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Boston Career Explorer

Construction and Extraction

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.

Also called: Coal Mine Production Foreman, Construction Foreman, Construction Supervisor, Electrical Supervisor, Field Operations Supervisor, Field Supervisor

Compare with my current job (First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services)
Median pay in Greater Boston
$99,890
$48.02/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
13,110
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+7.9%
1,880 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
5 years or more of related work experience

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$69,370$81,660$99,890$125,190$137,990

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Inspect work progress, equipment, or construction sites to verify safety or to ensure that specifications are met.
  • Read specifications, such as blueprints, to determine construction requirements or to plan procedures.
  • Supervise, coordinate, or schedule the activities of construction or extractive workers.
  • Assign work to employees, based on material or worker requirements of specific jobs.
  • Coordinate work activities with other construction project activities.
  • Estimate material or worker requirements to complete jobs.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure38 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 38
  • Language-model AIOE 36
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 41

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is moderate, and observed AI use is some. AI tools may help with reading plans and specifications, scheduling crews, and coordinating with other project work. They do not walk the site to check safety or lead a crew in person. Supervisors who learn these tools may find the paperwork side easier.

Likely to change

  • Scheduling crews and assigning work
  • Reviewing plans and specifications

Still relies on people

  • Inspecting the site for safety in person
  • Leading and coordinating crews on the job

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Structural Iron and Steel Workers

    Reading blueprints and checking alignment carry over. Pay is $120,840, though entry is through an apprenticeship.

    Pay difference
    +$20,950 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Glaziers

    Interpreting blueprints and checking that work is plumb carry over. Glazier pay is $107,610, and training is through an apprenticeship.

    Pay difference
    +$7,720 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +4.9%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

    Your safety practices and site setup carry over. This job pays $111,490 and has projected growth of 13.3%, with long-term training.

    Pay difference
    +$11,600 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +13.3%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

4 programs near Boston

Related occupations

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