YOUTH PROGRAMS

Other Recommended Education: Blueprint reading, shop math, cabinet-making, wood shop, safety training and construction trades shop.

Training Options: High school, vocational school, apprenticeship training, the military, two-year college or on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $11.96
Average Starting Salary: $24,880

Median Salary Range: $31,230 - $54,560

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

Promotion Potential: Carpenters usually begin as an apprentice and can become a journeyman, crew leader or superintendent. Each position requires more difficult, skilled work, greater job responsibility and leadership skills.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Physical labor is required, including lifting heavy loads, knowledge of building codes and blue print reading. Specialties include rough, finish, form, metal stud and acoustical ceilings carpentry.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Job opportunities should be best for those with the most training and skills.  Job growth and replacement needs for those who leave the occupation create a large number of openings each year.

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Other Recommended Education: Shop math, advanced carpentry, safety training , mechanical drawing and blueprint reading.

Training Options: High school, vocational school, apprenticeship training or on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $11.87
Average Starting Salary: $24,690

Median Salary Range: $30,170 - $49,040

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

Promotion Potential: Drywall installers begin as helpers and as they gain more responsibility may become supervisors or crew leaders.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Installers apply drywall, which is a thin layer of gypsum sandwiched between two layers of heavy paper, to walls and ceilings. Workers usually specialize as either installers or finishers.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Employment is projected to grow about as fast as average, however, many job openings will arise annually because turnover is high.

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Other Recommended Education: Shop math, blueprint reading, electrical shop, safety training and power mechanics.

Training Options: High school, vocational school, apprenticeship training, on-the-job training, the military or two-year colleges.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $14.61
Average Starting Salary: $30,390

Median Salary Range: $37,570 - $65,260

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

Promotion Potential: Experienced electricians can take on more responsibility by becoming supervisors and crew managers.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Electricians work with wiring and other parts using their hands, often involving delicate and small objects in confined areas. They must be able to differentiate colors.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Electrical service is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. With the increasing use of electronics at home and work, job opportunities for workers with the widest range of skills should be good.

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Other Recommended Education: Surveying, physical geography, blueprint reading and safety training.

Training Options: High school, vocational school, the military or on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $12.85
Average Starting Salary: $26,730

Median Salary Range: $32,550 - $56,040

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

Promotion Potential: Excavators, with experience, may advance to become supervisors and work on more complicated projects.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Excavators use heavy equipment to clear and level a building construction site, moving trees, shrubbery, dirt and/or existing buildings.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Employment is expected to remain steady with the rate of new construction in the area. The need to replace workers who leave the occupation should result in good job opportunities.

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Other Recommended Education: Construction trades shop, blueprint reading and safety training.

Training Options: High school, apprenticeship training, vocational school or on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $11.35
Average Starting Salary: $23,610

Median Salary Range: $29,840 - $48,510

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

Promotion Potential: Glaziers usually begin as helpers carrying glass. Advancements include pay increases and greater job responsibility, including supervisory positions.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Glaziers select, cut, install and remove all types of glass as well as plastics, marble and other materials. They work inside and outside, on many different kinds of structures.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Job opportunities for glaziers are expected to be good.  Since employers prefer workers wo can do a variety of tasks, glaziers with a range of skills will have the best opportunities.

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

Other Recommended Education: Blueprint reading, welding, safety training, metal and machine shop.

Training Options: High school, vocational school, apprenticeship training, on-the-job training, or the military.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $12.73
Average Starting Salary: $26,490

Median Salary Range: $33,660 - $64,300

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

Promotion Potential: Ironworkers can advance into a supervisory or crew leader position.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: They work with iron, steel, aluminum and bronze to build highways, bridges and office buildings. Workers specialize as either structural or reinforcing ironworkers.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: The need for ironworkers will increase about the same as the growth of new construction in the area.

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Other Recommended Education: Wood shop, carpentry and safety training.

Training Options: High school, apprenticeship training, vocational school or on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $9.05
Average Starting Salary: $18,820

Median Salary Range: $22,940 - $40,800

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

Promotion Potential: Many construction companies prefer to promote qualified laborers who can take on more responsibility, so the promotion to a skilled or supervisory position is highly likely.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Laborers provide much of the physical labor at building, highway and other construction jobsites. They clean and prepare sites, dig trenches and set braces to support excavations, to name a few responsibilities.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Job turnover is high for laborers and accounts for most of the open positions. The need will grow about the same as new construction in the area.

