Would You Take This Job? – Construction Worker - Carpenter

Construction Worker - Carpenter

Employer: Morton Buildings, Inc.
Location: Watertown, SD (in-person; travel to project sites — ~40% travel, possible overnight stays)
Pay: $22.00–$24.00 / hour (based on experience)
Type: Full-time — Construction crew / carpenter (post-frame construction)

What You’ll Do:
Work under a crew foreman to build post-frame structures: read and follow construction plans, dig and install footings, frame walls and roof structures, install windows and doors, apply siding and roofing (hi-rib steel, shingles, wood), perform finishing trim work, and operate/maintain construction tools and safety equipment. You’ll travel to job sites and work at heights (up to ~40 ft) as needed.

Why It Stands Out:
• Competitive hourly pay with progressive pay increases based on experience and training.
• Robust bonus program for new crew members (up to $2,000 first year + $500 quarterly retention bonuses during year one).
• Strong benefits package: medical/dental/vision/prescription coverage, life insurance, PTO, 401(k) opportunity, ESOP, safety incentives, bad-weather pay, and more.
• Training-focused — opportunity to complete company training programs and grow skills in post-frame construction.

Potential Trade-offs:
• Physically demanding work — lifting up to 50 lbs routinely and occasional lifts up to 100 lbs.
• Travel requirement (~40%) with overnight stays possible (up to two weeks at a time).
• Work at heights and exposure to variable weather; must follow strict safety procedures and wear PPE.
• Peak season longer shifts (9–10 hours) and early starts may be required.

Qualifications & Requirements:
• Building construction, carpentry, or framing experience preferred (on-the-job or training).
• Willingness to participate in and complete company training program.
• Ability to take direction, produce quality work efficiently, and comply with safety processes.
• Valid driver’s license preferred.
• Ability to meet standard physical requirements and work at heights.

Benefits & Perks:
• $2,000 first-year bonus + $500 quarterly bonuses in year one (subject to taxes)
• Paid weekly; excellent benefits and ESOP participation
• Training bonuses, safety incentives, paid holidays/vacation/personal time

Here is the link to view more job details or apply.

This role is a strong match if you enjoy hands-on carpentry, travel between job sites, and steady hourly pay with training and bonus opportunities. Would you take this job—or should I pull other construction/carpentry roles (cabinetmaker, site supervisor, or shop-based installer) in nearby regions?

If they cover per diem and pay drive time, 40% travel isn’t bad; I’ve done similar post-frame work and the days fly when you’re setting columns and flying trusses. Quick tip: make a simple story pole for skirt board and purlin spacing so your steel lands perfectly - saves re-drilling and speeds paneling.

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spacing so your steel lands perfectly — saves re-drilling and speeds paneling. ‍‌‌⁠‍‌​‍‍⁠​​​‍‌‍‍‍‍⁠⁠‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠​‍​⁠‍⁠​‌​⁠‍‍‍‌​‍‌⁠​⁠​‍‌‍⁠‌⁠​⁠‍‍‌​⁠⁠‍‍‌​‍‍⁠‍‌‌‍‍‌‍​​​‍⁠​⁠‍‌‌‌​⁠​‍‌⁠​⁠​‍‌‍⁠‌‍⁠​‍‍⁠​‍‌‍‍‍‍⁠⁠⁠‍​​⁠‍⁠‍‍‍​⁠⁠‍‍​⁠⁠​​⁠⁠‌⁠‍‍‌‌‍‍​​⁠​‍‌⁠‌‍​‍‌‍‍‍​‍‌⁠‌⁠​⁠‌‍‍‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠​⁠⁠‌‌​​‌‌⁠​⁠​‍‌‍‍‌⁠‌⁠‍‍‌‍​‌​​⁠​‍‌⁠‌‍​‍‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‍​⁠‌⁠​​‌​‌⁠​‌‌‍​⁠​​‌​‌⁠‍​‍‌‌‍⁠‌⁠​‌⁠​​‍‌‌​‌‍⁠‍​⁠‍‌‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌ I always make a quick story pole out of a 2x with girt spacing and grade marks, then snap lines off that — keeps posts plumb and panels lining up without chasing the tape all day. Do they cover per diem and drive time on that 40% travel?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌‍​⁠‌‍‍‍​⁠‌‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​‌​⁠‌⁠​⁠‌⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠‍​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‌​⁠​​​⁠‍‌​⁠​‌​⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍​‌​‍​‌​​⁠‌‍‌⁠‌⁠​​‌​⁠‌‌​‌⁠‌​⁠​‌⁠‌‌​‍⁠‌​⁠​​‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‍‌​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​

I’d take it at $22–$24 in Watertown; on post-frame crews I laser the first two corner posts and use a story pole so girts land clean and truss day stays smooth. 40% travel’s fine — keep a small tote with a 5/16 magnetic nut setter, extra T25 bits, and a tarp, because SD wind and surprise snow will wreck your schedule. Working under a foreman’s good; just ask for plan dims at the trailer and mark cuts once so you’re not chasing rework.

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