A general contractor laborer helps lead carpenters and trades on remodels, additions and new houses: carrying in materials, tearing out old work, holding and cutting boards, and cleaning the site each day. It's a starting job where a helper learns the trades by doing them next to skilled people.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Median pay, residential builders and remodelers · BLS, May 2025
Provide essential support to trades and the general contractor in executing home service projects.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Assist various trades in completing daily construction and renovation tasks.
Handle, transport, and organize construction materials safely and efficiently.
Support the general contractor and team members by setting up work areas and securing tools and equipment.
Maintain a clean and orderly job site to ensure safety and productivity.
Adhere strictly to all safety protocols and company policies during project execution.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Deliver materials to designated areas and return excess supplies to storage.
Follow work orders and schedules to meet daily project objectives.
Assist skilled tradespeople with tasks such as measuring, cutting, and assembling materials.
Communicate effectively with team members regarding daily needs and potential issues.
Document and report any site hazards or equipment malfunctions to supervisors.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
On-time task completion: 95% or higher.
Material handling accuracy: 98% or greater.
Job site cleanliness rating: above 4.8 out of 5.
Safety compliance incidents: 0 incidents per quarter.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
High school diploma or equivalent.
Demonstrated ability to follow detailed instructions and work as part of a team.
Basic understanding of construction materials, tools, and safety procedures.
Strong attention to detail with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
Effective communication skills and a strong work ethic.
6. Preferred Experience
Experience in residential or commercial construction environments.
Previous work supporting general contractors or trades in home service projects.
Familiarity with basic construction tools and safety protocols.
Hands-on experience in material handling and site maintenance.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to lift and carry weights up to 50 pounds.
Frequent walking, standing, and bending during work shifts.
Exposure to outdoor elements and varying weather conditions.
Manual dexterity and physical stamina to handle repetitive tasks.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Typical work hours: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
On-site work at residential and commercial locations.
Occasional overtime based on project demands.
Minimal travel required within local service areas.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Hourly wage range: $15 - $20 per hour.
Eligibility for overtime pay based on project needs.
Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance plans.
401(k) plan with company match.
Performance-based bonus opportunities.
10. Company Culture and Overview
At [INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE], we foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that prioritizes professional growth and teamwork. We value innovation, integrity, and mutual respect, ensuring every team member feels empowered to contribute and excel. Join us to build a rewarding career in a company that truly values customer satisfaction and employee success.
11. How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and want to be part of a growth-oriented company focused on customer satisfaction, please send your resume to [INSERT EMAIL HERE] or apply online at [INSERT WEBSITE LINK HERE].
Need help filling this role? HireBus posts the ad, Iris interviews every applicant by phone before you do, and you decide who to hire. Start hiring now
What changes for a laborer at a general contractor
A builder's helper may tear out a bathroom one week and carry trusses on a new home the next. Four things come with that work.
Nail guns start in single-shot mode
OSHA's nail gun page puts the injury risk with a multi-shot contact trigger at double that of a single-shot sequential trigger. It points to a study where 2 out of 5 apprentice carpenters in home building were hurt by a nail gun within four years. Give new helpers sequential-trigger nailers, and show them how to use one before they frame or sheathe. Source: OSHA: Nail gun safety.
Eye protection on cutting and tear-out days
Saws, nailers and demolition throw chips, dust and bent nails. OSHA's construction rule says employers must make sure workers use eye or face protection when flying particles are a hazard, with side protection when objects can fly. The helper wears safety glasses while cutting or tearing out, uses ear plugs or muffs on loud days, and keeps spares in the truck. Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 1926.102, eye and face protection.
Protect what's already finished
In a remodel, new work sits next to floors, stairs and cabinets the family wants untouched. On a new home, trim goes in while other trades are still working. The helper lays floor protection, covers counters and tubs, and checks it each morning, since one dropped tool on bare hardwood means a repair nobody priced.
Debris sorted the hauler's way
Ask your dumpster company how it charges and which items it won't take, and post that list on site. The helper keeps clean wood, metal and cardboard apart if the company recycles them, loads the dumpster evenly, and sets aside anything on the list for the lead to deal with.
How much general contractor laborers make
The closest BLS group for general contractor laborers is Helpers--Carpenters. Helpers--Carpenters who work for residential builders and remodelers earned a median of $21.64 an hour ($45,010 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s about the same as the $43,780 median for Helpers--Carpenters in all industries. About 8,030 of the 21,680 Helpers--Carpenters in that survey work for residential builders and remodelers.
