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5 steps · MA
Construction Helper / Laborer
Show up, carry, clean, learn — the on-ramp to every trade.
Pay range
Typically $18–$25/hr in MA, often paid weekly. Union laborers can start higher with benefits.
What this job is
The honest version
A helper or laborer is the entry job on almost every Massachusetts jobsite. You move materials, demo, set up scaffolding, sweep, and assist tradespeople. There's no license to start. The single thing that gets you hired is showing up on time, every day, with steel-toe boots. It's also where you find out which trade you like — electrical, plumbing, framing, HVAC, masonry, or finish — before you commit to an apprenticeship.
Is this you?
You'll fit if…
- You're okay being on your feet for 8–10 hours
- You can lift 50 lbs repeatedly without complaining
- You show up early, not on time
- You can take direction without taking it personally
What you'll do
Core skills
- Reading a tape measure (1/16ths)
- Safe lifting and ladder use
- Basic hand and power tool use (drill, sawzall, circular saw)
- Keeping a clean, organized work area
- Knowing when to ask vs. when to figure it out
What you'll need
Required certifications
Stand out
Things that give you a leg up
- Your own basic tool bag (tape, utility knife, speed square, hammer)
- A driver's license and clean record
- Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole — common on MA crews
- Any prior physical job (warehouse, landscaping, moving)
Take a step
Learn more
- Take the OSHA 10-Hour Construction course online (~$60, 2 evenings)
- Walk into 3 local GCs or remodelers and ask if they need a helper — most hiring is word of mouth
- Look at the MA Laborers' Union (LiUNA Local 22 / 223 / 609) apprenticeship intake
- Ask one tradesperson which trade they'd pick again if they could start over
Heads up
Real talk before you commit
- Cash-only crews are common but risky — no workers' comp means you eat the cost if you get hurt.
- Pick the trade you want by month 3 and tell your foreman. Helpers who don't pick a lane stay helpers.