47-0000 CONSTRUCTION AND EXTRACTION OCCUPATIONS
The Construction and Extraction cluster represents the builders, operators, and specialists who transform raw environments into the infrastructure of modern life. These are the people who raise bridges and homes, wire power systems, carve tunnels through rock, and extract the natural materials that fuel every other industry. They combine physical skill with technical knowledge, balancing strength, precision, and problem-solving in demanding outdoor settings.
47-1011 — First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
First-Line Supervisors coordinate the complex choreography of construction and extraction sites. They interpret blueprints, assign crews, ensure compliance with safety codes, and maintain schedules that keep multimillion-dollar projects on track. These supervisors bridge management and labor, translating engineering plans into organized, efficient workflows.
Illustrative examples: Carpenter Supervisor, Quarry Boss, Rig Supervisor, Solar Panel Installation Supervisor.
47-2000 — Construction Trades Workers
Construction trades form the heart of the industry: the hands that measure, cut, assemble, and finish the physical world.
47-2011 — Boilermakers
Boilermakers construct, install, and repair the massive pressure vessels that power ships, factories, and refineries. They align and weld curved steel plates into tanks and boilers, using levels, turnbuckles, and hoists to achieve airtight precision. Their work demands both brute strength and mathematical accuracy.
Examples: Boiler Installer, Boiler Mechanic, Boiler Tester.
47-2021 — Brickmasons and Blockmasons
These artisans stack the foundation of architecture itself, laying brick, stone, and block with a mason’s precision. Whether restoring a historic arch or building new urban housing, they combine geometry with craft tradition to create walls that last centuries.
Examples: Adobe Layer, Brick Chimney Builder, Refractory Bricklayer.
47-2022 — Stonemasons
Stonemasons transform raw rock into enduring structures — shaping granite or limestone into walls, curbs, and monuments. Their chisels and hammers reveal patterns hidden inside stone, merging sculpture and engineering.
Examples: Curbstone Setter, Monument Mason.
47-2031 — Carpenters
Carpenters are the generalists of building — framing houses, erecting stairways, installing cabinetry, and crafting custom interiors. They interpret blueprints into physical forms, using math, measurement, and intuition to fit wood and metal precisely.
Examples: Building Carpenter, Custom Wood Stair Builder, Wood Floor Layer.
47-2040 — Carpet, Floor, and Tile Installers and Finishers
These specialists give buildings their final texture and polish. From laying marble tiles to stretching wall-to-wall carpet, they merge design sensibility with durability.
47-2041 Carpet Installers: Lay and trim carpet with precise seams and padding.
47-2042 Floor Layers: Apply vinyl, cork, or linoleum coverings for resilient floors.
47-2043 Floor Sanders and Finishers: Sand and polish wood floors to mirror-like sheen.
47-2044 Tile and Stone Setters: Arrange ceramic, marble, or slate patterns that transform rooms into works of art.
47-2050 — Cement Masons, Concrete Finishers, and Terrazzo Workers
Concrete specialists turn liquid stone into the highways, sidewalks, and towers that define cities.
47-2051 Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers: Smooth freshly poured concrete, cut expansion joints, and craft structural surfaces with exact slopes.
47-2053 Terrazzo Workers and Finishers: Mix marble chips, pigments, and cement to create polished decorative flooring — an old-world craft revived in modern architecture.
47-2061 — Construction Laborers
Laborers are the backbone of every site — clearing debris, digging trenches, operating compact machinery, and assisting specialized trades. Their adaptability and stamina sustain the momentum of construction itself.
Examples: Air Hammer Operator, Construction Craft Laborer, Trench Digger.
47-2070 — Construction Equipment Operators
Heavy-equipment operators turn raw terrain into buildable ground, maneuvering machines that weigh tens of tons.
47-2071 Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators: Run asphalt rollers and tampers that level highways.
47-2072 Pile Driver Operators: Drive steel pilings deep into the earth to anchor bridges and towers.
47-2073 Operating Engineers: Command bulldozers, excavators, and graders that sculpt the landscape itself.
47-2080 — Drywall Installers, Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers
These finishing specialists seal the skeleton of a building, enclosing its spaces.
47-2081 Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers: Hang plasterboard and sound-absorbing panels.
47-2082 Tapers: Seam joints with compound to create the illusion of continuous, flawless walls.
47-2111 — Electricians
Electricians install and maintain the nervous system of modern structures. They connect circuits, mount control panels, and ensure safety under voltage. From city grids to solar systems, their work keeps civilization powered.
Examples: Master Electrician, Solar PV Electrician, Electrical Sign Wirer.
47-2121 — Glaziers
Glaziers fit panes that separate inside from out — windows, skylights, and storefronts that balance strength and transparency. They handle materials from traditional glass to modern composites.
Examples: Plate Glass Installer, Stained Glass Joiner.
47-2130 — Insulation Workers
Insulation workers create energy efficiency and comfort by sealing the thermal envelope of buildings.
