Construction laborer salary: what construction laborers actually make
Construction laborers earned a median $22.66 an hour ($47,120 a year) in May 2025, across 1,096,780 jobs in the BLS employer survey. Pay by state and metro, the 20-year trend, and the union scale contractors must pay on federal work.
How much do construction laborers make?
The median construction laborer earned $22.66 an hour, or $47,120 a year, in May 2025 according to the BLS employer survey of 1,096,780 jobs. Half earn more and half earn less; the middle 50% earn between $18.57 and $28.72 an hour.
The middle half of construction laborers earn between $18.57 and $28.72 an hour. The top 10% earn more than $37.54 ($78,090 a year); the bottom 10% earn less than $16.87. The top 10% earn 2.2× what the bottom 10% earn.
Apprentice, journeyman and master construction laborer pay
Pay tracks licence and experience: an apprentice or entry-level construction laborer earns near the bottom of the range, a journeyman around the median, and a master construction laborer, foreman or specialist in the top quarter. The union pay scale (journeyman base plus fringe) for every county is in the prevailing-wage section.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $16.87 – $18.57 | $35,090 – $38,620 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $18.57 – $28.72 | $38,620 – $59,740 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $28.72 – $37.54 | $59,740 – $78,090 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification or licence requirement.
Construction laborer pay by state
Table
| State | Median $/hr | vs US |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $37.07 | 64% above |
| New Jersey | $30.80 | 36% above |
| Massachusetts | $30.48 | 35% above |
| Illinois | $29.18 | 29% above |
| California | $28.98 | 28% above |
| Minnesota | $28.97 | 28% above |
| Connecticut | $28.03 | 24% above |
| Alaska | $27.91 | 23% above |
| Washington | $27.75 | 22% above |
| Rhode Island | $27.52 | 21% above |
| Missouri | $27.28 | 20% above |
| Wisconsin | $26.97 | 19% above |
| Ohio | $26.96 | 19% above |
| New York | $26.89 | 19% above |
| Oregon | $24.45 | 8% above |
| Indiana | $24.07 | 6% above |
| District of Columbia | $24.05 | 6% above |
| New Hampshire | $24.03 | 6% above |
| Montana | $23.96 | 6% above |
| Michigan | $23.84 | 5% above |
| Pennsylvania | $23.75 | 5% above |
| North Dakota | $23.59 | 4% above |
| Nevada | $23.55 | 4% above |
| Vermont | $23.36 | 3% above |
| Iowa | $23.31 | 3% above |
| Colorado | $23.03 | 2% above |
| Nebraska | $22.72 | about the same as |
| Maryland | $22.58 | about the same as |
| Idaho | $22.57 | about the same as |
| Arizona | $22.40 | 1% below |
| Utah | $22.38 | 1% below |
| Maine | $22.32 | 2% below |
| Wyoming | $22.13 | 2% below |
| Kentucky | $21.98 | 3% below |
| South Dakota | $21.98 | 3% below |
| Delaware | $21.90 | 3% below |
| Tennessee | $21.64 | 5% below |
| Kansas | $21.56 | 5% below |
| North Carolina | $21.50 | 5% below |
| Florida | $21.17 | 7% below |
| Virginia | $20.94 | 8% below |
| South Carolina | $20.65 | 9% below |
| West Virginia | $20.51 | 9% below |
| Texas | $19.53 | 14% below |
| Oklahoma | $18.92 | 17% below |
| Georgia | $18.74 | 17% below |
| New Mexico | $18.46 | 19% below |
| Louisiana | $18.38 | 19% below |
| Mississippi | $18.13 | 20% below |
| Arkansas | $18.09 | 20% below |
| Alabama | $17.74 | 22% below |
| State | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $37.07 | $33.70 | #1 | 4,580 |
| New Jersey | $30.80 | $28.31 | #8 | 23,590 |
