Construction – Infrastructure Planning
Career Ladder
Learn About The Construction – Infrastructure Planning Career Path
Advance your skills and learn what it takes to move up the Construction – Infrastructure Planning Career Ladder!
Each career level contains information about hourly wages, job descriptions, main job duties, examples of job titles, general skills, and links to educational courses and training opportunities. Select one of the levels to learn more.
To explore other career ladders, please visit our Career Ladders page. If you have further questions about local labour market information, email helpdesk@wdb.ca or visit wdb.ca.
* Many other career paths branch out from apprenticeship within the construction industry.
Entrepreneur / Business Owner
Varies
Civil Engineer
$46.70
Land Surveyor
$42.71
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technician
$42.52
Construction Inspector
$42.45
Public Works and Maintenance Labourer
$25.37
Apprenticeships can lead to careers in construction – infrastructure planning. It is also possible to enter this career path directly.
Apprenticeship*
$26.00
*median hourly wage as of October 1, 2024
Apprenticeship
Wages
Low
$22.00
Median
$26.00
High
$35.00
What is Apprenticeship?
- A pathway to a rewarding career in the trades that require a high level of skill, judgement and creativity
- A combination of on-the-job training & in-school learning
- An opportunity to earn an hourly wage while learning from experienced workers
- A 2-5 year process wherein apprentices work for a year, then switch to studying in class for 8-12 weeks
- 144 trades in Ontario that support mechanical, electrical, automotive, manufacturing, building and service industries
Skills
Judgement
Creativity
Examples of Trades with Apprenticeships
Plumber, General Carpenter, Heavy Equipment Technician, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic, Heavy Equipment Operator
Education & Training Resources
Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
Skilled Trades Ontario
FLEMING COLLEGE
Construction Training & Apprenticeship Ontario
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program
Support Ontario Youth
Online job posting numbers are designated via key word search and may not reflect the exact number of search results for this occupation. Check directly with Municipal websites for more job postings.
Public Works and Maintenance Labourer
Wages
Low
$19.90
Median
$25.37
High
$28.85
Main Job Duties
- Clean and maintain sidewalks, streets, roads and public grounds of municipality and other areas, working as member of crew
- Sweep debris and remove snow from streets, sidewalks, building grounds and other areas, and load snow and debris into carts or trucks
- Shovel cement and other materials into cement mixers, spread concrete and asphalt on road surfaces using shovels, rakes and hand tampers, and perform other activities to assist in maintenance and repair of roads
- Spread sand or salt on sidewalks for snow and ice control
- Dig ditches and trenches using shovels and other hand tools
- Operate jackhammers and drills to break up pavement
- Load and unload trucks with supplies and equipment
- Collect money from coin boxes of parking meters along established route
- Collect and load refuse on garbage trucks
- Assist equipment operators to secure attachments to equipment or trucks
- Assist in routine maintenance and repair of equipment
- Assist skilled tradespersons such as carpenters, plumbers and mechanics
- May operate mobile sidewalk-cleaning equipment
Skills
Communication
Management
Operations
Customer Service
Job Title Examples
Public Works Labourer
Municipal Labourer
Road Maintenance Worker
Education & Training Resources
Several weeks of on-the-job training are provided.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
FLEMING COLLEGE
Programs
Continuing Education
SERVICE AND TRAINING PROVIDERS
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
- Occupational-specific training, career planning, job search,
resume writing, or government-funded programs - Upgrading and skills development including grade 12 support, customer service, money math, computers or help in preparing to write a driver’s test
Online job posting numbers are designated via key word search and may not reflect the exact number of search results for this occupation. Check directly with Municipal websites for more job postings.
