How Many Jobs Are Available In Retail Building Materials

Last Updated on April 23, 2023 by Chris Panteli

How Many Jobs Are Available In Retail Building Materials

Are you struggling to decide which career to pursue?

Perhaps you’re a high school dropout. Maybe you’ve got a college degree, but you’re interested in learning about other career opportunities.

One industry that’s worth considering is retail building materials. However, there are a few key questions to ask yourself before applying for jobs in this industry.

How many jobs are available in retail building materials?

What’s the average salary for retail building materials?

What skills are necessary for a successful career in retail building materials?

You can get the answers to these questions and more right here.

What are Retail Building Materials?

Retail building materials simply refers to all types of material that are sold for use in the building supplies and construction industry. Some types of materials this includes are:

• Lumber
• Cement
• Bricks
• Mortar
• Insulation

These materials can be used for either a commercial or domestic construction project. Building a structure like residential homes, commercial property, or other infrastructure projects are some of key applications for retail building materials.

Types of Retail Building Materials Jobs

Pursuing a career in retail building materials is a popular choice. That’s because you can choose from a wide variety of jobs. Some retail building materials jobs require no education at all, that makes it easy for anyone to enter the industry.

Specialist jobs in the retail building materials industry may need you to have a degree or other certification. If you don’t have that now, you could always get an entry level job while working towards your dream career.

Examples of retail building materials jobs you may be interested in are:

• Working for a retailer such as a local hardware store or big box store like Home Depot
• Corporate roles such as a lawyer, accountant, or senior management
• Stock or purchase controller
• Working in a lumber yard
• You could work for a plumbing, roofing, or prime contractor

Skills Needed for Retail Building Materials

To work in the retail building materials industry having the following skills will help you succeed.

Customer Service

Outstanding customer service skills are a must. Many jobs in the retail building materials world involve dealing with customers. Depending on your job you could be dealing with other businesses buying wholesale or private homeowners working on small projects.

You must provide excellent and be able to handle complaints effectively. This is all part of the job in retail as it helps win repeat business. Word of mouth also helps attract new business. Existing customers telling others about your amazing service is going to boost business. 

Sales Skills

As you can imagine an important part of any retail job is sales. If you have excellent customer service skills coupled with encyclopedic product knowledge, then sales should be a breeze for you.

Building relationships with repeat customers is a key way to increase sales for the business you work for. Completing a sale, selling extra products and services, and securing repeat business are all desirable outcomes for skilled salespeople.

Be A Product Expert

To excel at sales and customer service you must be a product expert. Make sure you can answer questions about any of the lines your business stocks. Knowing your products well means you can also make expert recommendations that your customers can trust.

Keep Up To Date With Industry Trends

To build a long and successful career in the retail building materials industry it’s vital you keep up to date with industry trends. Follow industry news, attend events, and network with others in the field. This will help you build better customer relationships.

Marketing

Knowing the best way to market your products and services can be a key skill. That includes using social media as a tool to connect with your target market.

Pros and Cons of Working in Retail Building Materials

There are many great reasons to work in the retail building materials industry and a few downsides you should consider. Here are the pros and cons.

✅ Pros

• Some jobs require no education meaning anyone can start in the industry
• Job security is high as building materials are always in demand either from the construction industry or people renovating their homes
• You can advance your career thanks to endless opportunities including up to corporate level
• Salary expectations for many roles are above the national average for the US

❌ Cons

• You may have to deal with challenging situations such as a customer complaint
• Depending on your job role you may have to work evenings, weekends, and holidays

Things to Know When Choosing Retail Building Materials Companies as a Career

When choosing a career path there are lots of things to consider. Here are a few points that you should think about when considering a career in retail building materials.

The construction industry in the United States is huge. Over 750,000 businesses employ nearly 8 million workers in the industry. Although no job has 100% security, this industry is one of the better ones for employment stability.

Many job roles in the retail building materials industry require no formal qualifications. Even if you didn’t finish high school, you can find work in this industry. Thanks to the opportunities available you can still advance your career if you want to. There are lots of career paths you can take provided you’re willing to put the work in.