| Massachusetts | $30.48 | $28.81 | #6 | 16,210 |
| Illinois | $29.18 | $29.18 | #4 | 35,940 |
| California | $28.98 | $26.18 | #14 | 88,240 |
| Minnesota | $28.97 | $29.38 | #3 | 28,530 |
| Connecticut | $28.03 | $27.06 | #10 | 7,360 |
| Alaska | $27.91 | $27.26 | #9 | 3,690 |
| Washington | $27.75 | $25.93 | #15 | 25,060 |
| Rhode Island | $27.52 | $26.90 | #11 | 2,110 |
| Missouri | $27.28 | $30.04 | #2 | 17,050 |
| Wisconsin | $26.97 | $28.66 | #7 | 20,330 |
| Ohio | $26.96 | $29.05 | #5 | 31,910 |
| New York | $26.89 | $24.92 | #19 | 52,090 |
| Oregon | $24.45 | $23.65 | #27 | 12,620 |
| Indiana | $24.07 | $25.80 | #16 | 28,600 |
| District of Columbia | $24.05 | $21.88 | #40 | 2,090 |
| New Hampshire | $24.03 | $23.06 | #31 | 4,330 |
| Montana | $23.96 | $25.33 | #17 | 4,590 |
| Michigan | $23.84 | $24.78 | #21 | 28,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $23.75 | $24.33 | #23 | 35,920 |
| North Dakota | $23.59 | $26.51 | #13 | 5,050 |
| Nevada | $23.55 | $23.55 | #29 | 11,890 |
| Vermont | $23.36 | $23.84 | #26 | 1,430 |
| Iowa | $23.31 | $26.55 | #12 | 13,780 |
| Colorado | $23.03 | $22.34 | #36 | 18,680 |
| Nebraska | $22.72 | $25.22 | #18 | 8,530 |
| Maryland | $22.58 | $21.50 | #42 | 20,920 |
| Idaho | $22.57 | $23.63 | #28 | 10,850 |
| Arizona | $22.40 | $22.24 | #37 | 37,630 |
| Utah | $22.38 | $22.63 | #35 | 20,950 |
| Maine | $22.32 | $23.01 | #32 | 3,960 |
| Wyoming | $22.13 | $23.87 | #25 | 3,350 |
| Kentucky | $21.98 | $24.37 | #22 | 13,280 |
| South Dakota | $21.98 | $24.81 | #20 | 1,780 |
| Delaware | $21.90 | $21.94 | #39 | 3,240 |
| Tennessee | $21.64 | $23.55 | #30 | 26,250 |
| Kansas | $21.56 | $23.93 | #24 | 9,990 |
| North Carolina | $21.50 | $22.80 | #34 | 35,620 |
| Florida | $21.17 | $20.47 | #47 | 87,040 |
| Virginia | $20.94 | $20.71 | #46 | 25,830 |
| South Carolina | $20.65 | $22.04 | #38 | 19,620 |
| West Virginia | $20.51 | $22.92 | #33 | 6,620 |
| Texas | $19.53 | $20.11 | #48 | 123,250 |
| Oklahoma | $18.92 | $21.55 | #41 | 13,710 |
| Georgia | $18.74 | $19.46 | #51 | 27,800 |
| New Mexico | $18.46 | $20.02 | #49 | 12,470 |
| Louisiana | $18.38 | $20.84 | #44 | 22,100 |
| Mississippi | $18.13 | $20.84 | #43 | 8,800 |
| Arkansas | $18.09 | $20.82 | #45 | 10,650 |
| Alabama | $17.74 | $19.98 | #50 | 18,400 |
Construction laborer wages over time
Table
| Year | Nominal $/hr | In 2025 $ | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $10.85 | $20.97 | 763,450 |
| 2000 | $11.15 | $20.85 | 821,210 |
| 2001 | $11.57 | $21.03 | 825,390 |
| 2002 | $11.90 | $21.30 | 830,860 |
| 2003 | $11.86 | $20.75 | 837,650 |
| 2004 | $12.10 | $20.62 | 854,840 |
| 2005 | $12.22 | $20.14 | 934,000 |
| 2006 | $12.66 | $20.22 | 1,016,530 |
| 2007 | $13.13 | $20.39 | 1,053,060 |
| 2008 | $13.71 | $20.50 | 1,020,290 |
| 2009 | $14.01 | $21.02 | 856,440 |
| 2010 | $14.08 | $20.79 | 777,700 |
| 2011 | $14.30 | $20.47 | 779,370 |
| 2012 | $14.42 | $20.22 | 814,470 |
| 2013 | $14.64 | $20.23 | 824,970 |
| 2014 | $14.95 | $20.33 | 852,870 |
| 2015 | $15.34 | $20.84 | 887,580 |
| 2016 | $16.07 | $21.56 | 912,100 |
| 2017 | $16.60 | $21.80 | 962,060 |
| 2018 | $17.21 | $22.06 | 1,001,470 |
| 2019 | $17.72 | $22.31 | 1,020,350 |
| 2020 | $18.22 | $22.66 | 971,330 |
| 2021 | $18.16 | $21.58 | 968,760 |
| 2022 | $19.59 | $21.55 | 1,012,780 |
| 2023 | $21.78 | $23.01 | 1,019,090 |
| 2024 | $22.47 | $23.06 | 1,057,660 |
| 2025 | $22.66 | $22.66 | 1,096,780 |
Adjusted for inflation, the median construction laborer wage changed by +8.8% over the last ten years and by +1.5% since 2019.
