Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in Alabama

Median $17.74 an hour for 18,400 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$17.74/hrMedian hourly wageAlabama, May data
$36,900/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$11.53 – $23.9110th to 90th percentilehourly range
18,400Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Construction laborer pay in Alabama: the full range

Wage percentiles, AlabamaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$10$20$30$40/hrAlabama: 10th $11.53 · 25th $14.41 · median $17.74 · 75th $21.75 · 90th $23.91Alabama$17.74$11.53$23.91United States: 10th $16.87 · 25th $18.57 · median $22.66 · 75th $28.72 · 90th $37.54United States$22.66
Hourly wage percentiles for construction laborers: Alabama vs United States, May 2025.

Alabama ranks 51st of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 50th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $19.98). 18,400 construction laborers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$11.53 – $14.41$23,980 – $29,960roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$14.41 – $21.75$29,960 – $45,240the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$21.75 – $23.91$45,240 – $49,740the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in Alabama

Ranked median wages$0$5$10$15$20/hrDaphne: $18.48Daphne$18.48Birmingham: $18.45Birmingham$18.45Decatur: $18.11Decatur$18.11Huntsville: $18.03Huntsville$18.03Mobile: $17.71Mobile$17.71Montgomery: $17.61Montgomery$17.61Tuscaloosa: $17.53Tuscaloosa$17.53Florence: $17.43Florence$17.43Auburn: $17.36Auburn$17.36Columbus: $17.26Columbus$17.26Anniston: $16.33Anniston$16.33Gadsden: $15.82Gadsden$15.82
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in Alabama, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Daphne$13.62$18.48$19.51$25.679704% above
Birmingham$13.58$18.45$20.14$24.874,7804% above
Decatur$10.94$18.11$20.77$26.086902% above
Huntsville$10.62$18.03$19.37$24.361,6702% above
Mobile$11.92$17.71$20.10$23.262,050about the same as
Montgomery$12.15$17.61$19.63$23.071,0401% below
Tuscaloosa$10.71$17.53$19.99$23.001,1101% below
Florence$9.73$17.43$20.55$22.755602% below
Auburn$11.55$17.36$19.75$23.996702% below
Columbus$12.00$17.26$19.33$22.447103% below
Anniston$11.36$16.33$19.01$23.552408% below
Gadsden$8.49$15.82$18.46$24.3728011% below
Dothan$10.15$15.39$18.37$22.5760013% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Construction laborer wages in Alabama over time

Alabama, 1999-2025AlabamaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25200020052010201520202025$22.66United States$17.74Alabama
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, Alabama vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearAlabama $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$7.78$15.03$10.8519,610
2000$8.35$15.61$11.1513,380
2001$9.00$16.36$11.5713,550
2002$9.32$16.68$11.9012,850
2003$9.58$16.76$11.8613,360
2004$9.81$16.72$12.1016,170
2005$9.91$16.34$12.2216,610
2006$9.99$15.95$12.6615,910
2007$10.33$16.04$13.1315,350
2008$10.78$16.12$13.7113,870
2009$11.13$16.70$14.0112,080
2010$11.37$16.79$14.0810,650
2011$11.36$16.26$14.309,670
2012$11.84$16.60$14.429,320
2013$12.16$16.80$14.649,040
2014$12.77$17.37$14.958,510
2015$12.78$17.36$15.347,810
2016$13.11$17.59$16.077,560
2017$13.56$17.81$16.607,900
2018$14.51$18.60$17.219,290
2019$15.11$19.03$17.7211,420
2020$15.12$18.81$18.2214,170
2021$14.40$17.11$18.1614,820
2022$15.21$16.73$19.5916,390
2023$17.14$18.11$21.7815,680
2024$17.45$17.91$22.4717,260
2025$17.74$17.74$22.6618,400

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Alabama changed by +2.2% over the last ten years of data and by -6.8% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in Alabama?

+61.1%Jobs since 201911,420 then, 18,400 in 2025
+135.6%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
8.7Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 16th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in Alabama has changed by -6.2%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +61.1%.

