Build the Ozarks™

Presented by the Springfield Contractors Association

Introducing

Construction Career Map presented by springfield contractors

Why construction?

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Want salary info? Go here for a look at national averages.

Career Pathway

Map Your Future

PICK A PATH OR PICK A DESTINATION

Whether you know where you’re going or you know how you want to get there, we can help you explore your options with our new Construction Career Mapper. Tap or click one of the pulsing hotspots on our career pathway and we’ll whisk you away to where you want to explore.   (Parents & counselors, we have more information for you here.)

Get Prepared

Start Your Own Journey While You're in High School

Ready to get a head start or try out career options before you graduate? Local programs like Build U, Build My Future, and the ACE Mentorship Program give you an inside look at the industry. Classes are available at many schools or through partnering community colleges/VoTech schools to jump ahead on building skills. Vocational and Hands on Tech classes are available NOW! See your High School counselor for details or look here for local opportunities.

Have you wondered which construction craft matches your personality? We’ve got a quiz to help you out. Just click or tap “Take a Detour.” (Don’t worry, it will open in a new window and you can come right back.) If you want more information about how much money you can make, follow this link.

Take a Detour

Jump right in

Entry Level Jobs immediate payoffs

Want to hit the ground running and start earning money as soon as you graduate? Lots of local employers offer on-the-job training. It’s a great opportunity if you’re a self-starter who’s willing to work hard to create your own path. Some employers will even pay for classes at a local technical or community college or university.

Local Options

Carpenter, Concrete Cutting, Concrete Labor, Equipment Operator, Floor Layer, Fork Lift Driver, General Labor, HVAC, Landscape, Masonry, Painter, Plumber, Rental Sales, Roofer, Quality Control

 

See local entry level opportunities.

learn while you earn

Apprenticeships Combine Classroom & workplace experience

If you’d like to combine hands-on experience with classroom-style learning – all while getting paid – consider an apprenticeship program. The more you work, the more you learn, the more you earn. There are union and non-union apprenticeship programs in the area, so you can find the one that fits you best.

Local Programs

Carpentry, Electrical, Insulator, Laborer, Operating Engineers, Plumbers & Pipefitters, Sheet Metal, and more

 

See local apprenticeship opportunities.

Trade school or

Community College 6 months - 2 years

Trade schools offer certificate and associate degree programs, depending on the trade you want to enter. These programs provide state-of-the-art, hands-on learning environments. Many area high schools offer A+ programs, which can pay for your classes at a local community college.

Local Programs

Construction, Electrical, Electrical Troubleshooting, HVAC, Machine Tool Technology, Major Appliance Repair, Forklift Operation, Hydraulics & Pneumatics, Welding

 

Get more information on local options.

in the classroom

University Degree 4-5 years

If you’re interested in a traditional university path, you’ll find several bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in the area. Available Springfield programs include Architecture, Construction Management, and Engineering.
 
If you’re interested in math, business, sales, or other creative careers, there’s also demand for degrees like Accounting, Human Resources, Marketing, and General Business.

 

Local Degrees

Architecture & Design, Construction Management, Design in Society, Environment & Sustainability, Interior Design, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Project Management


Learn about  local degree programs.

skilled work. solid income.

Craft Professional freedom and pride in your work​

After completing a training program through a company , or completing a college program while working as a craft labor, you are now a craft professional. Due to the skills acquired through training and experience, you are making a solid income.
 
You may also be traveling quite a bit depending oYou may have the opportunity to travel depending on the type and size of company. Many tradesmen enjoy the freedom and pride this level of accomplishment offers; however, some decide to continue to build on their skills and knowledge into management type positions.

Types of Careers

Plumbing, Equipment Operator, Electrician, HVAC, Welder, Carpenter, Mason, Roofer, Glazer


leadership

Crew Leader / Foreman Supervise Craft Professionals

You now have solid experience as a craft professional and have completed leadership training through your company, local college or a leadership academy. You have learned communication skills and effective planning and scheduling. You are in a supervisory role where you’re in charge of a crew of craft professionals. It is your job to make sure that work is completed correctly and on time. You are responsible for the safety and work of those under you. You may choose to stay at this level or take safety, supervisory or management training to move into a safety manager, project manager, or superintendent position.

Run the job site

Superintendent oversee every aspect of a project

As a superintendent, you run the job site. You oversee all subcontractors and all work done on the project. You may be a craft professional who has been in charge of crews and completed supervisory training. Or maybe you came from a university project-management track and have experience in the field.
 
You could travel to jobs across the United States – and possibly the world – depending on the size of company you work for. Or you could work for a local company and stay in this area. From here, a job in senior management could be your next step.

A knack for management

project manager Estimator, engineer, or architect

Are you interested in the design side? Check out architecture! Interested in the way things work or are put together? Engineering may be the perfect fit. Do you like numbers but want to see them come together in a real-world situation? Check out estimating!
 
Positions like a project manager, estimator, engineer, or architect typically work in the office, but they will also visit job sites as they work on projects. These types of position work on a variety of projects and can have a focus on vertical or civil construction. 
 
Although most people jump into these positions immediately out of college, there are also opportunities to enter these positions by building your own path through the trades. 
 
Check out local university options to help you pursue this goal.

Executive Responsibility

Senior Management run your own division

By this point, you have managed crews, sites, projects and more. You will now use all of your experience at the corporate level. Many companies have vice presidents that run a variety of divisions: quality control, estimating, safety, human resources and overall management.

Understanding the process that projects go through and all of the working parts that it takes to complete projects successfully is vitally important. Your expertise will now be considered when decisions are made for the overall company.

run your own company

president / ceo make your own path

Regardless of where you start, industry apprenticeship, community college or a university, this level of success in a construction company is dependent more upon your skill and dedication than the path you took to get here.
 
There are thousands of great stories within the construction industry of how a kid who loved to build things or tinker ended up as CEO or owner of a company. If there is one industry that allows multiple paths to success, it is the construction industry.
 
Most careers have a single path to success that specifically spells out what you do and what order you do it in. Construction allows you to create your own story no matter where you start. Is it college first, work first, or both? The most important aspect is that you get credentials whether it is through the college system or the industry, credentials do matter. Your level of success is in your hands.