World
On the top of the
C
areers in construction like carpentry, plumbing, and masonry offer high wages and job security. Skilled craft professionals make $6,000 per year more than recent college graduates, and $300 a week greater than the national average. These jobs require much less time and money to get started than jobs that call for degrees. Many offer on-the-job training or apprenticeships, so workers can get paid while they learn. For those who want
to go to college, engineering and construction management jobs offer even higher salaries. Over the next decade over 50 percent of new jobs in the U.S. will be construction related, but an aging workforce can’t match the number of new jobs. For every four people who stop working their trade, only one person comes in. This means construction workers are going to be more in-demand and well-compensated than ever.
Is a Construction Career Right for You? No Degree? No Problem! High school students interested in construction have many options to help them explore various construction careers and narrow down occupations that
2 Building Excellence January 2015 BE High School Jan15.indd 2-3
interest them. Many high schools offer vocational classes, and some give students options to graduate with certifications in certain skills
Careers in Design and Construction:
Indiana
GET INVOLVED: Explore Construction Careers SkillsUSA SkillsUSA, an organization that provides training in technical, skilled, and service occupations, has 72 local chapters throughout Indiana. These chapters are equipped to expose students to a variety of career options and give them a practical base for pursuing a vocational career. Students interested should visit skillsusaindiana. org to locate a nearby chapter.
ACE Mentor Program The ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) mentor program’s goal is to inspire high school students to pursue careers in construction and design. ACE’s Indiana affiliate gives students from Arsenal Technical High School, Decatur High School, George Washington Community High School, Lawrence Township High Schools at McKenzie Career Center, North Cen-
tral High School, and Pike High School a chance to learn about the wide variety of opportunities available through careers in architecture, engineering and construction. Mentored by local building industry professionals, student teams engage in a program that includes field trips, visits to professional firms and hands-on projects that simulate real-world situations. As a result, students get a practical look at the potential offered by a career in the building industry. They also tour major construction sites to explore the wide range of professional skills needed in today’s dynamic building industry. Through these experiences, many students make valuable contacts that can help them along their personal educational and career paths.Interested students should visit acementor.org for more information.
January 2015 Building Excellence 3 16/12/14 17:40
There are numerous construction careers that don’t require an education beyond high school. These jobs offer competitive wages (an average of $38,190 per year) and are in high demand. Online research can help Occupation
you find companies in your community that offer the types of positions listed below:
Job Description
Going Beyond
High School
2012 Median Pay
Less Than High School Education Required Construction Laborers and Helpers
Construction laborers and helpers perform many basic tasks that require physical labor on construction sites.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers
Drywall and ceiling tile installers hang wallboards to walls and ceilings and install ceiling tile inside buildings. Tapers prepare the wallboards for painting, using tape and other materials. Many workers do both installing and taping.
$37,920
Insulation workers install and replace the materials used to insulate buildings to help control and maintain the temperatures in buildings.
$35,940
Painters, Construction and Maintenance
Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls, buildings, bridges, and other structures.
Roofers
Insulation Workers
Tile and Marble Setters
$29,160
Many construction jobs are easily attained with little education, so there is almost no barrier to entering the workforce. However, with a projected need for nearly 2 million more skilled laborers by 2017 according to the Construction Labor Market Analyzer, developing a trade skill, like carpentry or masonry, can set someone apart and help them achieve success. Apprenticeships are a common method of gaining professional certification, as are programs at trade schools.
Brickmasons, Blockmasons, and Stonemasons
Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons use bricks, concrete blocks, and natural and manmade stones to build fences, walkways, walls, and other structures.
$44,950
Carpenters
Carpenters construct and repair building frameworks and structures—such as stairways, doorframes, partitions, and rafters—made from wood and other materials. They also may install kitchen cabinets, siding, and drywall.
$39,940
Electricians
Electricians install and maintain electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems in homes, businesses, and factories.
