Overview
Utilities & Infrastructure Workers Needed!
Qualifications, Education & Training
Entry Level Jobs
Helpful Services
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Overview
Your probably know what we mean by utilities and infrastructure but just in case, this section covers jobs with utilities (power/electricity, gas, water, sewage) and infrastructure (the term typically refers to the physical structures that support society, such as roads, bridges, dams, sewers, electrical grids, railways, airports, canals, levees, ports, mass transit and so forth). To make it simple, infrastructure is anything that is needed every day.
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Utilities & Infrastructure Workers Needed!
Employment in the water, sewage, and other systems industry is anticipated to increase 26 percent by 2020. As the population continues to grow, more water treatment facilities are being built, driving growth in this industry.
Growth among engineering occupations, especially civil engineers, is expected to be high. As the nation's infrastructure ages, a greater emphasis will be placed on maintaining existing structures as well as designing and implementing new roads, water systems, and pollution control systems.
Civil Engineers design and supervise large construction projects, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment.
Civil Engineering Technicians help civil engineers plan and design the construction of highways, bridges, utilities, and other major infrastructure projects. They also help with commercial, residential, and land development. Civil engineering technicians work under the direction of a licensed civil engineer.
Construction and Extraction workers build roads, bridges, and other structures, and work in mines, quarries, and oil and gas fields. Employment of these workers is expected to grow 22 percent. Job growth will result from increased construction of and the repair and replacement of the nation’s infrastructure.
Architects plan and design buildings and other structures.
Landscape Architects plan and design land areas for parks, recreational facilities, highways, airports, and other properties.
Surveyors establish official land, airspace, and water boundaries. Surveyors work with civil engineers, landscape architects, and urban and regional planners to develop comprehensive design documents.
Line installers and repairers install or repair electrical power systems and telecommunications cables, including fiber optics.
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers also known as telecom technicians, set up and maintain devices or equipment that carry communications signals, connect to telephone lines, or access the Internet.
Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment. Electronics engineers design and develop electronic equipment, such as broadcast and communications systems—from portable music players to global positioning systems (GPS).
Boilermakers assemble, install, and repair boilers, closed vats, and other large vessels or containers that hold liquids and gases.
These are just a few of the many jobs and careers available in this industry.
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Qualifications, Education and Training
Civil engineers need a bachelor’s degree. They typically need a graduate degree for promotion to managerial positions. Civil engineers who sell their own services publicly must be licensed in all states and the District of Columbia.
Although not always required, an associate’s degree in civil engineering technology is preferred for civil engineering technicians.
Line installers and repairers require long-term on-the-job training and some technical instruction. Formal apprenticeships are common.
Postsecondary education in electronics and computer technology is important for telecommunications equipment installers and repairers. For more complex work, a 4-year degree may be the best preparation. Industry certification is required for some positions.
Electrical and electronics engineers must have a bachelor’s degree. Employers also value practical experience, so graduates of cooperative engineering programs, in which students earn academic credit for structured work experience, are valuable as well.
Most boilermakers learn their trade through a formal apprenticeship program. Candidates are more likely to get into training programs if they already have welding experience and certification.
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Entry Level Jobs
There are several jobs in this field that don’t seem to require a High School Diploma/GED though they may require you to be an adult teen 18 or older.
Here are some sample jobs in the construction and extraction area:
Boilermakers
Masons use bricks, concrete blocks, and natural stones to build fences, walkways, walls, and other structures.
Carpenters construct and repair building frameworks and structures—such as stairways, doorframes, partitions, and rafters—made from wood and other materials. They also may install kitchen cabinets, siding, and drywall.
Carpet installers lay carpet in homes, offices, restaurants, and many other types of buildings.
Cement Masons and Terrazzo Workers pour, smooth, and finish concrete floors, sidewalks, roads, and curbs. Using a cement mixture, terrazzo workers create durable and decorative surfaces for floors and stairways.
Construction and building inspectors ensure that new construction, changes, or repairs comply with local and national building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications.
Construction equipment operators drive, maneuver, or control the heavy machinery used to construct roads, bridges, buildings, and other structures.
Construction laborers and helpers do many basic tasks that require physical labor on construction sites.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers hang wallboards to walls and ceilings inside buildings. Tapers prepare the wallboards for painting, using tape and other materials. Many workers do both installing and taping.
Electricians install and maintain electrical systems in homes, businesses, and factories.
Elevator installers and repairers install, fix, and maintain elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and other lifts.
Glaziers install glass in windows, skylights, storefronts, and display cases to create distinctive designs or reduce the need for artificial lighting.
Hazardous materials removal workers (hazmat) identify and dispose of asbestos, radioactive and nuclear waste, arsenic, lead, and other hazardous materials. They also clean up materials that are flammable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic.
Insulation workers install and replace the materials used to insulate buildings and their mechanical systems to help control and maintain temperature.
Oil and gas workers carry out the plans for drilling that petroleum engineers have designed. They operate the equipment that digs the well and that removes the oil or gas.
Painters, construction and maintenance apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls, buildings, bridges, and other structures.
Plasterers and stucco masons apply coats of plaster or stucco to walls, ceilings, or partitions for functional and decorative purposes. Some workers apply ornamental plaster.
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair pipes that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases to and in businesses, homes, and factories.
Reinforcing iron and rebar workers install mesh, steel bars (rebar), or cables to reinforce concrete.
Roofers repair and install the roofs of buildings using a variety of materials, including shingles, asphalt, and metal.
Sheet metal workers fabricate or install products that are made from thin metal sheets, such as ducts used for heating and air-conditioning.
Structural iron and steel workers install iron or steel beams, girders, and columns to form buildings, bridges, and other structures. They are often referred to as ironworkers.
Tile and marble setters apply hard tile, marble, and wood tiles to walls, floors, and other surfaces.
If you are interested in pursuing a job in this field, search for these types of job titles in the database and from our supporters on the right.
You should also visit the career/job sections of your local, county and state government.
Look for positions that are entry level, internship, coop, apprenticeship and volunteer as well.
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Helpful Services
Careers in Geothermal Energy