YOUTH PROGRAMS

Other Recommended Education: Keyboarding, computer courses, bookkeeping and business knowledge of construction.

Training Options: High school, vocational school, one or two-year technical or business degree or on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $9.64
Average Starting Salary: $20,050

Median Salary Range: $25,350 - $39,440

Paid Benefits: Can include retirement, health and life insurance, paid vacation and sick time.

Promotion Potential: Advancements include more responsibility and could lead to supervisory, executive or personal assistant positions.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: An administrative assistant's duties vary greatly, but can include writing, typing, organizing, filing, copying, and excellent telephone and interpersonal communication skills.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: As an entry-level position, administrative professionals are in high demand.  Job opportunities should be best for applicants with extensive knowledge of software applications.

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Other Recommended Education: Computer science (data structures and systems), engineering, accounting, business classes and math.

Training Options: Two or four-year degree (computer science, engineering or math), specialized schools and on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $20.06
Average Starting Salary: $41,710

Median Salary Range: $54,850 - $92,510

Paid Benefits: Can include retirement, health and life insurance, paid vacation and sick time.

Promotion Potential: Competition is high due to the constant need to update educational training and stay ahead of technology changes. Individuals that do advance may become a systems analyst or reach managerial positions.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Programmers tell the computer how to get a job done. They write, test and maintain the detailed instructions - called programs or software - that list in logical order the steps computers must execute to perform their functions.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Workplace technology will make a programmer's job very important, so the position should grow quickly. A growing number are employed on a temporary or contract basis.

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Suggested High School Courses: Reading, math, science and computer courses.

Other Recommended Education: Blueprint reading, accounting, finance, economics, statistics and business knowledge of construction.

Training Options: Two-year or four-year degree (civil engineering, construction management or drafting) or on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $16.59
Average Starting Salary: $34,510

Median Salary Range: $44,370 - $76,360

Paid Benefits: Can include retirement, health and life insurance, paid vacation and sick time.

Promotion Potential: An advancement in estimating usually means higher pay and prestige, but could include a management position.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Estimators develop cost information for owners or managers to use in making bids for contracts. They compile and analyze data that influence costs - like materials, labor and location.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Growth of the construction industry is the driving force behind estimator demands. Prospects will be best for those with an advanced degree.

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Suggested High School Courses: Reading, math, science and shop class.

Other Recommended Education: Leadership and communication skills, human resources and management knowledge, safety training, and a thorough knowledge of construction methods.

Training Options: High school, vocational school, on-the-job training or a four-year technical degree (construction management or engineering).

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $17.72
Average Starting Salary: $36,850

Median Salary Range: $46,080 - $75,490

Paid Benefits: Can include retirement, health and life insurance, paid vacation and sick time, company truck and tools, and cellular phone.

Promotion Potential: Superintendents may become a project or operations manager, general superintendent, or take on other supervisory positions.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Superintendents make sure workers, equipment and materials are used properly to maximize productivity. They create work schedules, keep records, monitor employees and organize workers' activities.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Opportunities for superintendents should rise along with employment of the construction workers they supervise.

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Other Recommended Education: Blueprint reading, recordkeeping, surveying, drafting, business law, safety training and a thorough knowledge of construction materials and practices.

Training Options: Two or four-year degree, the military, specialized institutes and on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $15.42
Average Starting Salary: $32,080

Median Salary Range: $41,050 - $67,640

Paid Benefits: Can include retirement, health and life insurance, company car, cellular phone, paid vacation and sick time.

Promotion Potential: Inspectors usually begin by inspecting less complex types of construction. Advancements include pay and responsibility increases, supervisory roles and inspecting larger, more complex construction jobs.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Inspectors examine the construction or repair of buildings, highways and other structures to be sure they are in compliance with local and federal building codes and safety regulations.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: The demand for inspectors is expected to grow faster than the average for all jobs, due to the growing concern for public safety and health, and the quality of construction.

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Other Recommended Education: Communication, liberal arts, building design, computer courses and drafting.

Training Options: Two or four-year degree, vocational school, specialized art institute or on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $13.09
Average Starting Salary: $27,230

Median Salary Range: $35,320 - $65,960

Paid Benefits: Can include retirement, health and life insurance, paid vacation and sick time.

Promotion Potential: The entry-level interior designer works on simple designs, and promotions could lead to a principal designer position. This involves more responsibility and greater complexity of interior designs.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Interior designers design and draw physical solutions for building interiors. They choose fabrics, paints, stone and other interior surfaces, and work with space and placement of objects.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Demand for interior designers has lessened with the increase of design/build contractors, so large growth in the field is not expected. A large percentage are self-employed.

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Other Recommended Education: Building science and management, construction work experience, blueprint reading, computer courses and safety training.

Training Options: Two or four-year degree (construction management, architecture or engineering) or on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $24.35
Average Starting Salary: $50,650

Median Salary Range: $64,780 - $112,020

Paid Benefits: Can include retirement, health and life insurance, paid vacation and sick time, company truck and cellular phone.

Promotion Potential: Promotions vary depending upon company size. At a large firm, they may become top-level managers.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Project managers coordinate, supervise, and manage the entire construction process – including people, materials, budgets, schedules and contracts, and the safety of the employees.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Good employment opportunities are expected as construction activity and complexity grows with more spending on the nation's infrastructures and aging buildings.

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Purchasing Agent

Suggested High School Courses: Reading, math, accounting, communication, business and computer courses.

Other Recommended Education: Knowledge of construction materials and advanced computer courses.

Training Options: Four-year degree (engineering, business or economics) and on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $26,77
Average Starting Salary: $55,680

Median Salary Range: $72,910 - $126,240

Paid Benefits: Can include retirement, health and life insurance, paid vacation and sick time.

Promotion Potential: A master's degree and continuing education or certification are essential for advancement. 

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Purchasing agents have a technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased for their company. In the construction industry, a project manager may perform the duties of a purchasing agent.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: The need is dependent upon construction activity in the area.

Safety Director

Suggested High School Courses: Reading, math, government, civics and communication.

Other Recommended Education: Business, government and safety regulations, industrial hygiene and management courses.

Training Options: Bachelor's or master's degree, training from a specialized institution or on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $17.63
Average Starting Salary: $33,840

Median Salary Range: $38,780 - $94,180

Paid Benefits: Can include retirement, health and life insurance, paid vacation and sick time, company truck and cellular phone.

Promotion Potential: Safety directors can acquire more responsibilities and duties, and may become a top company manager or a private safety consultant.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Safety directors visit jobsites to detect unsafe equipment, working practices or unhealthy working conditions. They teach safe working practices to construction workers.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: The need will grow a bit faster than the average, balancing demands for a safe environment with a desire for smaller government and fewer regulations.

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Other Recommended Education: Technical knowledge of the product sold, management, statistics and computer courses.

Training Options: High school, two or four-year degree (in a field related to the product being sold) or on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $18.52
Average Starting Salary: $38,520

Median Salary Range: $52,630 - $106,270

Paid Benefits: Can include retirement, health and life insurance, paid vacation and sick time, company car, cellular phone and corporate memberships.

Promotion Potential: Good salespeople will receive more commission and responsibility, a larger territory or could become sales managers or company owners.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Sales representatives sell items and/or services. They act as industry experts, consultants and problem solvers when selling their firm's services.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: The need for good sales representatives will grow much faster than the average for all jobs in response to the number of industries employing them, and due to a more competitive marketplace.

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