$49,840
Elevator Install- Elevator installers and repairers install, fix, and ers and Repair- maintain elevators, escalators, moving walkways, ers and other lifts.
$76,650
$35,190
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair pipes that carry liquids or gases to and in businesses, homes, and factories.
$49,140
Roofers repair and install the roofs of buildings using a variety of materials, including shingles, asphalt, and metal.
$35,290
Sheet Metal Workers
Sheet metal workers fabricate or install products that are made from thin metal sheets, such as ducts used for heating and air conditioning.
$43,290
Tile and marble setters apply hard tile and marble to walls, floors, and other surfaces.
$37,040
Construction and building inspectors ensure that construction meets local and national building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications.
• Indiana Plan: Indiana Plan is a
$53,450
• $40,980
• $37,590
Solar photovoltaic (PV) installers, often called Solar Photovoltaic PV installers, assemble, install, or maintain soInstallers lar panel systems on roofs or other structures.
$37,900
Surveying and mapping technicians assist surveyors, cartographers, and photogrammetrists. Together, they collect data and make maps of the earth’s surface. Surveying technicians visit sites to take measurements of the land. Mapping technicians use geographic data to create maps.
$39,670
•
(Information from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
•
4 Building Excellence January 2015 BE High School Jan15.indd 4-5
$35,830
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
Statewide
pre-apprenticeship program that prepares participants to join and succeed in a construction apprenticeship program. Visit indianaplan.org for more information. IN Training: IN Training lets you search for apprenticeships and training options by keyword. Visit in.gov/dwd to find a program matching your needs. ABC Indy: Offers training in carpentry, construction craft labor, concrete finishing, electrical, electronic systems technician, HVAC, insulation, heavy equipment operation, painting, pipefitting, roofing, and sheet metal. Training centers In Indiana are located in Indianapolis, Muncie, Fort Wayne, Elkhart, Lafayette, Logansport, and Columbus. Visit abcindianakentucky.org for more information. Indiana Construction Association: ICA lists union apprenticeship programs available throughout the state of Indiana, including those for carpenters, ironworkers, operating engineers, plasterers, and cement masons. Visit indianaconstructors.org for a full list. Top Notch: Top Notch provides information on a number of apprenticeships, from boilermakers to sheet metal workers, and gives contact information for the listed apprenticeship programs. Visit topnotch.org for a directory of their apprenticeships.
Bloomington
• Indiana University: IU offers
four-year apprenticeships for employment in the following crafts: carpenter, electrician, elevator mechanic, heating mechanic, plumber, refrigeration mechanic, and sheet metal mechanic. Visit iu.edu/~phyplant/ for more information.
programs and scholarships for these positions. Visit aedfoundation.org for more information. A look at some of the more common conOccupation
struction occupations that require some education beyond high school shows the median income for this level attainment to be more than $46,100 per year.
Job Description
2012 Median Pay
Associate's Degree Required
Cement masons pour, smooth, and finish conCement Masons crete floors, sidewalks, roads, and curbs. Using a and Terrazzo cement mixture, terrazzo workers create durable Workers and decorative surfaces for floors and stairways.
$37,610
Hazardous materials removal workers identify and dispose of asbestos, radioactive and nuclear waste, arsenic, lead, and other hazardous materials. They also neutralize and clean up materials that are flammable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic.
Surveying and Mapping Technicians
2012 Median Pay
Apprenticeship Required
Apprenticeships For those not interested in higher education, apprenticeships are a great way to learn skills necessary for a certain occupation while also earning wages. Apprenticeships typically consist of a three to five year mix of onthe-job and classroom training. Once training is complete apprentices receive professional certification as journeymen. Below is a list of apprenticeship programs in Indiana along with some tools to find the right one.
Job Description
Glaziers install windows, skylights, and other glass products in storefronts and buildings.
