Career comparison
Construction Laborer vs. Welder
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Welders earn more at the median ($53,750 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. Welders join and cut metal with MIG, TIG and stick welding for construction and manufacturing.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Construction Laborer | Welder | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $47,120 ($22.66/hr) | $53,750 ($25.84/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $35,090 – $78,090 | $39,240 – $77,530 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.3% (much faster than average) | +2.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 120,000 | 40,300 |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | Days to weeks (on the job) | 3–18 months |
| Key credential | OSHA 10-Hour Construction | AWS Certified Welder |
| Work setting | Laborers work outdoors in all kinds of weather on construction sites, roadways and demolition projects. | Welders work in fabrication shops, factories, shipyards, construction sites and refineries, sometimes outdoors or at heights. |
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
Welder
- Read blueprints, specifications and weld symbols
- Prepare, clean and fit metal parts
- Set up welding equipment and select processes and settings
- Weld components in flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead positions
- Cut metal with oxy-fuel or plasma torches
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, and working outdoors. Both are part of the skilled trades & construction field, so many skills transfer between them.
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 welder if…
- I like making things with my hands
- I have a steady hand and patience for precise work
- Heat, sparks and noise don’t bother me
Still torn? Take the Construction Laborer fit quiz and the Welder fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, construction laborer or welder?
Welders earn more at the median: $53,750 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 welders (3–18 months).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects construction laborers to grow +7.3% from 2025–35, compared with +2.4% for welders.