General Labor / Entry-Level
The honest starting point. If you don’t have a trade yet, General Labor / Entry-Level is where you begin — general jobsite and warehouse work, moving material, handling tools, and learning safety basics while you figure out which skilled trade fits you.
General Labor / Entry-Level goes by many names
On KinTrades, all of these job titles route to the General Labor / Entry-Level trade — so search any of them and you'll find matching work.
Day to day when you’re starting out
Entry-level work is hands-on and varied: moving and staging material, loading and unloading, keeping the site or warehouse clean and organized, handing tools to skilled workers, and learning how a jobsite actually runs. No specific trade is required to start — employers hire on reliability, physical readiness, and willingness to learn.
The point of this lane is momentum. You earn while you explore. On one job you might shadow a carpenter framing walls; on another you’re helping load a delivery truck or prepping a site before a concrete pour. Every shift is a look at a different trade — and a chance to find the one you want to commit to.
Most people don’t stay general-labor forever, and that’s by design. After a few months to a couple of years, you pick a direction — carpenter, electrician, plumber, welder, HVAC — and step into that trade’s apprenticeship or helper role with real jobsite experience already behind you.
How you move up from Entry-Level
This lane is deliberately short — the goal is to pick a trade. Rungs 1–2 reflect BLS SOC 47-3019 (Helpers, Construction Trades); rungs 3–4 show typical ranges after you commit to a specialized trade — see that trade’s page for its own BLS band. BLS OES 47-3019, May 2025.
General Labor — what this rung looks like
What General Labor / Entry-Levels earn in VA, DC, MD & NC
Pay data: BLS OEWS · May 2025 · VA · DC · MD · NC. Expanding nationally.
Is General Labor / Entry-Level a growing trade?
Core craft + supporting skills
Core skills (orange) are required for the General Labor / Entry-Level trade; supporting skills (gray) complete a well-rounded journeyworker.
Paths into the General Labor / Entry-Level trade
Direct hire, entry-level
Most people start here with no prior credentials — general contractors, builders, warehouses, and facilities crews hire on reliability and willingness to learn. OSHA 10 is usually covered in your first weeks.
Use it to find your trade
Browse every trade’s pay, day-in-the-life, and career ladder on KinTrades. Follow the ones that interest you, then commit when one clicks. Exploration is the on-ramp — not a detour.
Step into a specialized trade
After a few months to a couple of years, apply to the apprenticeship or helper track for the trade you picked — carpenter, electrician, plumber, welder, HVAC, mason, and more.
Certifications that carry over
OSHA 10/30 and NCCER Core Curriculum are recognized across every trade — earn them here and they follow you into whatever specialty you choose.
Common pathways into General Labor / Entry-Level work
KinTrades welcomes General Labor / Entry-Level workers from every walk of life. Whether you're a veteran transitioning out of service, a student planning your career, or someone returning to work — there's a clear path in.
Veterans
Entry-level trade work is a natural first civilian step — the pace, physical readiness, and team dynamics are familiar from military life.
It also lets you sample several trades before committing, so the apprenticeship you eventually choose is the right one.
Veterans on KinTradesHigh School Students
This is the most accessible on-ramp to a skilled-trades career for recent grads — no experience or credentials required beyond a willingness to work and learn.
Spend a few months seeing how real jobsites run, then pick the trade that fits you and step into its apprenticeship with experience already in hand.
Students on KinTradesSecond Chance
Entry-level trade jobs are among the most accessible on KinTrades — many independent contractors hire on physical readiness, work ethic, and reliability.
Background checks are uncommon at entry level, though some federal jobsites require site-access screening.
Second-chance hiringCertifications, apprenticeships & licensing for General Labor / Entry-Levels
Certifications that move you up
- NCCER Core Curriculum (NCCER Core) Recommended
Registered apprenticeship programs
- LiUNA Laborers' Local 11 — Registered Apprenticeship (JATC) 2 yr
- LiUNA Laborers' Local 11 — Registered Apprenticeship (JATC) 2 yr
- LIUNA Local 710 — Registered Apprenticeship (JATC) 2 yr
- LiUNA Laborers' Local 11 — Registered Apprenticeship (JATC) 2 yr
- LIUNA Local 484 — Registered Apprenticeship (JATC) 2 yr
- LIUNA Local 980 — Registered Apprenticeship (JATC) 2 yr
Union locals in our region
- LiUNA Laborers' Local 11 DC, MD, VA
- LIUNA Local 484 VA
- LIUNA Local 710 MD
- LIUNA Local 980 VA
If General Labor / Entry-Level interests you, also look at
Common questions about becoming a General Labor / Entry-Level
What does a General Labor / Entry-Level do?
Entry-level work is hands-on and varied: moving and staging material, loading and unloading, keeping the site or warehouse clean and organized, handing tools to skilled workers, and learning how a jobsite actually runs. No specific trade is required to start — employers hire on reliability, physical readiness, and willingness to learn.
What does a General Labor / Entry-Level make in Virginia, DC, Maryland, and North Carolina?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025, General Labor / Entry-Levels earn an annual median of $42K in Virginia (range $36K–$51K), $43K in DC ($33K–$60K)*, $44K in Maryland ($36K–$61K), and $38K in North Carolina ($29K–$51K). *State estimate not published by BLS for this occupation — national figure shown.
How do you become a General Labor / Entry-Level?
Direct hire, entry-level: Most people start here with no prior credentials — general contractors, builders, warehouses, and facilities crews hire on reliability and willingness to learn. OSHA 10 is usually covered in your first weeks.
How long is General Labor / Entry-Level apprenticeship in Virginia, DC, Maryland, or North Carolina?
A few weeks to a few months — you learn fast because every job is different.
Is General Labor / Entry-Level a growing career?
Yes — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections have General Labor / Entry-Level employment set to grow 4.4% between 2024 and 2034. The BLS projects about 2,800 openings per year nationally, most from workers retiring or leaving the trade.
Is General Labor / Entry-Level a good career path for someone with a record?
Entry-level trade jobs are among the most accessible on KinTrades — many independent contractors hire on physical readiness, work ethic, and reliability. Background checks are uncommon at entry level, though some federal jobsites require site-access screening.