Career comparison
Construction Laborer vs. Refractory Repairer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Refractory repairers earn more at the median ($61,290 vs. $47,120), while construction laborers usually get to work faster (Days to weeks (on the job) of training). Construction laborers prepare sites, move materials, pour concrete and support every trade on the job. Refractory repairers reline and repair furnaces, kilns and boilers with heat-resistant materials.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Construction Laborer | Refractory Repairer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $47,120 ($22.66/hr) | $61,290 ($29.47/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $35,090 – $78,090 | $40,590 – $86,510 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.3% (much faster than average) | -13.7% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 120,000 | 100 |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | Days to weeks (on the job) | Several months on the job |
| Key credential | OSHA 10-Hour Construction | Confined space training |
| Work setting | Laborers work outdoors in all kinds of weather on construction sites, roadways and demolition projects. | Repairers work inside furnaces, kilns and boilers in heavy industry.. |
What each job does
Construction Laborer
- Prepare and clean job sites, removing debris and hazards
- Load, unload and move building materials
- Dig, backfill and compact trenches and foundations
- Mix, pour and spread concrete and asphalt
- Erect and dismantle scaffolding, barricades and forms
Refractory Repairer
- Inspect refractory linings
- Tear out worn material
- Install brick and castable
- Spray or gun refractory
- Repair furnace doors and seals
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, and teamwork. They sit in different fields, skilled trades & construction and mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing, but share transferable skills such as reliability and punctuality and stamina.
Which should you choose?
Choose construction laborer if…
- I like physical work and staying active all day
- I don’t mind getting dirty or working in bad weather
- I want to start working right away
Choose refractory repairer if…
- I like heavy work
- I don’t mind heat and dust
- I can work in tight spaces
Still torn? Take the Construction Laborer fit quiz and the Refractory Repairer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, construction laborer or refractory repairer?
Refractory Repairers earn more at the median: $61,290 versus $47,120 for construction laborers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Construction Laborers typically train faster (Days to weeks (on the job)) than refractory repairers (Several months on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects construction laborers to grow +7.3% from 2025–35, compared with -13.7% for refractory repairers.