First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers Salary
The median first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers salary in the United States is $79,920 per year ($38.42/hour). Salaries range from $53,280 at the entry level to $128,260+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 812,210 first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 5.3% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Also known asConstruction SupervisorConstruction ForemanSite Foreman
Median Salary
$79,920
per year
Hourly Rate
$38.42
per hour
Employment
812,210
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$53,280
25th percentile
$63,400
Median
$79,920
75th percentile
$101,460
90th percentile
$128,260
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+5.3%
Faster than average
Annual Openings
74,400
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
+ 5 years or more experience
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workerss.
Construction and extraction foremen and general foremen supervise crews of electricians, carpenters, plumbers, ironworkers, operating engineers, laborers, and mining/well-services workers. Entry foremen earn $62-85k; established foremen at mid-size projects earn $85-125k with overtime; general foremen and superintendents on major commercial, industrial, or infrastructure projects earn $125-185k+; refinery, LNG, and mining shutdown/turnaround foremen with heavy overtime, per diem, and shutdown premiums reach $155-245k+ during peak windows. Union foremen at IBEW, UA, Carpenters, Ironworkers, and IUOE locals earn strong pay with pension and benefits.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
Trade-specific supervision (electrical, mechanical, carpentry, ironwork, operating engineers)
Foremen come up through a trade. Master your trade at journeyman level before supervising. Understand code, standards, and the trade's tools and workflow deeply enough to spot problems.
Crew coordination and scheduling
Break the day's work into task assignments matched to skill level. Sequence trades correctly (rough electrical before drywall, MEP overhead before ceiling grid). Coordinate with other foremen and the superintendent.
Safety leadership (OSHA 30, EM 385, jobsite discipline)
Own the crew's safety. Daily huddle, weekly toolbox talk, jobsite walk-arounds. Stop work authority β actually use it. Foremen who let culture slide get incidents.
Blueprint / drawing / spec reading
Read plans, elevations, and details in your trade. Understand submittal packages and RFIs. Communicate discrepancies to the PM/superintendent early β surprises are the enemy.
Productivity tracking and reporting
Track manhours vs planned, materials used, and progress against schedule. Daily reports to superintendent. Foremen who track productivity get promoted; ones who don't stall out.
Quality control and inspection prep
Punch lists, inspection preparation, and re-work minimization. Every trade has its rework signature (bad edges on drywall, unlabeled J-boxes, out-of-plumb studs) β foremen kill rework at the source.
Labor relations and crew management
Manage 6-30 tradespeople across skill levels. Handle disputes, discipline, and terminations per collective bargaining agreement or company policy. Union foremen deal with steward and business agent regularly.
How to Become a First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
- 1Complete a 3-5 year apprenticeship in your tradeIBEW electricians, UA plumbers/fitters, Carpenters, Ironworkers, Operating Engineers. Non-union apprenticeships also exist. Journeyman standing is the prerequisite for foreman consideration.
- 2Journeyman-level experience of 3-8 yearsProve yourself as a technically strong journeyman. Foremen are selected because they're already leading informally on the job.
- 3Complete OSHA 30, foreman-training programs, and specialty certificationsOSHA 30 mandatory. NCCER foreman training or IUEC/IBEW foreman classes. Trade-specific certifications (medium voltage, HVAC controls, welding) add value.
- 4First foreman role on a small crew or subset of a larger crew$62-85k. Lead 4-8 tradespeople. Learn documentation, PM/superintendent communication, and jobsite politics.
- 5Advance to General Foreman, Superintendent, or Project Foreman on Mega-Projects$115-245k+. GFs manage multiple crews and foremen. Superintendents run entire projects. Refinery/mining shutdown foremen earn top-tier during peak seasons.
Career Progression
Working Foreman / Crew Lead
0-4 as foreman (typical 8-15 total career) yrs$62-88k + OT + benefits
- β’Lead crew of 4-8 tradespeople
- β’Physically work alongside crew (working foreman)
- β’Coordinate with PM/superintendent daily
- β’Track productivity and materials
Next: Full Foreman at 3-6 years.
Foreman / Journeyman Foreman
3-10 as foreman yrs$88-135k + OT + benefits
- β’Manage crew of 8-15 without working the tools full-time
- β’Read plans, own trade-specific scope on a project
- β’Handle disciplinary and personnel matters
- β’Prepare for inspections and quality control
Next: General Foreman at 6-12 years.
General Foreman
6-15 as foreman yrs$115-175k + OT + benefits
- β’Manage 3-6 foremen and 30-80 tradespeople
- β’Own trade scope across a large project or multi-crew operation
- β’Coordinate with GC/owner on schedule and productivity
- β’Author cost and manpower forecasts
Next: Superintendent or Multi-Site GF at 12-18 years.
Superintendent / Multi-Site / Refinery Shutdown Foreman
12+ as foreman yrs$155-245k+ (shutdown premiums push $215-345k+ during peak turnarounds)
- β’Own entire project scope for a trade or multi-trade project
- β’Manage GFs and foremen across shifts and locations
- β’Executive-level owner/GC communication
- β’P&L accountability on major job scope
Next: Project Manager / Operations Manager / VP of Operations at trade contractor.