Jobs in the retail building materials industry exist everywhere. Whether you live in a small town or a large city, there will be jobs available. This makes a career in this industry fantastic for anyone wanting to travel or relocate. You can even find jobs outside the US should you fancy working abroad at any time.

Best Paying Jobs in Retail Building Materials

To give you an idea of salary expectations in the retail building materials industry here are some of the best paying jobs:

• Legal Representative – $123,656 per year
• Marketing Director – $181,405 per year
• Regional Manager – $81,713 per year
• Call Center Rep – $32,175 per year
• HR Director – $175,990 per year
• Warehouse Operative – $30,496 per year
• Merchandiser – $66,185 per year
• Forklift Operator – $33,150 per year
• Retail Sales – $30,261 per year

These salaries are an average. You can expect to earn more or less than these amounts depending on location, your skills, and your previous experience.

Top Employers In The Retail Building Materials Industry

Many of the top employers in the retail building materials industry have global operations. Here’s some of the big players in the field.

Patrick Industries

Patrick Industries is a building materials company that has been making and distributing products for the construction industry since 1959. With headquarters in Elkhart, Indiana and key locations across the US, this industry leader currently employs over 11,000 people.

Jeld-Wen Holding

Jeld-Wen Holding specializes in doors, windows, and related products. The company markets its products to both residential and non-residential properties. Today the company employs over 21,000 workers in 20 countries with the company headquarters located in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Carlisle

Carlisle has been in operation since 1917. Today, Carlisle employs over 13,000 people worldwide as it continues to be a leader in the construction industry. 

Although headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Carlisle has many diverse locations both in the United States and around the world. You can find roles in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Maine. If you want to go further, then you could go to the UK, Germany, or even China.

Cornerstone Building Brands

Cornerstone Building Brands was established in 1984. Today the company is one of the leading manufacturers of external building products and construction materials in North America. Siding, tools, and more are all sold by Cornerstone to a range of customers.

A contractor may use Cornerstone for a building project. Homeowners may need equipment for a remodel project. Whether the job site is a commercial building or residential, Cornerstone offers solutions for all.

Vulcan Materials

Vulcan Materials sells a range of products to the construction industry. The company was founded in 1909 and still maintains its headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama. Today, Vulcan Materials employs over 12,000 in locations around the United States. They also have locations in Canada, Mexico, the U.S Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas.

Is Retail Building Materials A Good Career Path?

A career in retail building materials is an excellent choice for many. That’s because there is relative job security, the potential for career advancement, and you could earn a salary above the US national average.

If you’re looking for a rewarding career with diverse opportunities, then retail building materials could be the answer you’re looking for.

Average Salary in the Retail Building Materials Industries

The average salary for workers in the retail building materials industry is $47,000.

How much you earn will depend on many factors such as:

• Location
• Job role
• Experience
• Skills
• Company size

How Many Jobs Are Available In Retail Building Materials

The exact number of jobs available in retail building materials isn’t available. However, data does confirm that almost 8 million people are employed in the construction industry. All these workers and the construction companies they work for must buy building materials.

That means there’s always a need for workers in the retail building materials industry. No matter where you live there will be jobs in the industry. 

How to Find a Job in Retail Building Materials

To find a job in retail building materials make sure you’ve got a strong resume. Highlight your relevant personal information including skills, experience, and qualifications.

Remember, customer service and retail sale skills are two of the most important skills to have. Work on these areas first if you haven’t got these skills already.

You should also mention any knowledge you have of the construction process, labor laws relating to employees, relevant merchandise expertise, and knowledge of machinery.

For example, could you explain millwork, trusses, worker rights? Anything like this that you are an expert in can help you get that job.

By showcasing every relevant piece of knowledge that you have, you’ll stand out from every other person that has applied.

Now to find a job in the retail building materials industry you can do any of the following:

• Contact employers in your desired location
• Network with recruiters and other industry professionals
• Use social media channels such as LinkedIn
• If you have specialist skills, consider joining a professional body that may present employment opportunities

Now you know how many jobs are available in retail building materials. What should you do next? First, make sure your resume is up to date. Next, head to Google and search for relevant job roles that are available now. 

Good luck in your new career in retail building materials.

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How Many Jobs Are Available In Retail Building Materials