Updated June 25, 2024
6 min read
Quoted Experts
Jim Olson,
Ira Wiesenfeld
A tradesman is a skilled worker who specializes in a specific trade, such as construction, plumbing, or electrical work. They perform various tasks like roofing, installing and maintaining A/C systems, and repairing pipe systems. Tradesmen also handle scaffolding, operate hand tools, and employ power tools like angle grinders. They work on diverse projects, including residential remodels, commercial buildings, and routine maintenance tasks. Tradesmen are familiar with safety codes, ensuring work complies with legal requirements and building codes.
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Tradesman responsibilities
As a tradesman, one's responsibilities are diverse and crucial. They range from performing general construction repairs such as paint, trim carpentry, and cabinet installation, to maintaining and installing a wide variety of industrial HVAC systems and associated control systems. Tradesmen also collaborate with licensed contractors on installation and repair services for complex building maintenance projects. In the words of Ira Wiesenfeld, Chairman-Elect at ETA, "Someone with less theoretical knowledge but more hands-on training and experience can be a productive employee beginning the day they're hired. That is the person who is most in demand." This emphasizes the practical nature of a tradesman's role.
Here are examples of responsibilities from real tradesman resumes:
- Set up the park and run power for all the vendors that are there.
- Install acoustic panels, finish caulking.
- Follow OSHA safety regulations to ensure a safe job site.
- Assist craft workers in erecting scaffolding, and setting support braces.
- Participate on OSHA back-up team to follow up and maintain safety issues
- Used materials include rails, planks and ladders for the scaffold.
- Dig and back fill trenches and restore job sites to their original status
- Assemble and install metal framing and decorative trim for windows, doorways, and vents.
- Perform all aspects of diagnostics, maintenance, repair and replacement for HVAC and relate systems.
- Experience in sheet metal and HVAC systems, installing doors and hatches, and joiner and insulation.
- Work on numerous residential projects in the trades of masonry, carpentry, roofing, and finishes.
- Replace bricks in brick walkways, remove mold from decks, and replace damaged fascia boards and roofing repairs.
- Work on various ventilation systems, installing access doors for servicing, also clean and maintain coils for heating units.
- Identify tools and procedures need for different plumbing activities and installations.
- Identify plumbing and safety problems applicable to the installation and take necessary corrective action.
Tradesman skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Tradesmen are proficient in HVAC, Plumbing, and Hand Tools. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Craft experience, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Tradesmen that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- HVAC, 14%
Performed all aspects of diagnostics, maintenance, repair and replacement for HVAC and related systems.
- Plumbing, 11%
Identified tools and procedures needed for different plumbing activities and installations.
- Hand Tools, 7%
Gained knowledge and expertise with a wide variety of hand tools, power tools, and other construction equipment.
- Mechanical Equipment, 5%
Perform maintenance on all mechanical equipment.
- Troubleshoot, 5%
Assist Journeymen Preventative Maintenance Troubleshoot and repair Residential/Commercial
- Roofing, 4%
Perform general construction repairs including: Paint, trim carpentry, cabinet installation, siding, roofing, drywall, etc.
Most tradesmen use their skills in "hvac," "plumbing," and "hand tools" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential tradesman responsibilities here:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a tradesman to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what tradesmen do because "inspectors must be able to explain problems they discover and to write a report that clearly describes their findings." Additionally, a tradesman resume shows how tradesmen use communication skills: "assisted with various construction projects and utilized interpersonal communication skills when interacting with customers. "
Detail oriented. This is an important skill for tradesmen to perform their duties. For an example of how tradesman responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "inspectors thoroughly examine many different construction activities." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a tradesman: "help contractor communicate with manual labor for specific detailed tasks. ".
Mechanical knowledge. tradesman responsibilities often require "mechanical knowledge." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "inspectors use a variety of testing equipment to check complex systems and must therefore understand how the systems operate." This resume example shows what tradesmen do with mechanical knowledge on a typical day: "demonstrated knowledge of blueprints by reading drawing plans of the layout of pipe systems and schematics. "
All tradesman skills
The three companies that hire the most tradesmans are:
- RWJBarnabas Health6 tradesmen jobs
- Serco6 tradesmen jobs
- Austal5 tradesmen jobs
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Compare different tradesmen
Tradesman vs. Electrical contractor
Field supervisors are referred to as the generals for various industries such as engineering, construction, and energy. These supervisors oversee and manage field staff's performance. Their responsibilities include the training and supervision of their staff members for significant guidance. Supervisors should be equipped with communication skills, analysis, and participation. They take charge of projects involving construction, building and landscape maintenance, and engineering. Also, they protect a facility against vandalism and theft.