Are there more construction laborer jobs than there used to be?
The BLS employer survey counted 1,096,780 construction laborers in May 2025, +23.6% compared with 887,580 ten years earlier and +7.5% since 2019.
Table
| Year | Jobs |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 763,450 |
| 2000 | 821,210 |
| 2001 | 825,390 |
| 2002 | 830,860 |
| 2003 | 837,650 |
| 2004 | 854,840 |
| 2005 | 934,000 |
| 2006 | 1,016,530 |
| 2007 | 1,053,060 |
| 2008 | 1,020,290 |
| 2009 | 856,440 |
| 2010 | 777,700 |
| 2011 | 779,370 |
| 2012 | 814,470 |
| 2013 | 824,970 |
| 2014 | 852,870 |
| 2015 | 887,580 |
| 2016 | 912,100 |
| 2017 | 962,060 |
| 2018 | 1,001,470 |
| 2019 | 1,020,350 |
| 2020 | 971,330 |
| 2021 | 968,760 |
| 2022 | 1,012,780 |
| 2023 | 1,019,090 |
| 2024 | 1,057,660 |
| 2025 | 1,096,780 |
Of the 44 states with a precise enough estimate to compare, 34 counted more construction laborers in 2025 than ten years earlier. The fastest growth was in Minnesota (+179.7%, 10,200 to 28,530); the weakest was West Virginia (-22.7%).
| State | Jobs in 2015 | Jobs in 2025 | Change over 10 years | Since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 10,200 | 28,530 | +179.7% | +130.1% |
| Nebraska | 3,400 | 8,530 | +150.9% | +127.5% |
| Alabama | 7,810 | 18,400 | +135.6% | +61.1% |
| Idaho | 4,970 | 10,850 | +118.3% | +44.5% |
| Arizona | 17,620 | 37,630 | +113.6% | +68.4% |
| North Carolina | 18,690 | 35,620 | +90.6% | +36.4% |
| Indiana | 15,110 | 28,600 | +89.3% | +21.7% |
| Florida | 51,270 | 87,040 | +69.8% | +19.2% |
| Utah | 12,580 | 20,950 | +66.5% | +43.8% |
| Tennessee | 16,680 | 26,250 | +57.4% | +46.3% |
| Kentucky | 8,740 | 13,280 | +51.9% | +20.7% |
| Nevada | 8,090 | 11,890 | +47.0% | +6.0% |
| Wisconsin | 13,900 | 20,330 | +46.3% | +24.9% |
| Arkansas | 7,490 | 10,650 | +42.2% | +108.0% |
| South Carolina | 14,310 | 19,620 | +37.1% | +11.4% |
| Michigan | 21,170 | 28,490 | +34.6% | +10.7% |
| Louisiana | 16,950 | 22,100 | +30.4% | +12.9% |
| Virginia | 20,710 | 25,830 | +24.7% | +12.5% |
| New Mexico | 10,000 | 12,470 | +24.7% | +17.4% |
| Mississippi | 7,110 | 8,800 | +23.8% | +1.0% |
| Washington | 20,250 | 25,060 | +23.8% | -20.5% |
| Texas | 101,250 | 123,250 | +21.7% | +9.7% |
| Oregon | 10,550 | 12,620 | +19.6% | -4.9% |
| Montana | 4,070 | 4,590 | +12.8% | +13.9% |
| Oklahoma | 12,220 | 13,710 | +12.2% | +50.0% |
| Alaska | 3,330 | 3,690 | +10.8% | +33.2% |
| Illinois | 32,560 | 35,940 | +10.4% | +5.7% |
| Maryland | 19,160 | 20,920 | +9.2% | +11.5% |
| Kansas | 9,280 | 9,990 | +7.7% | +1.4% |
| Iowa | 12,910 | 13,780 | +6.7% | +12.4% |
| Connecticut | 6,900 | 7,360 | +6.7% | -8.3% |
| Wyoming | 3,280 | 3,350 | +2.1% | -10.9% |
| California | 87,530 | 88,240 | +0.8% | -13.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 35,730 | 35,920 | +0.5% | -11.6% |
| New Jersey | 23,950 | 23,590 | -1.5% | -3.6% |
| Ohio | 33,000 | 31,910 | -3.3% | -11.1% |
| Massachusetts | 16,960 | 16,210 | -4.4% | -19.0% |
| Hawaii | 4,850 | 4,580 | -5.6% | -8.8% |
| Colorado | 20,630 | 18,680 | -9.5% | -15.3% |
| Missouri | 18,920 | 17,050 | -9.9% | -9.1% |
| New York | 58,700 | 52,090 | -11.3% | -22.0% |
| Georgia | 33,450 | 27,800 | -16.9% | -13.8% |
| North Dakota | 6,350 | 5,050 | -20.5% | +8.4% |
| West Virginia | 8,560 | 6,620 | -22.7% | -32.1% |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Where the construction laborer jobs are
New Mexico has the highest concentration of construction laborers, 2.0× the national share, followed by Idaho (1.8×) and Utah (1.7×). The lowest is District of Columbia at 0.4×. Concentration says where the trade is a large part of the local economy; the job count says where the most positions are.