Construction laborers in Alabama vs United States, 1999 = 100AlabamaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages050100150200200020052010201520202025144United States94Alabama
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Alabama vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearAlabama jobsAlabama indexUS index
199919,610100100
200013,38068108
200113,55069108
200212,85066109
200313,36068110
200416,17082112
200516,61085122
200615,91081133
200715,35078138
200813,87071134
200912,08062112
201010,65054102
20119,67049102
20129,32048107
20139,04046108
20148,51043112
20157,81040116
20167,56039120
20177,90040126
20189,29047131
201911,42058134
202014,17072127
202114,82076127
202216,39084133
202315,68080134
202417,26088138
202518,40094144

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.

Outlook for construction laborers in Alabama

+9.9%Projected growth in Alabama2024–2034, state agency
2,210Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
23,950Jobs in 202426,310 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Alabama's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +9.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 23,950 to 26,310, with about 2,210 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 18,400 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Alabama labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in Alabama

On federally funded construction in Alabama, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 3 of the 67 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $24.88 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $12.91). 64 of the 67 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Autauga County at $12.29). The market median for the state is $17.74.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, ALAutauga: $12.29 (survey)Baldwin: $12.31 (survey)Barbour: $11.41 (survey)Bibb: $17.99 (survey)Blount: $17.99 (survey)Bullock: $11.41 (survey)Butler: $11.41 (survey)Calhoun: $12.93 (survey)Chambers: $13.13 (survey)Cherokee: $13.13 (survey)Chilton: $17.99 (survey)Choctaw: $12.76 (survey)Clarke: $11.40 (survey)Clay: $13.13 (survey)Cleburne: $13.13 (survey)Coffee: $11.41 (survey)Colbert: $24.88 (union)Conecuh: $12.76 (survey)Coosa: $13.13 (survey)Covington: $11.41 (survey)Crenshaw: $11.41 (survey)Cullman: $13.75 (survey)Dale: $11.34 (survey)Dallas: $12.76 (survey)DeKalb: $13.13 (survey)Elmore: $12.29 (survey)Escambia: $12.76 (survey)Etowah: $12.50 (survey)Fayette: $13.75 (survey)Franklin: $13.75 (survey)Geneva: $20.74 (survey)Greene: $12.76 (survey)Hale: $12.91 (survey)Henry: $20.74 (survey)Houston: $26.06 (union)Jackson: $13.13 (survey)Jefferson: $18.51 (survey)Lamar: $13.75 (survey)Lauderdale: $24.88 (union)Lawrence: $14.06 (survey)Lee: $11.94 (survey)Limestone: $13.10 (survey)Lowndes: $12.29 (survey)Macon: $11.41 (survey)Madison: $12.92 (survey)Marengo: $12.76 (survey)Marion: $13.75 (survey)Marshall: $12.90 (survey)Mobile: $11.94 (survey)Monroe: $12.76 (survey)Montgomery: $11.73 (survey)Morgan: $13.37 (survey)Perry: $12.76 (survey)Pickens: $12.91 (survey)Pike: $11.41 (survey)Randolph: $13.13 (survey)Russell: $10.00 (survey)St. Clair: $17.99 (survey)Shelby: $19.94 (survey)Sumter: $12.76 (survey)Talladega: $13.58 (survey)Tallapoosa: $13.13 (survey)Tuscaloosa: $12.81 (survey)Walker: $17.99 (survey)Washington: $12.76 (survey)Wilcox: $12.76 (survey)Winston: $13.75 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$12.01$12.76$13.13$13.75survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for construction laborers by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)Prevailing (survey)$5$10$15$20$25$30/hrHouston (Dothan): market median $15.39, prevailing (union) $26.06, gap +$10.67Houston (Dothan)+$10.67Colbert (Florence): market median $17.43, prevailing (union) $24.88, gap +$7.45Colbert (Florence)+$7.45Shelby (Birmingham): market median $18.45, prevailing (survey) $19.94, gap +$1.49Shelby (Birmingham)+$1.49Etowah (Gadsden): market median $15.82, prevailing (survey) $12.50, gap −$3.32Etowah (Gadsden)−$3.32Calhoun (Anniston): market median $16.33, prevailing (survey) $12.93, gap −$3.40Calhoun (Anniston)−$3.40Lawrence (Decatur): market median $18.11, prevailing (survey) $14.06, gap −$4.05Lawrence (Decatur)−$4.05Hale (Tuscaloosa): market median $17.53, prevailing (survey) $12.91, gap −$4.62Hale (Tuscaloosa)−$4.62Limestone (Huntsville): market median $18.03, prevailing (survey) $13.10, gap −$4.93Limestone (Huntsville)−$4.93Autauga (Montgomery): market median $17.61, prevailing (survey) $12.29, gap −$5.32Autauga (Montgomery)−$5.32Lee (Auburn): market median $17.36, prevailing (survey) $11.94, gap −$5.42Lee (Auburn)−$5.42Mobile (Mobile): market median $17.71, prevailing (survey) $11.94, gap −$5.77Mobile (Mobile)−$5.77Baldwin (Daphne): market median $18.48, prevailing (survey) $12.31, gap −$6.17Baldwin (Daphne)−$6.17Russell (Columbus): market median $17.26, prevailing (survey) $10.00, gap −$7.26Russell (Columbus)−$7.26
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in Alabama.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
HoustonUnion LABO0559-004 2017-09-01$18.06$8.00$26.06AL20260086
ColbertUnion LABO0366-001 2017-01-01$18.13$6.75$24.88AL20260100
LauderdaleUnion LABO0366-001 2017-01-01$18.13$6.75$24.88AL20260100
GenevaSurvey SUAL2015-030 2017-08-02$14.58$6.16$20.74AL20260102
HenrySurvey SUAL2015-030 2017-08-02$14.58$6.16$20.74AL20260102
ShelbySurvey SUAL2015-024 2017-08-02$15.75$4.19$19.94AL20260096
JeffersonSurvey SUAL2015-015 2017-08-02$14.63$3.88$18.51AL20260087
BibbSurvey SUAL2015-027 2017-08-02$14.74$3.25$17.99AL20260099
BlountSurvey SUAL2015-027 2017-08-02$14.74$3.25$17.99AL20260099
ChiltonSurvey SUAL2015-027 2017-08-02$14.74$3.25$17.99AL20260099
St. ClairSurvey SUAL2015-025 2017-08-02$14.74$3.25$17.99AL20260097
WalkerSurvey SUAL2015-027 2017-08-02$14.74$3.25$17.99AL20260099
LawrenceSurvey SUAL2015-016 2017-08-02$11.88$2.18$14.06AL20260088
CullmanSurvey SUAL2015-002 2017-08-02$13.75$0.00$13.75AL20260074
FayetteSurvey SUAL2015-009 2017-08-02$13.75$0.00$13.75AL20260081

