How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Alabama (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Alabama employs about 18,400 construction trades workers earning a median $36,900 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most construction trades workers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Alabama.

Compare Construction Trades Worker Schools in Alabama

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
167.0$2,583 in-state / $10,612 out-of-state$52,55639%Yes*158 mi
263.0$3,420 in-state / $5,820 out-of-state$41,84950%Yes*138 mi
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359.2$5,190 in-state / $9,060 out-of-state$40,11641%Yes*104 mi
454.3$3,516 in-state / $6,084 out-of-state$47,00958%Yes*148 mi
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547.2$4,052 in-state / $7,262 out-of-state$43,81827%Yes*110 mi
646.6$5,040 in-state / $8,910 out-of-state$41,27356%—128 mi
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746.3Contact school for pricing$40,63682%—162 mi
845.6$4,806 in-state / $6,806 out-of-state$36,34041%Yes*164 mi
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941.3$5,100 in-state / $8,970 out-of-state$55,87726%Yes*57 mi
1039.3Contact school for pricing$34,96541%—158 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Alabama employs approximately 18,400 construction trades workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $36,900 1. The state’s concentration of construction trades worker jobs is 1.23x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 129,400 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Construction Trades Worker in Alabama, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
  • Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
  • Median wage (Alabama): $36,900 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Alabama

How to become a Construction Trades Worker in Alabama? Alabama requires credentials such as Licensed General Contractor. The licensing authority is the State of Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths into the construction trades worker field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Alabama? Yes. Alabama has licensing or registration requirements for construction trades workers. The State of Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.

What do construction trades workers earn in Alabama? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Alabama is $36,900 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $23,980 and experienced professionals can earn $49,740 or more 1.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Alabama

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Alabama training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Alabama that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to construction trades workers in Alabama before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Construction Trades Worker License Requirements in Alabama

The State of Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board oversees construction trades worker licensing in Alabama 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
Licensed General ContractorOne who engages in the construction of commercial or public properties where the cost of the undertaking including labor and materials is $50,000 or more and swimming pool construction of $5,000 or mo…

License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.

Construction Trades Worker Apprenticeship Information in Alabama

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years.

Contact Information:

  • Office: Alabama Office of Apprenticeship
  • Address: 1 Technology Court, Montgomery, AL 36116
  • Phone: (334) 280-4440

Construction Trades Worker Wages by Metro Area in Alabama

Construction Laborers Wages by Metro Area in Alabama

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction laborers wages in Alabama vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Birmingham4,780$38,370$40,420$28,250$51,730
Mobile2,050$36,830$37,420$24,800$48,390
Huntsville1,670$37,510$37,770$22,080$50,670
Tuscaloosa1,110$36,460$36,840$22,270$47,850
Montgomery1,040$36,630$37,350$25,270$47,980
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley970$38,440$40,290$28,320$53,390
Columbus710$35,890$35,810$24,960$46,680
Decatur690$37,680$39,660$22,750$54,250
Auburn-Opelika670$36,110$37,060$24,020$49,890
Dothan600$32,000$33,580$21,120$46,940
Florence-Muscle Shoals560$36,260$36,000$20,230$47,320
Gadsden280$32,900$33,420$17,670$50,700
Anniston-Oxford240$33,970$35,310$23,630$48,980

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in Alabama? Alabama currently employs approximately 18,400 construction trades workers 1. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a construction trades worker in Alabama with an out-of-state license? Reciprocity varies. Contact the Alabama licensing authority for details on transferring credentials.

What training programs are available in Alabama? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Alabama.

How much do construction trades workers earn in Alabama compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Alabama is $36,900, which is $9,830 below the national median of $46,730 according to BLS data 1.

In Alabama

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in Alabama

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. State of Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board - Licensing Information: https://www.hblb.alabama.gov ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)