Construction equipment operators drive, maConstruction neuver, or control the heavy machinery used to Equipment Operaconstruct roads, bridges, buildings, and other tors structures. Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Occupation
not enough skilled workers to fill the void in the industry. The AED Foundation, which is an affiliate of Associated Equipment Distributors, provides conferences,
Glaziers
High School Diploma or Equivalent Required Construction and Building Inspectors
Another career, which does not require a four-year degree, is a heavy construction technician or mechanic. These positions are currently in high-demand as there are
Structural iron and steel workers install iron or Structural Iron steel beams, girders, and columns to form buildand Steel Workings, bridges, and other structures. They are comers monly referred to as ironworkers.
$46,140
Civil Engineering Technicians
Civil engineering technicians help civil engineers plan and design the construction of highways, bridges, utilities, and other major infrastructure projects. They also help with commercial, residential, and land development. Civil engineering technicians work under the direction of licensed civil engineers.
$47,560
Drafters
Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings and plans. Workers specialize in architectural, civil, electrical, or mechanical drafting and use technical drawings to help design everything from microchips to skyscrapers.
$49,630
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians
Electrical and electronics engineering technicians help engineers design and develop computers, communications equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment, and other electrical and electronic equipment. They often work in product evaluation and testing, using measuring and diagnostic devices to adjust, test, and repair equipment.
$57,850
Electro-mechanical technicians combine knowledge of mechanical technology with knowledge Electro-meof electrical and electronic circuits. They install, chanical Technitroubleshoot, repair, and upgrade electronic and cians computer-controlled mechanical systems, such as robotic assembly machines.
$51,820
Environmental Engineering Technicians
Environmental engineering technicians carry out the plans that environmental engineers develop. They test, operate, and, if necessary, modify equipment used to prevent or clean up environmental pollution. They may collect samples for testing, or they may work to mitigate sources of environmental pollution.
$45,350
Mechanical Engineering Technicians
Mechanical engineering technicians help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture mechanical devices, including tools, engines, and machines. They may make sketches and rough layouts, record and analyze data, make calculations and estimates, and report their findings.
$51,980
(Information from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Indianapolis
• Electrical Training Institute:
The Electrical Training Institute offers apprenticeships and the ability to earn an Associate’s Degree from Ivy Tech Community College. Visit electricaltraininginstitute.org for more information.
Lafayette
• Lafayette Electrical joint Ap-
prenticeship and Training Committee: This program offers an electrical apprenticeship. Visit lejatc.com for more information.
South Bend • Joint
Apprenticeship and Training Committee: This group offers three programs: inside wireman, telecommunications installer/technician, and residential wireman. Visit jatc153.com to apply.
> BUILDING EXCELLENCE MEDIA Publisher Gary Price GPrice@BuildingEX.com
Editorial Director Britt Liford BLiford@BuildingEX.com
Contact Us 1028 Shelby Street Indianapolis, IN 46203 (t) 317.423.2325 (f) 317.638.0047
President John White JWhite@BuildingEX.com
Operations Director Peggy Cunningham PCunningham@BuildingEX.com
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Building Excellence takes care to insure the accuracy of the material presented herein, but is not responsible for clerical or printer’s errors. Copyright 2015 by Building Excellence Media, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.
January 2015 Building Excellence 5 16/12/14 17:40
Getting your Degree Those who attend college tend to make a lot more than those whithout a degree. Based upon U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2012 media pay for the construction related occupations listed in this report, college educated professionals averaged more than $77,300 per year. That same year, the average salary Occupation
for workers with a high school degree or less was $39,194 and those with apprenticeships or associates degrees earned $46,109. That is a difference of more than $30,000 a year in both cases – an amount that could be used to quickly erase an accumulated debt from student loans.
