Also called: Wind & Earthquake Test Facility Technician, Large-Scale Structures Lab Technician
Builds full-size houses and walls, then helps blast them with hurricane winds or shake them on giant earthquake tables.
At places like the IBHS Research Center in South Carolina, a wall of 105 giant fans can blow hurricane-force winds at a two-story house. Technicians build the test house, wire it with hundreds of sensors and cameras, then help run the test and sweep up after. Engineers use the results to write better building codes.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 2 years after high school. Construction or engineering technology training; carpentry skills are valued.
Ways in: 2-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Civil Engineering Technology, Construction Technology, Electronics Technology.
Growing about average. Very few labs; steady research funding.
Low risk for 10 years. Computer models reduce some tests, but building and wiring full-size test houses stays hands-on.
Classes: Physics, Construction CTE class, Shop class.
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