47-2131 Floor, Ceiling, and Wall Insulators: Line interiors with fiberglass or foam materials.
47-2132 Mechanical Insulators: Wrap pipes, ducts, and mechanical systems to retain heat or cold.
47-2140 — Painters and Paperhangers
They provide the final layer of personality and protection.
47-2141 Painters: Coat bridges, homes, and high-rises with colors that resist weather and wear.
47-2142 Paperhangers: Apply wallpaper or fabric finishes, turning plain walls into decorative statements.
47-2150 — Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
They build the arteries of civilization — the systems that move water, air, and energy.
47-2151 Pipelayers: Install underground pipelines for water and sewage.
47-2152 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters: Assemble complex networks that deliver clean water, gas, and heat.
47-2161 — Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Masters of surface texture, they apply plaster and stucco to create both structural coatings and aesthetic finishes — from smooth Venetian walls to sculpted exteriors.
47-2171 — Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
They weave the hidden skeletons inside concrete — tying steel rods and meshes that give skyscrapers and bridges their strength.
47-2181 — Roofers
Roofers shield structures from the elements. They cut, fasten, and seal shingles, membranes, and metal panels, ensuring the line between safety and storm is never breached.
47-2211 — Sheet Metal Workers
They fabricate and install ductwork and metal structures essential for climate control and ventilation. This trade blends precision cutting, bending, and welding into architectural functionality.
47-2221 — Structural Iron and Steel Workers
High above ground, they bolt and weld the skeletal frameworks of skyscrapers and bridges. Their balance, strength, and teamwork shape skylines.
47-2231 — Solar Photovoltaic Installers
Specialists in renewable energy, they mount solar panels on rooftops, wire them to inverters, and contribute directly to the global energy transition.
47-3000 — Helpers, Construction Trades
Helpers assist skilled craft workers — holding tools, mixing materials, and keeping job sites organized.
Examples: Carpenter Assistant, Plumber Helper, Drywall Hanger Helper.
47-4000 — Other Construction and Related Workers
47-4011 — Construction and Building Inspectors
Inspectors ensure that every bolt and beam meets code. They interpret blueprints, test materials, and certify safety for public use.
47-4021 — Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
They assemble and maintain vertical transportation systems — machinery that silently moves millions daily.
47-4031 — Fence Erectors
These workers define boundaries, installing fences from suburban yards to industrial perimeters.
47-4041 — Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Specialists trained to remove asbestos, lead, or contaminated soil safely, protecting both people and the planet.
47-4051 — Highway Maintenance Workers
Maintain the arteries of transportation — patching pavement, clearing snow, and repairing guardrails.
47-4061 — Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
Operate specialized machinery to build and maintain rail lines — the infrastructure of logistics.
47-4071 — Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
Keep sanitation systems functional by cleaning and repairing underground networks few ever see but all depend on.
47-4091 — Segmental Pavers
Install decorative stone and brick walkways — combining durability with craftsmanship.
47-4099 — Construction and Related Workers, All Other
Encompasses unique specialists such as waterproofers and pool installers.
47-5000 — Extraction Workers
Extraction workers venture below and beyond the surface to harvest natural resources essential to civilization — from oil and gas to coal and minerals.
47-5010 — Derrick, Rotary Drill, and Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
They operate the towering derricks and rotary drills that access Earth’s energy reserves.
47-5011 Derrick Operators: Manage derrick systems and mud pumps.
47-5012 Rotary Drill Operators: Set up drills to remove oil, gas, or test cores.
47-5013 Service Unit Operators: Run rigs that enhance oil flow or retrieve stuck tools.
47-5020 — Surface Mining Machine Operators and Earth Drillers
They command massive excavators, draglines, and drills that shape open-pit mines.
47-5022 Excavating and Loading Operators: Move tons of material daily.
47-5023 Earth Drillers: Tap subsurface formations for exploration or blasting.
47-5032 — Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
Handle controlled detonations to fragment rock or demolish structures. Their expertise balances risk, chemistry, and timing.
47-5040 — Underground Mining Machine Operators
Operate self-propelled machines that dig, haul, and support the vast underground labyrinths of modern mining.
Includes continuous miners, roof bolters, loaders, and haulage operators.
47-5051 — Rock Splitters, Quarry
Extract large blocks of stone from quarries, shaping the raw material for monuments and architecture.
47-5071 — Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
Perform general maintenance and assembly on oil fields — the adaptable, all-purpose hands of drilling operations.
47-5081 — Helpers, Extraction Workers
Assist drillers, blasters, and miners, ensuring operations run smoothly and safely.
47-5099 — Extraction Workers, All Other
A category encompassing all other specialists in extraction — from mine mill workers to tailings handlers — who make resource recovery possible.
In Essence
The Construction and Extraction sector is both ancient and modern — from the earliest stone builders to today’s solar installers. Every bridge, home, rail line, and power plant exists because of these skilled workers who shape matter itself into civilization’s framework. Their world blends craft, science, and endurance — the visible and invisible structures on which all others stand.