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Alabama prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Alabama?

113.8kConstruction jobsAlabama, 2026-09
+2.6%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202660k80k100k120k19901995200020052010201520202025114kSep 2026
Construction employment in Alabama (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Contractor pay by county

Average pay at specialty trade contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just construction laborers), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages. Across the 57 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 44,698 in 2015 to 62,190 in 2025, +39.1%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Jefferson County95812,148$79,282$1,525
Madison County5805,213$75,617$1,454
Mobile County6598,072$75,348$1,449
Morgan County2382,314$75,205$1,446
Chilton County78457$75,114$1,445
Shelby County4163,494$74,861$1,440
Montgomery County2443,254$71,634$1,378
Colbert County861,209$68,621$1,320
Baldwin County5923,531$67,920$1,306
Lauderdale County1301,405$67,819$1,304
Elmore County132805$67,299$1,294
Limestone County1711,759$66,641$1,282

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Alabama

More on Alabama

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in Alabama?

The median construction laborer in Alabama earned $17.74 an hour ($36,900 a year) in May 2025, 22% below the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $14.41–$21.75; the top 10% earn more than $23.91.

Where does Alabama rank for construction laborer pay?

Alabama ranks 51st of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $17.74 an hour, and 50th after adjusting for Alabama's cost of living (BEA price parity 88.8, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in Alabama?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for construction laborers in 3 counties, with a typical package of $24.88 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many construction laborers work in Alabama?

BLS counted 18,400 construction laborers in Alabama in May 2025, 8.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.23; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is construction laborer work growing in Alabama?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in Alabama went from 7,810 in 2015 to 18,400 in 2025, +135.6%, and +61.1% since 2019. Alabama's labor market agency projects +9.9% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 23,950 to 26,310 jobs.

How many construction laborer openings a year are there in Alabama?

Alabama projects about 2,210 openings a year for construction laborers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 120,000 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Alabama and metro areas, SOC 47-2061. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Alabama labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.