| State | Jobs | Jobs per 1,000 | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | 12,470 | 14.3 | 2.0× |
| Idaho | 10,850 | 12.7 | 1.8× |
| Utah | 20,950 | 12.1 | 1.7× |
| Wyoming | 3,350 | 11.9 | 1.7× |
| North Dakota | 5,050 | 11.8 | 1.7× |
| Arizona | 37,630 | 11.6 | 1.6× |
| Louisiana | 22,100 | 11.4 | 1.6× |
| Alaska | 3,690 | 11.3 | 1.6× |
| Minnesota | 28,530 | 9.7 | 1.4× |
| West Virginia | 6,620 | 9.4 | 1.3× |
| Indiana | 28,600 | 8.9 | 1.3× |
| Montana | 4,590 | 9.0 | 1.3× |
| Iowa | 13,780 | 8.8 | 1.2× |
| Florida | 87,040 | 8.8 | 1.2× |
| Texas | 123,250 | 8.8 | 1.2× |
| Alabama | 18,400 | 8.7 | 1.2× |
| South Carolina | 19,620 | 8.5 | 1.2× |
| Nebraska | 8,530 | 8.3 | 1.2× |
| Arkansas | 10,650 | 8.2 | 1.2× |
| Oklahoma | 13,710 | 8.0 | 1.1× |
| Tennessee | 26,250 | 8.0 | 1.1× |
| Nevada | 11,890 | 7.7 | 1.1× |
| Maryland | 20,920 | 7.6 | 1.1× |
| Mississippi | 8,800 | 7.6 | 1.1× |
| Hawaii | 4,580 | 7.3 | 1.0× |
| North Carolina | 35,620 | 7.2 | 1.0× |
| Washington | 25,060 | 7.1 | 1.0× |
| Kansas | 9,990 | 7.0 | 1.0× |
| Wisconsin | 20,330 | 6.9 | 1.0× |
| Delaware | 3,240 | 6.7 | 0.9× |
| Kentucky | 13,280 | 6.6 | 0.9× |
| Colorado | 18,680 | 6.5 | 0.9× |
| Michigan | 28,490 | 6.5 | 0.9× |
| Oregon | 12,620 | 6.4 | 0.9× |
| New Hampshire | 4,330 | 6.3 | 0.9× |
| Virginia | 25,830 | 6.3 | 0.9× |
| Maine | 3,960 | 6.2 | 0.9× |
| Illinois | 35,940 | 5.9 | 0.8× |
| Pennsylvania | 35,920 | 5.9 | 0.8× |
| Missouri | 17,050 | 5.8 | 0.8× |
| Ohio | 31,910 | 5.8 | 0.8× |
| Georgia | 27,800 | 5.7 | 0.8× |
| New Jersey | 23,590 | 5.5 | 0.8× |
| New York | 52,090 | 5.4 | 0.8× |
| California | 88,240 | 4.8 | 0.7× |
| Vermont | 1,430 | 4.7 | 0.7× |
| Massachusetts | 16,210 | 4.5 | 0.6× |
| Connecticut | 7,360 | 4.3 | 0.6× |
| Rhode Island | 2,110 | 4.2 | 0.6× |
| South Dakota | 1,780 | 3.9 | 0.6× |
| District of Columbia | 2,090 | 3.0 | 0.4× |
Metros with the most construction laborer jobs
| Metro | Jobs | Median $/hr |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 50,870 | $29.46 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 34,080 | $19.88 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 29,670 | $21.14 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 29,230 | $22.56 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 26,690 | $29.27 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 21,730 | $28.28 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 18,280 | $21.88 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 17,710 | $22.80 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 17,330 | $29.79 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 16,460 | $20.20 |
Highest-paying metros for construction laborers
| Metro | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $38.35 | $35.05 | #1 | $48.89 | 630 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $37.48 | $33.77 | #2 | $44.98 | 3,040 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $34.91 | $30.20 | #19 | $49.26 | 11,620 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $34.58 | $33.51 | #3 | $51.14 | 960 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $32.92 | $29.82 | #21 | $45.37 | 4,420 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $31.01 | $32.61 | #7 | $46.29 | 8,670 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $30.49 | $28.15 | #34 | $47.80 | 11,580 |
| Peoria, IL | $30.27 | $33.19 | #6 | $46.99 | 1,020 |
| Springfield, MA | $30.12 | $31.34 | #12 | $44.96 | 880 |