Construction Inspector
Wages
Low
$34.30
Median
$42.45
High
$53.50
Main Job Duties
- Examine plans, drawings, and site layouts for new buildings, building renovations and other proposed structures
- Inspect construction of buildings, bridges, dams, highways and other types of building and engineering construction for conformance to drawings, specifications, building codes or other applicable ordinances
- Inspect and test electrical or plumbing installations in buildings to ensure compliance with municipal, provincial and federal regulations
- Inspect steel framework, concrete forms, reinforcing steel mesh and rods, concrete or pre-stressed concrete to ensure quality standards and to verify conformance to specifications and building codes
- Inspect construction of sewer systems and pipelines
- Inspect construction sites to ensure that safe working conditions are maintained
- Inspect existing buildings to identify and report on structural defects, fire hazards and other threats to safety
- Inspect new or resale homes on behalf of clients and assess and provide reports on the physical condition of property
- Assess the energy performance and potential energy savings of buildings
- Plan, design, develop, implement, and evaluate workplace activities to ensure that workers comply with company policies and government safety regulations
Skills
Construction
Communication
Organization
Management
Co-ordinating
Job Title Examples
Building Inspector
Construction Inspector
Home Inspector
Education & Training Resources
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- A college diploma in construction, civil engineering or architectural technology plus several years of related work experience or several years of experience as a qualified tradesperson in a construction trade, such as plumbing, carpentry or electrical trade are usually required.
- Provincial certification in a skilled trade or as an engineering technologist is usually required.
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is offered by the Canada Green Building Council and may be required by some employers.
- Certification as a Construction Safety Officer (CSO) by provincially chartered associations may be required in provinces having such associations.
- Home inspectors require a licence to practice in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.
- Energy advisors must affiliate with a licenced service organization, complete required training and pass the EnerGuide foundation level exam and Energy advisor exam to become registered with Natural Resources Canada as an energy advisor.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
FLEMING COLLEGE
Programs
Continuing Education
Georgian College
Durham College
Loyalist College
Trent University
Canada Green Building Council
Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations (CFCSA)
Natural Resources Canada
SERVICE AND TRAINING PROVIDERS
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
- Occupational-specific training, career planning, job search,
resume writing, or government-funded programs - Upgrading and skills development including grade 12 support, customer service, money math, computers or help in preparing to write a driver’s test
Online job posting numbers are designated via key word search and may not reflect the exact number of search results for this occupation. Check directly with Municipal websites for more job postings.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technician
Wages
Low
$33.79
Median
$42.52
High
$50.60
Main Job Duties
- Operate specialized computer hardware and software and peripheral equipment to model, manage, analyze and display geospatial data
- Develop specialized computer software routines, Internet-based GIS, database and business applications to customize geographic information
- Work with external organizations on data transfer and systems compatibility issues
- Perform data entry and editing activities and maintenance operations to systems following predetermined calibration procedures
- Integrate external software such as spreadsheets and statistical packages with GIS software
- Train and provide technical support for GIS users
Skills
Management
Customer Support
Communication
Accountability
Job Title Examples
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technician
Cartographer
Mapping Technician
Education & Training Resources
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- Geomatics technologists and technicians require completion of a college program in geomatics, cartography, photogrammetry, aerial survey, remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS) or geomatics.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
Fleming College
Georgian College
Durham College
Toronto Metropolitan University
York University
Waterloo University
SERVICE AND TRAINING PROVIDERS
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
- Occupational-specific training, career planning, job search,
resume writing, or government-funded programs - Upgrading and skills development including grade 12 support, customer service, money math, computers or help in preparing to write a driver’s test
Online job posting numbers are designated via key word search and may not reflect the exact number of search results for this occupation. Check directly with Municipal websites for more job postings.
Land Surveyor
Wages
Low
$34.09
Median
$42.71
High
$53.66
Main Job Duties
- Develop survey plans, methods and procedures for conducting legal surveys
- Plan, direct and supervise or conduct surveys to establish and mark legal boundaries of properties, parcels of lands, provincial and Canada Lands, Aboriginal land claims, well-sites, mining claims, utility rights-of-way, roadways and highways
- Survey and lay out subdivisions for rural and urban development
- Determine precise locations using electronic distance measuring equipment, global positioning systems (GPS), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)/drones
- Analyze, manage and display data using geographic information systems (GIS) and computer-aided design and drafting (CAD)
- Record all measurements and other information obtained during survey activities
- Prepare or supervise the preparation and compilation of all data, plans, charts, records and documents related to surveys of real property boundaries
- Certify and assume liability for surveys made to establish real property boundaries
- Advise, provide consultation and testify as an expert witness on matters related to legal surveys
- May supervise other land surveyors, and land survey technologists and technicians
Skills
Mapping
Global Positioning Systems
Management
Detail Oriented
Job Title Examples
Land Surveyor
Property Surveyor
City Surveyor
Education & Training Resources
- A bachelor’s degree in geomatics engineering or survey engineering is usually required.