If we compare the average tradesman annual salary with that of an electrical contractor, we find that electrical contractors typically earn a $28,169 higher salary than tradesmen make annually.Even though tradesmen and electrical contractors are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require hvac, construction projects, and light fixtures in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, tradesman responsibilities require skills like "plumbing," "hand tools," "mechanical equipment," and "troubleshoot." Meanwhile a typical electrical contractor has skills in areas such as "electrical conduit," "transformers," "general contractors," and "payroll." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, electrical contractors reach similar levels of education than tradesmen. Electrical contractors are 3.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.
Learn more about tradesmen vs field supervisors.
Tradesman vs. Private contractor
A house supervisor is responsible for supporting the medical facilities' operations on behalf of the unit management. House supervisors ensure that the medical staff provides the highest quality care services for the patients by responding to their inquiries and concerns and assisting their medical needs. They also handle staffing management, recruiting and training new employees, and monitoring the adequacy of staff during every shift. A house supervisor performs administrative and clerical duties as needed, including budgeting and creating financial reports, and monitoring medical inventories.
A career as a private contractor brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a tradesman. In fact, private contractors salary is $7,438 higher than the salary of tradesmen per year.A few skills overlap for tradesmen and private contractors. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "hvac," "troubleshoot," and "construction projects. "
Each career also uses different skills, according to real tradesman resumes. While tradesman responsibilities can utilize skills like "plumbing," "hand tools," "mechanical equipment," and "roofing," private contractors use skills like "snow removal," "ran," "mowing," and "manual labor."
In general, private contractors achieve higher levels of education than tradesmen. They're 5.8% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
Learn more about tradesmen vs house supervisors.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Tradesmans in the next 3-5 years?
Jim Olson
Assistant Executive Director, National Tile Contractors Association
As installers it is always hard to schedule jobs as they are ever-changing in this market. Also, bidding jobs is time consuming and detail oriented, so I believe software that can assist with scheduling and bidding will be a growing field in the future.
Tradesman vs. Field supervisor
On average scale, field supervisors bring in higher salaries than tradesmen. In fact, they earn a $4,658 higher salary per year.Using the responsibilities included on tradesmen and field supervisors resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "hvac," "troubleshoot," and "osha.rdquo;
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, tradesmen are more likely to have skills like "plumbing," "hand tools," "mechanical equipment," and "roofing." But a field supervisor is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "quality standards," "emergency situations," and "payroll."
Field supervisors earn the highest salary when working in the energy industry, where they receive an average salary of $54,470. Comparatively, tradesmen have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $51,243.Most field supervisors achieve a similar degree level compared to tradesmen. For example, they're 3.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
Tradesman vs. House supervisor
House supervisors average a higher salary than the annual salary of tradesmen. The difference is about $22,793 per year.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between tradesmen and house supervisors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a tradesman might have more use for skills like "hvac," "plumbing," "hand tools," and "mechanical equipment." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of house supervisors require skills like "patients," "acls," "acute care," and "customer service. "
The health care industry tends to pay the highest salaries for house supervisors, with average annual pay of $68,110. Comparatively, the highest tradesman annual salary comes from the technology industry.house supervisors reach higher levels of education compared to tradesmen, in general. The difference is that they're 6.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.
Types of tradesman
Updated June 25, 2024
Zippia Team
Editorial Staff
The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.
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Tradesman Related Careers
- Assistant Superintendent
- Carpenter/Painter
- Construction Foreman
- Construction Supervisor
- Contractor Assistant
- Crew Foreman
- Crew Leader
- Crew Supervisor
- Electrical Contractor
- Electrical Foreman
- Field Supervisor
- Foreman/Operator
- General Foreman
- House Supervisor
- Leadman
Tradesman Related Jobs
- Assistant Superintendent
- Carpenter/Painter
- Construction Foreman
- Construction Supervisor
- Contractor Assistant
- Crew Foreman
- Crew Leader
- Crew Supervisor
- Electrical Contractor
- Electrical Foreman
- Field Supervisor
- Foreman/Operator
- General Foreman
- House Supervisor
- Leadman
Resume For Related Jobs
- Assistant Superintendent Resume
- Carpenter/Painter Resume
- Construction Foreman Resume
- Construction Supervisor Resume
- Contractor Assistant Resume
- Crew Foreman Resume
- Crew Leader Resume
- Crew Supervisor Resume
- Electrical Foreman Resume
- Field Supervisor Resume
- Foreman/Operator Resume
- General Foreman Resume
- House Supervisor Resume
- Leadman Resume
- Private Contractor Resume
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- What Does A Tradesman Do
Updated June 25, 2024
