How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Florida (2026)
Florida employs about 87,040 construction trades workers earning a median $44,030 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 Florida.
Key Facts
- Median wage (Florida): $44,030/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
- Employed in Florida: 87,040 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
- Location quotient: 1.24x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
- Projected growth: 7.3% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)
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Compare Construction Trades Worker Schools in Florida
| # | School | BOC Score (0–100) | Tuition | Median grad earnings (all majors) | Graduation rate | Online | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pasco-Hernando State College | 65.7 | Contact school for pricing | $51,981 | Not reported | Yes* | 74 mi |
| 2 | Manatee Technical College | 62.2 | Contact school for pricing | $45,049 | 72% | — | 66 mi |
| 3 | Lake-Sumter State College | 62.1 | Contact school for pricing | $46,194 | 46% | Yes* | 68 mi |
| 4 | Seminole State College of Florida | 61.8 | $3,122 - $14,281 | $52,407 | 42% | Yes* | 64 mi |
| 5 | Hillsborough Community College | 61.2 | Contact school for pricing | $49,784 | 34% | Yes* | 54 mi |
| 6 | Suncoast Technical College | 47.7 | Contact school for pricing | $40,433 | 51% | Yes* | 69 mi |
| 7 | Ridge Technical College | 47.7 | Contact school for pricing | $35,542 | Not reported | — | 16 mi |
| 8 | Valencia College | 46.8 | $2,664 - $18,529 | $46,937 | 46% | — | 46 mi |
| 9 | Osceola Technical College | 43.3 | Contact school for pricing | $37,201 | 50% | — | 36 mi |
| 10 | Orange Technical College-West Campus | 43.2 | Contact school for pricing | Not reported | 73% | — | 48 mi |
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.
Florida employs approximately 87,040 construction trades workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $44,030 1. The state’s concentration of construction trades worker jobs is 1.24x 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 Florida, 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 (Florida): $44,030 per year 1
Quick Answers About How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Florida
How to become a Construction Trades Worker in Florida? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for construction trades workers in Florida.
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.
What do construction trades workers earn in Florida? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Florida is $44,030 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $33,280 and experienced professionals can earn $58,900 or more 1.
How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Florida
- Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Florida training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
- Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Florida that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
- Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
- Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to construction trades workers in Florida 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 Apprenticeship Information in Florida
Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Florida’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Florida Office of Apprenticeship 3.
Contact Information:
- Office: Florida Department of Education, Apprenticeship Division - Region 6
- Address: 1519 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, FL 32922
- Phone: (321) 433-7974
- Email: [email protected]
Construction Trades Worker Wages by Metro Area in Florida
Construction Laborers Wages by Metro Area in Florida
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction laborers wages in Florida vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | 18,280 | $45,520 | $46,120 | $35,290 | $60,020 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | 12,860 | $43,750 | $44,520 | $33,600 | $59,110 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | 12,290 | $40,880 | $43,130 | $30,560 | $58,020 |
| Jacksonville | 7,150 | $43,480 | $43,790 | $30,350 | $57,700 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | 5,230 | $43,290 | $44,250 | $34,890 | $57,520 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | 4,260 | $45,390 | $46,020 | $34,570 | $60,760 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | 2,690 | $39,470 | $42,100 | $30,100 | $55,960 |
| Naples-Marco Island | 2,340 | $46,040 | $47,300 | $36,330 | $60,010 |
| Port St. Lucie | 2,310 | $42,960 | $44,350 | $32,080 | $59,700 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | 2,050 | $43,710 | $44,200 | $34,210 | $57,780 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | 1,930 | $43,050 | $42,810 | $33,400 | $57,290 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 1,870 | $44,720 | $45,140 | $34,730 | $59,520 |
| Tallahassee | 1,390 | $38,720 | $41,420 | $29,660 | $56,180 |
| Ocala | 1,340 | $38,050 | $40,840 | $30,530 | $51,090 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | 1,130 | $43,250 | $43,440 | $34,070 | $56,620 |
| Gainesville | 1,060 | $41,670 | $42,810 | $29,290 | $58,050 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | 1,000 | $45,180 | $45,390 | $36,380 | $59,990 |
| Punta Gorda | 810 | $45,520 | $46,070 | $35,520 | $59,140 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | 710 | $41,170 | $45,830 | $36,030 | $64,500 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | 480 | $45,080 | $44,960 | $31,750 | $58,500 |
| Homosassa Springs | 430 | $42,890 | $42,560 | $34,100 | $56,130 |
| Sebring | 320 | $42,560 | $42,500 | $30,580 | $55,960 |
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 Florida? Florida currently employs approximately 87,040 construction trades workers 1. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034 2.
What training programs are available in Florida? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Florida. You can also contact the Florida Office of Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.
How much do construction trades workers earn in Florida compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Florida is $44,030, which is $2,700 below the national median of $46,730 according to BLS data 1.
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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
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Florida Office of Apprenticeship: https://web02.fldoe.org/Apprenticeship/search.aspx ↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / 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) |