| Vallejo, CA | $30.05 | $27.70 | #40 | $44.31 | 1,080 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $29.79 | $28.43 | #30 | $46.48 | 17,330 |
| Salinas, CA | $29.65 | $27.20 | #49 | $47.61 | 950 |
| Springfield, IL | $29.52 | $31.84 | #8 | $46.70 | 510 |
| Worcester, MA | $29.52 | $28.80 | #28 | $46.23 | 1,650 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $29.49 | $33.21 | #5 | $42.99 | 1,390 |
Metros with at least 500 construction laborers. Cost-of-living adjustment divides the median by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100); the adjusted rank is among the 269 metros with a parity.
Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers
Federal construction projects must pay the Davis-Bacon rate for each county. Where the rate comes from a union contract it is the local journeyman scale: base wage plus fringe (health, pension, training). Where it comes from a survey, it is often older and lower. This table summarises the Building-construction determination for construction laborers in every state.
| State | Counties with a union rate | Typical union package (base + fringe, $/hr) | Typical survey rate | Counties with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 93% | $75.80 | $51.88 | 14/14 |
| Hawaii | 100% | $70.71 | — | 5/5 |
| California | 90% | $67.91 | $22.57 | 58/58 |
| Alaska | 100% | $66.83 | — | 30/30 |
| New Jersey | 90% | $65.97 | $34.58 | 21/21 |
| Rhode Island | 100% | $65.90 | — | 5/5 |
| Connecticut | 75% | $64.55 | $52.44 | 8/8 |
| Illinois | 92% | $63.04 | $7.25 | 102/102 |
| Washington | 51% | $59.66 | $37.01 | 39/39 |
| New York | 81% | $58.26 | $40.62 | 62/62 |
| Oregon | 81% | $56.41 | $37.57 | 36/36 |
| Wisconsin | 100% | $56.32 | — | 72/72 |
| Delaware | 67% | $55.15 | $33.10 | 3/3 |
| North Dakota | 15% | $51.39 | $16.05 | 53/53 |
| Idaho | 50% | $48.78 | $15.44 | 44/44 |
| Kansas | 7% | $48.55 | $15.14 | 105/105 |
| Ohio | 53% | $47.57 | $29.97 | 88/88 |
| Iowa | 12% | $47.35 | $18.44 | 99/99 |
| Indiana | 98% | $46.93 | $11.62 | 92/92 |
| New Hampshire | 40% | $46.83 | $26.56 | 10/10 |
| Missouri | 81% | $45.56 | $24.18 | 115/115 |
| Kentucky | 19% | $45.51 | $28.32 | 120/120 |
| Pennsylvania | 45% | $43.36 | $28.17 | 67/67 |
| Michigan | 76% | $41.63 | $18.25 | 83/83 |
| Maine | 94% | $41.62 | $30.04 | 16/16 |
| West Virginia | 65% | $41.14 | $29.44 | 55/55 |
| Nebraska | 2% | $37.48 | $14.79 | 93/93 |
| Arizona | 7% | $36.67 | $16.00 | 15/15 |
| Montana | 7% | $35.77 | $20.76 | 56/56 |
| Alabama | 4% | $24.88 | $12.91 | 67/67 |
| Arkansas | 0% | — | $11.72 | 75/75 |
| Colorado | 0% | — | $9.75 | 64/64 |
| District of Columbia | 0% | — | $15.84 | 1/1 |
| Florida | 0% | — | $11.98 | 67/67 |
| Georgia | 0% | — | $11.46 | 159/159 |
| Louisiana | 0% | — | $12.31 | 64/64 |
| Maryland | 0% | — | $27.90 | 24/24 |
| Minnesota | 0% | — | $63.31 | 87/87 |
| Mississippi | 0% | — | $11.36 | 82/82 |
| North Carolina | 0% | — | $12.17 | 100/100 |
| New Mexico | 0% | — | $16.91 | 33/33 |
| Nevada | 0% | — | $55.41 | 17/17 |
| Oklahoma | 0% | — | $11.43 | 77/77 |
| South Carolina | 0% | — | $11.11 | 46/46 |
| South Dakota | 0% | — | $12.32 | 66/66 |
| Tennessee | 0% | — | $12.54 | 95/95 |
| Texas | 0% | — | $9.73 | 254/254 |
| Utah | 0% | — | $12.78 | 29/29 |
| Virginia | 0% | — | $13.74 | 131/133 |
| Vermont | 0% | — | $16.11 | 14/14 |
| Wyoming | 0% | — | $22.83 | 23/23 |