- A college diploma in survey science or geomatics technology with additional academic credits and successful completion of equivalent examinations set by a regional board of examiners for land surveyors is required.
- A one- to three-year articling period is required.
- Successful completion of professional land surveyor examinations is required.
- A federal or provincial land surveyor’s licence is required.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
Fleming College
Georgian College
Durham College
Loyalist College
Toronto Metropolitan University
York University
Waterloo University
Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (OLS)
SERVICE AND TRAINING PROVIDERS
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
- Occupational-specific training, career planning, job search,
resume writing, or government-funded programs - Upgrading and skills development including grade 12 support, customer service, money math, computers or help in preparing to write a driver’s test
Online job posting numbers are designated via key word search and may not reflect the exact number of search results for this occupation. Check directly with Municipal websites for more job postings.
Civil Engineer
Wages
Low
$34.53
Median
$46.70
High
$59.67
Main Job Duties
- Confer with clients and other members of the engineering team and conduct research to determine project requirements
- Plan and design major civil projects such as buildings, roads, bridges, dams, water and waste management systems and structural steel fabrications
- Develop construction specifications and procedures
- Evaluate and recommend appropriate building and construction materials
- Interpret, review and approve survey and civil design work
- Conduct field services for civil works
- Ensure construction plans meet guidelines and specifications of building codes and other regulations
- Establish and monitor construction work schedules
- Conduct feasibility studies, economic analyses, municipal and regional traffic studies, environmental impact studies or other investigations
- Monitor air, water and soil quality and develop procedures to clean up contaminated sites
- Conduct technical analyses of survey and field data for development of topographic, soil, hydrological or other information and prepare reports
- Act as project or site supervisor for land survey or construction work
- Prepare contract documents and review and evaluate tenders for construction projects
- Supervise technicians, technologists and other engineers and review and approve designs, calculations and cost estimates
Skills
Communication
Technical Support
Management
Construction
Job Title Examples
Civil Engineer
Municipal Engineer
Construction Engineer
Education & Training Resources
- A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.
- A master’s degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.
- Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
- Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is offered by the Canada Green Building Council and may be required by some employers.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
Georgian College
Durham College
Toronto Metropolitan University
SERVICE AND TRAINING PROVIDERS
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
- Occupational-specific training, career planning, job search,
resume writing, or government-funded programs - Upgrading and skills development including grade 12 support, customer service, money math, computers or help in preparing to write a driver’s test
Online job posting numbers are designated via key word search and may not reflect the exact number of search results for this occupation. Check directly with Municipal websites for more job postings.
Entrepreneur / Business Owner
APPROXIMATELY 1,450 NEW BUSINESSES ARE LAUNCHED ANNUALLY IN THE WDB REGION.
Main Job Duties
- Create and manage a business plan, including ongoing research and planning, and time management
- Secure funding, maintain business bank accounts, payments processing, taxes and general bookkeeping
- Develop marketing campaigns, manage social media and conduct other marketing activities
- Respond to customer service inquiries, including answer phone calls and emails to build a positive reputation for the business
- Recruit and manage employees
Skills
Customer Service
Organization
Time Management
Accounting
Job Title Examples
Small Business Owner
Franchisee
Education & Training Resources
Grant for students aged 15 to 29 to start a new summer business
Grant for Canadians 18+ to start a new business or grow a business that has been in operations for fewer than five years
Financing, mentorship and community support for local small businesses
Supports entrepreneurs in the formation and growth of tech-driven companies
Continuing Education
TRENT UNIVERSITY
Sources:
National Occupational Classification (NOC)
Lightcast (2024.1)
Job Bank
Job posting data is from WDB Local Jobs Hub (WDB Region)
These Career Ladders were developed as part of the Build and Soar Program and are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.