construction Workers	$24,740	$21,700
General Maintenance and Repair Workers	$29,400	$26,660
Hazardous Material Workers	$56,900	$60,605
Highway Maintenance Workers	$28,390	$26,220
Insulation Workers	$28,930	$24,790
Landscapers and Groundskeepers	$23,240	$21,440
Painters	$29,070	$28,240
Paving Equipment Operators	$28,860	$27,840
Pest Control Workers	$24,760	$21,370
Pipelayers	$34,470	$31,580
Roofers	$30,180	$25,730
Septic Tank Services and Sewer Pipe Cleaners	$27,940	$27,460
Sheet Metal Workers	$34,560	$38,690
Structural Metal Workers	$35,340	$27,670
Surveying and Mapping Technicians	$29,230	$28,850
Wallpaper Hangers	$31,650	$26,720
Long-Term On-the-Job Training (Over One Year)
Boilermakers	$42,000	$34,980
Bricklayers and Stonemasons	$37,940	$36,545
Cabinetmakers	$24,000	$25,770
Carpenters	$34,190	$30,160
Concrete Finishers	$30,660	$26,790
Electricians	$41,390	$36,340
Elevator Installers and Repairers	$51,600	$51,813
Construction Workers	$29,370	$26,660
Glaziers	$31,620	$30,560
Heating and Cooling System Mechanics	$34,900	$30,310
Line Installers and Repairers	$44,090	$40,260
Pipelayers	$34,470	$31,580
Plasterers	$33,100	$40,250
Plumbers and Pipefitters	$40,170	$36,660
Structural Metal Workers	$35,340	$27,670
Tile Setters	$35,770	$32,560
Postsecondary Vocational Training (Certificate or Diploma)
Drafters	$39,720	$34,870
Bachelor's Degree
Architects	$56,620	$56,060
Construction Managers	$63,500	$58,530
Cost Estimators	$47,550	$42,090
Interior Designers	$39,180	$33,110
Landscape Architects	$47,400	$45,100
Surveyors	$39,970	$34,560