Source: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions, Building construction type. Not the official determination; see each state page for county detail and links to the official text.
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects the number of construction laborers to change by +7.3% over 2025-35, from 1,489,300 to 1,598,600, with about 120,000 openings a year.
Of those openings, 10,900 a year come from growth in the number of jobs and 109,100 from replacement: 43,900 for people who retire or leave the workforce and 65,200 for people who move to another occupation.
Demand change - share increases as construction laborers perform more tasks on construction sites related to the installation of prefabricated components.
BLS worker characteristics, 2025-35: typical education for entry: no formal educational credential; related work experience: none; on-the-job training: short-term on-the-job training. The Occupational Outlook Handbook entry describes the work.
What each state projects
State labor market agencies publish their own projections on a 2024–2034 cycle. Idaho projects the fastest growth for construction laborers at +24.8%; by openings, Texas (15,270 a year), California (11,150 a year), Florida (10,660 a year) lead. 51 states publish a figure for this occupation.
| State | Jobs, 2024 | Projected, 2034 | Change | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 20,110 | 25,090 | +24.8% | 2,280 |
| Arizona | 41,680 | 51,310 | +23.1% | 4,620 |
| Colorado | 25,920 | 31,230 | +20.5% | 2,770 |
| West Virginia | 8,670 | 10,240 | +18.1% | 900 |
| Rhode Island | 3,230 | 3,790 | +17.2% | 330 |
| Florida | 103,980 | 121,780 | +17.1% | 10,660 |
| Tennessee | 37,260 | 43,390 | +16.5% | 3,780 |
| Wyoming | 4,500 | 5,230 | +16.3% | 460 |
| Nevada | 14,800 | 17,050 | +15.2% | 1,480 |
| Utah | 30,030 | 34,140 | +13.7% | 2,930 |
| Wisconsin | 24,540 | 27,860 | +13.5% | 2,390 |
| Oregon | 16,370 | 18,560 | +13.4% | 1,590 |
| South Dakota | 2,330 | 2,640 | +13.1% | 230 |
| Texas | 159,660 | 179,140 | +12.2% | 15,270 |
| Nebraska | 10,170 | 11,400 | +12.0% | 970 |
| Delaware | 3,490 | 3,900 | +11.8% | 330 |
| Georgia | 36,240 | 40,320 | +11.3% | 3,420 |
| Montana | 5,860 | 6,530 | +11.3% | 550 |
| District of Columbia | 2,630 | 2,920 | +10.9% | 250 |
| New Mexico | 14,480 | 16,030 | +10.7% | 1,350 |
| Iowa | 12,370 | 13,670 | +10.5% | 1,150 |
| California | 120,100 | 132,300 | +10.2% | 11,150 |
| South Carolina | 22,790 | 25,060 | +10.0% | 2,110 |
| Alabama | 23,950 | 26,310 | +9.9% | 2,210 |
| Arkansas | 12,480 | 13,700 | +9.8% | 1,150 |
| Mississippi | 11,400 | 12,500 | +9.7% | 1,050 |
| North Dakota | 5,150 | 5,650 | +9.6% | 480 |
| Massachusetts | 22,430 | 24,570 | +9.5% | 2,060 |
| Virginia | 37,180 | 40,660 | +9.4% | 3,660 |
| Vermont | 3,260 | 3,560 | +9.1% | 300 |
| New Hampshire | 4,820 | 5,250 | +8.9% | 440 |
| Maryland | 28,690 | 31,210 | +8.8% | 2,610 |
| Missouri | 21,770 | 23,620 | +8.5% | 1,970 |
| Connecticut | 13,150 | 14,260 | +8.4% | 1,190 |
| Louisiana | 35,610 | 38,580 | +8.3% | 3,210 |
| Hawaii | 5,940 | 6,430 | +8.2% | 540 |
| Indiana | 33,940 | 36,710 | +8.2% | 3,060 |
| Illinois | 35,660 | 38,480 | +7.9% | 3,200 |
| North Carolina | 52,940 | 57,120 | +7.9% | 4,740 |
| Washington | 49,630 | 53,450 | +7.7% | 4,790 |
| New Jersey | 28,390 | 30,560 | +7.6% | 2,540 |
| Minnesota | 39,450 | 42,380 | +7.4% | 3,510 |
| Oklahoma | 17,790 | 19,030 | +6.9% | 1,570 |
