GSD Showcases

This isn’t career day in a beige cafeteria. This is the real deal. If you’re built to Get it Done, there’s a trade out there that needs you, right now. The GSD Built Trade Showcases break it all down. From sparkies to ranchers, from millwrights to medics, we highlight the skills, the lifestyle, the pay, and the pride that come with jobs that actually matter.

Think a trade is just a fallback? Think again. Skilled workers out-earn entire fleets of college grads. with no debt. GSD Built trades build lives, families, and legacies.

Here’s the truth: The world doesn’t run on coffee shops and influencer reels, it runs on trades. On grit. On people who wake up early, sweat hard, and build the future with their bare hands. If you’ve ever wondered what it actually takes to keep a country moving, you’re about to find out.

This isn’t some list of fallback careers. This is a showcase of front-line, boots-on-the-ground professions, the ones that keep the lights on, the water flowing, the roads paved, the homes built, and the country fed.

We’ve also rated each trade using our GSD Demand Rating, a system that cuts through the noise and tells you where the real need is. From “In Crisis” to “Ultra Competitive,” this is your snapshot of where opportunity lives and where reinforcements are desperately needed.

So don’t just browse, explore. This is your invite to the 75 GSD Built trades that don’t just pay the bills, they build the nation.

These are the hands that raise America from the dirt. They frame the walls, wire the power, pour the concrete, and make every structure stand tall and strong. There’s no shortcut here, just skill, sweat, and pride. You don’t build civilization without these people. This is the grit behind the skyline. This is core.

Core Construction & Infrastructure

Cabinet Maker / Installer

Builds and installs custom cabinets and woodwork for kitchens, bathrooms, and storage spaces in homes and businesses.

Carpenter

Constructs, installs, and repairs structures and frameworks using wood and other materials, from framing homes to building cabinetry.

Concrete Finisher

Places, levels, and finishes concrete surfaces for sidewalks, foundations, floors, and other construction projects.

Drywaller / Taper

Installs drywall panels and applies compound to seams and corners, creating smooth interior wall and ceiling surfaces.

Electrician

Installs, maintains, and repairs electrical systems in homes, businesses, and industrial settings, ensuring power distribution and safety.

Flooring Installer

Installs materials such as wood, vinyl, and carpet on interior floors to improve function and appearance.

Framer

Constructs the skeletal framework of buildings using wood or metal, creating the basic structure for walls, floors, and roofs.

Glazier (Glass Installer)

Cuts, installs, and replaces glass in windows, skylights, storefronts, and other fixtures in buildings.

Heavy Equipment Operator

Operates machinery like bulldozers, backhoes, and loaders for construction, excavation, and material transportation.

HVAC Technician

Installs, maintains, and repairs heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to ensure comfort and air quality indoors.

Insulation Installer

Installs thermal insulation in walls, floors, and ceilings to improve energy efficiency and indoor comfort.

Ironworker

Installs structural and reinforcing iron and steel for buildings, bridges, and roads, forming the skeleton of large structures.

Mason / Bricklayer

Lays bricks, concrete blocks, and stone to build walls, chimneys, and other durable, load-bearing structures.

Painter

Prepares and applies paint, stain, or coatings to interior and exterior surfaces for aesthetic and protective purposes.

Plumber

Installs and repairs piping systems for water, gas, and waste in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.

Roofer

Builds, repairs, and replaces roofs using materials like shingles, metal, and tile to protect buildings from weather damage.

Sheet Metal Worker

Fabricates and installs thin metal sheets for roofing, ventilation, and duct systems in buildings and industrial settings.

Siding Installer

Applies weather-resistant materials to exterior walls of buildings, improving durability and energy efficiency.

Tile Setter

Lays ceramic, stone, or glass tiles on floors, walls, and countertops with precision and aesthetic consideration.

Welder

Fuses metal parts using high heat to create or repair structures, equipment, and pipelines across various industries.

You might not see them in the spotlight, but nothing moves without them. These are the riggers, drillers, flaggers, and operators, the ones in the trenches, on the towers, and under the streets. When things need to happen safely, precisely, and fast, this crew shows up, throws down, and gets it done.

Specialized Construction Support

Asphalt Paver

Lays and compacts asphalt for roads, driveways, and parking lots to ensure smooth, durable surfaces.

Blaster / Demolition Specialist

Uses controlled explosives or tools to safely break down structures or rock for construction or mining purposes.

Concrete Pump Operator

Operates high-pressure concrete pumps for large pours in foundations, walls, and infrastructure.

Crane Operator

Operates tower or mobile cranes to lift, move, and place heavy materials and equipment on construction sites.

Crane Rigger

Prepares and secures loads for crane operations, ensuring proper lifting, balance, and safety.

Driller (Geotechnical)

Operates drilling rigs to obtain soil samples or install deep foundations for construction projects.

Excavator

Uses heavy machinery to dig foundations, trenches, and landscape areas in preparation for construction or utility work.

Fence Installer

Constructs fences for residential, commercial, or agricultural use to ensure security, boundaries, and containment.

Fire Sprinkler Technician

Installs and maintains fire sprinkler systems in buildings to ensure safety and compliance with fire codes.

General Contractor

Oversees entire construction projects, managing schedules, budgets, permits, and coordination of all trade work.

Scaffolder

Erects and dismantles scaffolding systems to provide safe access to high or hard-to-reach construction areas.

Site Supervisor

Directs on-site construction activities, ensuring safety, quality, and progress align with project goals.

Steel Fabricator

Cuts, shapes, and assembles steel components used in buildings, bridges, and industrial structures.

Stucco / EIFS INstaller

Applies exterior wall finishes like stucco or synthetic systems for insulation, durability, and architectural style.

Telecommunications Tower Technician

Climbs and maintains cell towers and communication infrastructure to ensure high-speed data transmission.

Traffic Control Technician (Flagger)

Directs vehicle and pedestrian traffic safely through or around road construction and utility work zones.

Traffic Signal Technician

Installs and maintains traffic control systems, including lights and crosswalks for public safety.

Utility Locator

Uses equipment to detect and mark underground utilities before excavation to prevent damage and ensure safety.

These are the masters of motion. The techs, the tinkerers, the machine-minded warriors who keep the world spinning. From diesel engines to transmission lines, if it turns, roars, lifts, or runs, they’re behind it. They don’t talk about grind, they are the grind.