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Other Recommended Education: Blueprint reading, agronomy, horticulture, safety training and botany.

Training Options: High school, vocational school, on-the-job training or a bachelor's degree.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $9.82
Average Starting Salary: $20,426

Median Salary Range: $18,907 - $36,546

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

Promotion Potential: Landscapers, depending upon education and skill, can advance to grounds manager or other supervisory positions and owners.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Landscapers plant and maintain trees, hedges, flowers, etc. on properties to beautify the grounds and enhance property values. They usually follow plans drawn by a landscape architect.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Excellent job opportunities are available to landscapers due to high industry growth. The work is seasonal, but most work year around.

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Other Recommended Education: Construction trades shop, blueprint reading, safety training and shop math.

Training Options: High school, apprenticeship training, vocational school, the military or on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $13.92
Average Starting Salary: $28,950

Median Salary Range: $36,230 - $62,520

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

Promotion Potential: Masons usually begin as material helpers then advance to full-fledged craft workers or supervisors.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Masons build stone, brick and block fixtures, including exteriors and floors. They often work from a set of drawings and sometimes work with large and heavy pieces of stone.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Forecasts predict good job prospects for masons.  Most demand for new masons will be the result of retirements and career changes.

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Other Recommended Education: Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics, welding, blueprint reading, safety training and electronics.

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

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $12.18
Average Starting Salary: $25,355

Median Salary Range: $30,610 - $51,750

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

Promotion Potential: Advancement usually takes the form of higher wages, and mechanical contractors may advance to supervisory positions or move into estimating.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Mechanical contractors are involved in the installation, repair and maintenance of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. They work in many different buildings in all kinds of weather.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Job growth is expected to be on the rise due to expected retirements.  Jobs for individuals with technical school or formal apprenticeship training should be good.

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Other Recommended Education: Blueprint reading, shop math, paper hanging, painting and safety training.

Training Options: High school, vocational school, apprenticeship training or on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $11.14
Average Starting Salary: $23,170

Median Salary Range: $28,120 - $46,280

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

Promotion Potential: Painting trainees perform simple painting tasks, and with experience advance to paperhanging and paint mixing. Skilled painters may move into supervisory positions as they take on more responsibility.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: They apply paint, stain or other finishes to buildings and other structures. They choose the correct paint or finish for the surface to be covered, and sometimes remove the old finish before applying a new one.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Excellent employment opportunities are expected for painters due to the need to replace the large number of workers who leave the occupation.

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Other Recommended Education: Blueprint reading, welding, plumbing, hydraulics, heating, ventilation, safety training and air conditioning shop.

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

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $13.61
Average Starting Salary: $28,310

Median Salary Range: $36,050 - $64,790

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

Promotion Potential: Plumbers may take on more responsibility or advance into supervisory positions.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Plumbers install, maintain and repair many different types of pipe systems for various uses.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Employment is expected to increase more than average. Job opportunities should be excellent because not enough people are seeking training as plumbers and pipefitters.

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Other Recommended Education: Blueprint reading, shop math, safety training and construction trades shop.

Training Options: High school, vocational school, apprenticeship training or on-the-job training.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $10.79
Average Starting Salary: $22,430

Median Salary Range: $27,630 - $46,670

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

Promotion Potential: Roofers may advance to become a company supervisor or crew leader, or they could become an estimator.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Roofers work at many different heights to repair and install roofs of tar or asphalt, slate, fiberglass, tile, wood or other materials.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Because job turnover is high, jobs should be plentiful. Roofs deteriorate faster than any other building part and need to be replaced more frequently, ensuring job stability.

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Other Recommended Education: Surveying, physical geography, advanced math, topographic drafting, mapping and safety training.

Training Options: High school, vocational school, two or four-year degree, the military or on-the-job training. Can become a licensed surveyor, with a required four-year degree.

Average Starting Hourly Pay: $15.01
Average Starting Salary: $31,220

Median Salary Range: $40,790 - $73,510

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

Promotion Potential: Surveyors start as an apprentice and with experience advance to technicians, then senior survey technicians and licensed surveyors, with required four-year degree.

Tasks & Functions of the Job: Surveyors measure distances, directions and angles between points and elevation of points, lines and contours on the earth's surface. They may work outdoors extensively.

Central Ohio Career Outlook: Employment is expected to remain steady, knowledge of the new technologies enhances employment opportunities.

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