Hourly, with overtime when jobs run long, per the template. The template's range sits at the low end of BLS pay for carpenters' helpers at residential builders, so check it against local rates before posting.
Residential builders and remodelers
$45,010$45,010 median Middle half $36,750–$51,530 10th–90th $31,940–$58,670
All industries
$43,780$43,780 median Middle half $36,730–$49,400 10th–90th $31,660–$57,670
$20k$30k$40k$50k$60k$70k
10th–90th percentileMiddle halfMedianAnnual pay, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Annual pay by percentile
Group
10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
Residential builders and remodelers
$31,940
$36,750
$45,010
$51,530
$58,670
All industries
$31,660
$36,730
$43,780
$49,400
$57,670
BLS doesn’t publish pay for general contractors on their own. These figures cover residential building construction, which include them. Post a real range for your market in the ad.
The pay line in the template above is an example from our Role Blueprint. Set yours from these figures and what local companies pay.
Skills to hire for, and what you can teach
Hire for these
Shows up on time, ready at the start of the day
Follows directions and asks when unsure
Reads a tape measure accurately
Handles tools and materials with care inside a family's home
Speaks up right away about a hazard or a mistake
Teach these on the job
Safe use of saws, drills and nail guns
Names and sizes of lumber, sheet goods and fasteners
Floor and finish protection methods
Tear-out steps and what to save
How your leads like the site set up and cleaned
Helpers use a tape, utility knife, hammer, pry bar and speed square, and soon run circular saws, drills and nail guns while a lead watches. Tear-out days add a reciprocating saw, a flat bar and a shop vacuum.
General contractor laborer interview questions
Two of the 6 questions we'd ask, and what a strong answer sounds like. Ask every candidate the same questions, and rate each answer on your own before you compare notes.
Situational · Demo safety
You're told to help tear out an old bathroom. Before you swing a hammer, what do you check or ask?
A strong answer: Asks if water and power are off, what stays, what PPE to wear, whether the old materials were tested for lead or asbestos, and where debris goes.
Behavioral · Persistence
Tell me about a time at work, school or volunteering when the first way you tried to fix or build something didn't work. What did you do next?
A strong answer: Explains the task, how they kept going or found a better way, and what they learned.
The template's targets show the idea. Set your own from what leads report about helpers in their first months, and go over them at each review.
On-time task completion
Ask the lead to note each day's assigned tasks and which were finished by quitting time. Look for patterns, not single slow days.
Material handling accuracy
Track materials damaged, lost or dropped in the wrong spot by the helper, from the lead's notes and job photos. Talk through each case together.
Job site cleanliness rating
At day's end, the lead or field supervisor scores the site on a short checklist: debris, protection in place, tools put away and walkways clear.
Safety compliance incidents
Log any broken safety rule or injury involving the helper, with what happened and the fix. Count near misses too, and thank helpers who report hazards.
Career path
Laborer / helperCarries, cleans, tears out and learns the trades on site.
On a builder's crew the work overlaps, but BLS counts them as separate jobs. A laborer often spends the day hauling, cleaning and tearing out, while a carpenter's helper holds, measures, cuts and fastens next to a carpenter. Because this helper works under lead carpenters on framing and trim, this page shows carpenters' helpers pay. If your helpers mostly haul and clean, local laborer pay is the better guide.
How much does a general contractor laborer make?
Helpers--Carpenters who work for residential builders and remodelers earned a median of $21.64 an hour ($45,010 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $36,750 and $51,530 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and overtime.
Should a helper work for one lead carpenter or float between crews?
Start with one lead for the first few months. The helper learns one person's habits, and the lead takes ownership of teaching. Once the helper can set up, protect and clean a site without being told, moving between crews teaches more trades and covers gaps when someone is out. Tell the helper each morning which lead to report to.
Should a helper bring their own hand tools?
Many builders ask for a few basics: tape measure, utility knife, hammer, pencil, speed square and a tool belt. The company supplies power tools and nail guns. List the basics in the ad so a new helper isn't caught short on day one, and think about handing a starter set to a good candidate who doesn't own one yet.
What do the helper template's lifting, bending and stamina lines mean on a job?
They stand for tasks, so list the tasks in your ad. A helper carries sheets of drywall and plywood with a partner, moves bundles of lumber and boxes of tile, bends to lay floor protection and pick up debris, and repeats work like nailing or sanding for long stretches. On new homes most of the day is outdoors; on remodels it's mostly inside.
