Finding a good job in the United States is not always easy for migrants, but one young Latino man surprised TikTok by saying that the best pay he received was in a construction job.
The curious thing is that this was not a specialized position, but a job as an “assistant”, earning $1,800 a week.
A Latino reveals how much he earned in construction in the U.S.
@alfcastellanoss_ What is the highest paid job in the United States ? #concrete #texas #work #usa #houstontx #houston ♬ Así Fue – En Vivo Desde Bellas Artes, México/ 2013 – Juan Gabriel
In a video posted on TikTok, Alf Castellanos shared that he had gone through different jobs since he arrived in the United States, but none left him with as much money as working in construction.
He explained that, despite not having technical experience or a specialized position, his salary was high.
His task consisted of unloading materials and applying cement on construction sites.
“The people who understand that job well enough are the ones who make good money,” he said.
Still, he noted that as a concrete assistant he was paid $1,800 per week, a figure that surprised many users on the platform.
Tough conditions in the highest paid job
Although the salary was attractive, Castellanos stressed that the physical effort and conditions were very tough in the highest paying job for Latinos in the US.
He recalled having to get up at dawn, endure high temperatures and work long days, sometimes until midnight.
“The heat was the most terrible thing, because when we threw cement under the sun it dried quickly and we had to work in a hurry,” he recounted.
The Latino mentioned that, at times, working hours were extended up to seven days a week due to the high demand in the sector.
Despite the sacrifice, he said it was worth it: “The good thing was that it paid well,” he repeated.
How much do construction workers earn in the United States?
Castellanos’ case reflects a reality that many Latinos in the United States experience: the highest-paying construction job in the U.S. is physically demanding, but often pays better than other unskilled jobs.
According to Indeed data, the average salary for a construction worker in the country ranges from $35,000 to $55,000 per year.
However, pay can vary significantly depending on region, experience and type of work.
Nationally: a construction worker earns on average $19 to $25 per hour.
By region: states such as California, Texas or New York offer higher salaries due to high labor demand and cost of living.
By specialization: workers with technical skills, such as welders, formworkers or construction electricians, can easily exceed $70,000 per year.
In some cases, such as Castellanos, even support positions without specific technical training can generate very high incomes, especially when working overtime or participating in large-scale projects.
Construction as a labor option for Latino migrants
For the Latino community, construction has established itself as one of the industries with the most employment opportunities and the best income.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 30% of U.S. construction workers are of Latino origin.
Many migrants find in this sector a quick way to obtain economic stability, albeit at the cost of long hours and considerable physical effort.
Demand for labor remains high and, with urban growth and infrastructure in several cities, opportunities are expected to continue to increase.
In this context, testimonials such as that of Alf Castellanos show that, although construction work is not always easy, it can become one of the best alternatives for those seeking a competitive income in the United States.
This article was originally published in Nueva News.