| Pennsylvania | 50,780 | 54,280 | +6.9% | 4,480 |
| Kansas | 11,820 | 12,530 | +6.0% | 1,030 |
| Michigan | 36,280 | 38,120 | +5.1% | 3,110 |
| Ohio | 41,380 | 43,420 | +4.9% | 3,540 |
| Kentucky | 19,710 | 20,510 | +4.1% | 1,660 |
| New York | 72,360 | 74,440 | +2.9% | 5,980 |
| Maine | 4,740 | 4,750 | +0.3% | 370 |
| Alaska | 3,960 | 3,860 | -2.6% | 300 |
Source: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central, 2024–2034 projections. State base counts include the self-employed, so they run higher than the BLS survey count above.
Compare construction laborer pay with other trades
See how construction laborer pay compares with other trades on the ranking of all trades and the comparison pages.
Questions this page answers
How much do construction laborers make an hour?
Hourly pay runs from about $16.87 at the 10th percentile to $37.54 at the 90th, with a median of $22.66. Overtime, per-diem and union fringe benefits are not included in these figures.
What does a starting or apprentice construction laborer make?
Entry-level pay sits near the bottom of the distribution: roughly $16.87 to $18.57 an hour ($35,090 to $38,620 a year). Registered apprentices usually start at a fixed percentage of the local journeyman rate and step up every six to twelve months.
Which state pays construction laborers the most?
Hawaii had the highest median at $37.07 an hour in May 2025, followed by New Jersey ($30.80) and Massachusetts ($30.48). Adjusted for cost of living the order changes; see the state table.
Are construction laborer wages going up?
In today's dollars the median construction laborer wage changed by +8.8% over the last ten years of data (CPI-adjusted). The nominal median rose from $15.34 to $22.66.
Is construction laborer a good career?
By the numbers: median pay of $47,120 a year, a 90th percentile of $78,090, projected growth of +7.3% and about 120,000 openings a year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself; this site only reports the pay and demand data.
Are construction laborer jobs growing?
The BLS employer survey counted 1,096,780 construction laborers in May 2025, +23.6% compared with ten years earlier and +7.5% since 2019. Looking ahead, BLS projects +7.3% growth over 2025-35 with about 120,000 openings a year, most of them replacing people who leave the occupation.
Which states will need the most construction laborers?
By projected annual openings, the state agencies' figures put Texas (15,270 a year, +12.2% growth), California (11,150 a year, +10.2% growth), Florida (10,660 a year, +17.1% growth) at the top. Every state's projection is in the outlook table above.
Where are construction laborers most concentrated?
Relative to the size of each state's workforce, New Mexico has the highest concentration at 2.0× the national share, then Idaho (1.8×) and Utah (1.7×). The largest absolute job counts are usually in the most populous states; see the map above.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2061 (Construction laborers). Wages exclude overtime and benefits; job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, 2024.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35 (Tables 1.2, 1.10 and 1.12). Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.
- State projections: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central (Projections Managing Partnership), 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05. State figures include the self-employed.