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Walk me through your typical morning as a foreman.technical
Pre-shift huddle at 6:30 β safety topic, day's work, task assignments to each crew member. Walk the work area before the crew starts, identify hazards, verify materials on-site. First hour on the floor confirming crews are set up correctly. Then daily coordination meeting with other foremen and superintendent at 8. Rest of the day: crew productivity, quality checks, RFI response, and safety walk-arounds. End of day: paperwork, daily report, and prep for tomorrow.
Q2. How do you handle a productivity problem on your crew?situational
Diagnose first β is it access (waiting for another trade), materials, skill mismatch, or attitude? Reassign work if it's a skill issue. Escalate to superintendent if it's inter-trade sequencing. If it's an individual crew member's attitude or performance, direct conversation with clear expectations and documentation. If it doesn't improve in a week, follow the CBA discipline process.
Q3. Describe a safety incident you've managed.behavioral
STAR: journeyman on my crew tripped on a temporary cord, sprained ankle. Stopped work, secured the scene, called for medical, notified safety and superintendent within minutes. Post-incident: reviewed with crew, identified 3 similar tripping hazards elsewhere in the work area, updated our end-of-day cleanup procedure. Zero re-injuries. Interviewers screen for immediate action + systemic learning, not blame-shifting.
Q4. How do you build trust with a new crew?behavioral
First week: work alongside them, learn names, learn skill levels. Set expectations day 1 (safety non-negotiables, quality expectations, punctuality). Follow through on my own commitments. Ask for input on how to sequence complex work. Never yell β earning respect through competence and consistency is how foremen sustain long careers.
Q5. Where do you see your career in 5 years?closer
General Foreman on major commercial or industrial projects, then Superintendent within 8-10 years. Interested in refinery turnaround work for the pay and specialty depth. Longer-term, I'd consider a project-management or estimating track at a specialty trade contractor.
Resume Template β Foreman (3-10 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
Foreman (3-10 yrs)
- βΈForeman on IBEW electrical crew of 12 at $185M mixed-use construction project; completed rough and finish on schedule with zero recordable safety incidents.
- βΈJourneyman electrician IBEW Local [X] with 12 years of trade experience before foreman role.
- βΈOSHA 30 + NFPA 70E arc-flash + medium voltage qualified. NCCER Foreman training completed.
- βΈ$115k base + $28k overtime + full benefits and pension. Trained 4 apprentices to journeyman.
What Gets You Rejected
- βSloppy on safety β the fastest way to lose the role.
- βPoor productivity tracking and daily reporting.
- βCannot read plans confidently.
- βBad crew relationships β high turnover or grievance history.
- βWeak communication with PM/superintendent β foremen who don't proactively communicate fail.
- βWon't discipline poor performers β chronic underperformance rots crews.
- βAny prior incidents, DUI on the road, or substance-abuse concern surfaces in reference checks.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βUnion scale sets base at unionized jobs β limited base negotiation, but shift and specialty premiums are negotiable.
- βOvertime, weekend, night-shift, and shutdown premiums (1.5-2x + per diem).
- βForeman differential $3-15/hr above journeyman scale.
- βPer diem $75-165/day on out-of-town or shutdown assignments.
- βSigning bonus $5-25k common at merit shops and shutdown work.
- βCompany vehicle or $600-1,200/mo vehicle allowance at foreman+ level.
- βShutdown/turnaround premiums: refinery, petrochem, and mining pay $60-115/hr with 12-hour shifts.
- βHealth, dental, and pension β union work has strong benefits; negotiate parity at non-union roles.
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workerss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
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First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers Career Kit β $19
- β All 13 interview questions with expert answers
- β 6 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 6 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
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First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
$61K$110Kβ No data
Top Paying States
Washington
$110K
+37%
Illinois
$106K
+32%
New Jersey
$106K
+32%
Oregon
$103K
+29%
Hawaii
$103K
+28%
Alaska
$102K
+28%
Rhode Island
$99K
+23%
Massachusetts
$98K
+22%
California
$98K
+22%
Minnesota
$98K
+22%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $109,570 | +37.1% |
| Illinois | $105,750 | +32.3% |
| New Jersey | $105,510 | +32.0% |
| Oregon | $103,070 | +29.0% |
| Hawaii | $102,630 | +28.4% |
| Alaska | $102,140 | +27.8% |
| Rhode Island | $98,590 | +23.4% |
| Massachusetts | $97,850 | +22.4% |
| California | $97,680 | +22.2% |
| Minnesota | $97,610 | +22.1% |
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First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $130,790 | +63.7% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $129,700 | +62.3% |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $126,630 | +58.4% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $121,130 | +51.6% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $120,810 | +51.2% |
| Vineland, NJ | $116,390 | +45.6% |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $115,340 | +44.3% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $112,480 | +40.7% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $111,260 | +39.2% |
| Bellingham, WA | $107,830 | +34.9% |
Showing 1β10 of 396
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers earning $79,920/year would need 746 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 801 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries βπ See how first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers salaries have changed over the past decade.
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