Construction Laborer
LIUNA Local 563
The backbone of every job site — laborers keep projects moving with skilled manual work, demolition, and material handling.
Starting Pay
$27.90/hr
1st year apprentice
Journeyman Pay
$45.00/hr
~$90k/year
Apprenticeship
2 years
earn while you learn
Total Package
$120,000+
wages + benefits
Overview
The Work
Construction laborers from LIUNA Local 563 are the versatile workforce that keeps job sites running. The work spans demolition, concrete work (setting forms, placing and finishing concrete), asphalt paving, utility trenching, material handling, and site cleanup. Laborers are often the first ones in and last ones out. It's the most accessible entry point into the union construction industry — no prior experience is required — but it's physically demanding work that builds serious toughness and job-site skills.
Day One as an Apprentice
Day one you'll show up to a job site with your work gear and get assigned to a crew. You might be helping an equipment operator, cleaning up demolition debris, or mixing grout. It can feel unglamorous at first, but you're learning the pace of a job site and building relationships with skilled tradespeople across every trade.
This trade is
Pay Scale
Pay increases each year of the apprenticeship as a percentage of the journeyman rate. All rates are hourly; estimated annual at 2,000 hrs/year.
| Year | Stage | Hourly | Annual Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st Year Apprentice | $27.90/hr | ~$56k |
| 2 | 2nd Year Apprentice | $36.00/hr | ~$72k |
| 3 | Journeyman Laborer | $45.00/hr | ~$90k |
Benefits Package
Health and welfare fund coverage, pension contributions from every hour worked, and annuity savings. Laborers with consistent hours build significant retirement benefits over a career.
Apprenticeship Program
2 years
Program Length
200 hrs
Classroom Hours
4,000 hrs
On-the-Job Hours
How to Apply
Contact LIUNA Local 563 directly at (651) 646-6886 or visit liuna563.org. Laborers have a relatively open application process — you need a high school diploma or GED, a valid driver's license, and to pass a drug test. Work is dispatched through the hall.
Application Windows
Applications and dispatch work are available year-round. Spring through fall is peak season with the most work available.
Requirements
General Requirements
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid driver's license
- 18 years of age
- Pass a drug test
- Physical fitness — this is one of the most physically demanding trades
Physical Requirements
- Heavy lifting — regularly carrying 75+ lbs
- Work outdoors in all Minnesota weather conditions
- Digging, shoveling, and jackhammering
- Extended periods of standing, walking, and bending
Tools You'll Need
- Shovels, picks, and hand tools (often provided)
- Work gloves
- Steel-toed boots, hard hat, safety vest, safety glasses
Physical Demand
5/5
Technical Level
2/5
Union Hall
Market Outlook
High Demand
BLS projects 7% growth for construction laborers (SOC 47-2061) 2024–2034 (much faster than average) with about 149,400 annual openings nationally. MN DEED projects 8% growth 2022–2032 and about 3,300 annual openings statewide — one of the largest-volume skilled trades in Minnesota.
Next Steps
Ready to learn more or apply? Here's what to do right now.
Wage source: Journeyman base hourly rate is sourced from the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry Commercial Prevailing Wage Schedule (effective 2025-12-22), which is derived from the prevailing collective bargaining agreement for Twin Cities, St. Cloud, Mankato & Western Minnesota. Total package (with fringe benefits) is higher than the base rate shown. Apprentice progression rates are calculated as standard percentages of journeyman scale and may differ slightly from the actual CBA. This page is not affiliated with LIUNA Local 563 or any union. Verify all information — including current pay rates, application windows, and requirements — directly with LIUNA Local 563.