Career comparison
Construction Laborer vs. Roustabout
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Construction laborers earn more at the median ($47,120 vs. $46,960), 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. Roustabouts build, maintain and repair oil and gas sites and equipment.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Construction Laborer | Roustabout | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $47,120 ($22.66/hr) | $46,960 ($22.58/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $35,090 – $78,090 | $36,420 – $64,530 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.3% (much faster than average) | +3.6% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 120,000 | 4,100 |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | Days to weeks (on the job) | 1–3 months |
| Key credential | OSHA 10-Hour Construction | SafeLand USA |
| Work setting | Laborers work outdoors in all kinds of weather on construction sites, roadways and demolition projects. | Roustabouts work outdoors at well sites, tank batteries and yards, often in remote areas and harsh weather.. |
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
Roustabout
- Assemble and repair oilfield equipment
- Lay and repair pipelines
- Dig and backfill trenches
- Clean tanks and equipment
- Load and unload materials
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, working outdoors, and teamwork. They sit in different fields, skilled trades & construction and energy & utilities, 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 roustabout if…
- I want to start without experience
- I don’t mind hard physical work
- I like working outdoors
Still torn? Take the Construction Laborer fit quiz and the Roustabout fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, construction laborer or roustabout?
Construction Laborers earn more at the median: $47,120 versus $46,960 for roustabouts, 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 roustabouts (1–3 months).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects construction laborers to grow +7.3% from 2025–35, compared with +3.6% for roustabouts.