Job Description
2012 Median Pay
Bachelor's Degree Required Architects plan and design houses, office buildArchitects ings, and other structures. Civil engineers design, construct, supervise, operate, and maintain large construction projCivil Engineers ects and systems, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment. Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical Electrical Engiequipment, such as electric motors, radar and neers navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment. Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemisEnvironmental try to develop solutions to environmental probEngineers lems. They are involved in efforts to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water and air pollution control. Health and safety engineers develop procedures and design systems to prevent people from getting sick or injured and to keep property from Health and Safety being damaged. They combine knowledge of Engineers systems engineering and of health and safety to make sure that chemicals, machinery, software, furniture, and other consumer products will not cause harm to people or buildings. Landscape architects plan and design land areas Landscape Archifor parks, recreational facilities, private homes, tects campuses, and other open spaces. Marine engineers and naval architects design, build, and maintain ships from aircraft carriers to submarines, from sailboats to tankers. Marine and Naval Marine engineers work on the mechanical Architects systems, such as propulsion and steering. Naval architects work on the basic design, including the form and stability of hulls. Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers Mechanical Engidesign, develop, build, and test mechanical and neers thermal devices, including tools, engines, and machines. Mining and geological engineers design mines Mining and Geofor the safe and efficient removal of minerals logical Engineers such as coal and metals for manufacturing and utilities. Surveyors make precise measurements to determine property boundaries. They provide Surveyors data relevant to the shape and contour of the Earth’s surface for engineering, mapmaking, and construction projects.
GET INVOLVED: Apply for Scholarships 6 Building Excellence January 2015 BE High School Jan15.indd 6-7
$29,160
$37,920
$35,940
$35,190
$35,290
$37,040
$53,450
$40,980
$37,590
$37,900
Don’t Break the Bank Going to college can be expensive but shouldn’t be out of reach for anyone. Student loans, grants, work-study programs or military service commitments can mitigate a large portion of the upfront costs. Scholarships are like free money. In most cases the application consists of a short form and essay. Many associations report that they don’t have enough applicants to award Organization
Amount
all of their scholarship dollars. Taking the time to apply for a scholarship can reduce the amount of loans needed to attend college. Listed below are a sample of the scholarships offered to those who are pursuing degrees in construction or construction-related fields. In addition to these, nearly every college offers their own scholarships, which are frequently posted on their websites.
Requirements Must have successfully completed at least one year of an associate or bachelor degree program in construction and be an active member of their school’s ABC chapter if they have one
Due Date
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)
$500$2000
Associated General Contractors of America (AGC of America)
$2500 for undergraduates, $3750 for graduate students
Applicants must have successfully completed at least one year of a two or four-year construction or constructionrelated engineering degree program with a GPA of at least 2.0
$1,000$4,000
Must be an ACE student in Indiana.
$3,000$10,000
ASHRAE offers a variety of scholarships, both for graduating high school seniors and for those already in college. All require applicants to have at least a 3.0/4.0 GPA and be in the top 30 percent of their class
May 1, December 1
Varies
Applicants should be juniors or seniors at IU Kelly School of Business with a major in finance or accounting and a demonstrated interest in the construction industry
March 1
$500$4000
Applicants must be an Indiana resident attending an Indiana college pursuing a February 21 design or construction related degree
Up to $4000
Applicants must have a GPA of at least 2.5
Late February
$1500$5000
Applicants must be undergraduates (two or four year program) or graduate students enrolled in facility management or FM related programs
May 20
$5000
Applicants must be enrolled in a two or four-year program and have completed February 15 at least a quarter of their studies with at least a 3.0 GPA
$500$2500
Applicants must be currently enrolled in a degree in a construction-related field with at least a 3.0 GPA
ACE Mentor Program (Indianapolis) American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and AirConditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) Indianapolis Chapter Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Indiana Construction Association (ICA) International Facility Management Association (IFMA) International Society of Automation (ISA) National Association of Women in Engineering (NAWIC)
Society for Marketing Professional $1000 Services of Indiana (SMPS)
Applicants must be undergraduates enrolled in an Indiana college or university majoring in marketing, public relations, management, or communications, and are interested in the Architectural, Engineering, or Construction industries
June 1
Early November
February 28
April 15
January 2015 Building Excellence 7 16/12/14 17:40