Waterway construction labourer
Also known as: waterway maintenance worker, waterway construction worker, waterway maintenance man, waterway maintenance operative, waterway maintenance woman, waterway construction operative
About this occupation
Waterway maintenance labourers maintain canals, dams and other waterway structures such as coastal or inland water plants. They are responsible for the construction of breakwaters, canals, dikes and embankments as well as other works in and around water.
A specialisation of civil engineering worker.
Essential skills and knowledge
- construct canal locks
- install tunnel segments
- operate pumps
- manage sumps
- perform drainage work
- excavation techniques
- maintain dredging equipment
- dredging consoles
- identify defects in concrete
- dig soil mechanically
- inspect construction sites
- plan surface slope
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Construction Laborers (O*NET 47-2061.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt.
- Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
- Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
- Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
- Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
- Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Speaking, Active Listening, Coordination, Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Reading Comprehension
US median pay: US$47,120 a year (2025), 1,096,780 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- WoodworkO*NET: Building and ConstructionVery important (4.0)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
- Pipelayers
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
- Carpenters
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.