Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in Arkansas

Median $18.09 an hour for 10,650 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$18.09/hrMedian hourly wageArkansas, May data
$37,630/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$14.83 – $23.2710th to 90th percentilehourly range
10,650Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Construction laborer pay in Arkansas: the full range

Wage percentiles, ArkansasMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrArkansas: 10th $14.83 · 25th $16.63 · median $18.09 · 75th $21.31 · 90th $23.27Arkansas$18.09$14.83$23.27United 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: Arkansas vs United States, May 2025.

Arkansas ranks 50th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 45th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $20.82). 10,650 construction laborers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.6× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$14.83 – $16.63$30,850 – $34,590roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$16.63 – $21.31$34,590 – $44,320the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$21.31 – $23.27$44,320 – $48,410the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in Arkansas

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrMemphis: $21.54Memphis$21.54Fayetteville: $18.93Fayetteville$18.93Jonesboro: $18.26Jonesboro$18.26Little Rock: $17.88Little Rock$17.88Fort Smith: $17.77Fort Smith$17.77Texarkana: $17.48Texarkana$17.48Hot Springs: $16.75Hot Springs$16.75
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in Arkansas, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Memphis$16.81$21.54$23.36$31.133,94019% above
Fayetteville$16.72$18.93$20.71$24.032,1905% above
Jonesboro$14.27$18.26$21.26$23.903901% above
Little Rock$15.22$17.88$20.00$23.302,7901% below
Fort Smith$14.49$17.77$20.69$22.826702% below
Texarkana$13.39$17.48$20.81$22.774503% below
Hot Springs$12.98$16.75$19.54$22.693307% below

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

Construction laborer wages in Arkansas over time

Arkansas, 1999-2025ArkansasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25200020052010201520202025$22.66United States$18.09Arkansas
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, Arkansas vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearArkansas $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$8.59$16.60$10.853,780
2000$9.23$17.26$11.154,670
2001$9.39$17.07$11.574,280
2002$9.86$17.65$11.904,260
2003$9.75$17.06$11.864,610
2004$9.62$16.40$12.104,360
2005$9.80$16.15$12.225,220
2006$10.56$16.86$12.665,770
2007$11.49$17.84$13.13—
2008$12.00$17.94$13.71—
2009$11.79$17.69$14.01—
2010$11.07$16.34$14.087,480
2011$11.27$16.13$14.307,890
2012$11.06$15.51$14.428,660
2013$11.67$16.13$14.647,420
2014$11.38$15.48$14.957,280
2015$11.59$15.74$15.347,490
2016$11.65$15.63$16.077,500
2017$12.68$16.65$16.606,650
2018$13.45$17.24$17.215,340
2019$14.02$17.66$17.725,120
2020$14.54$18.09$18.225,680
2021$14.38$17.09$18.167,920
2022$16.46$18.11$19.598,480
2023$17.21$18.18$21.788,860
2024$17.80$18.27$22.478,910
2025$18.09$18.09$22.6610,650

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Arkansas changed by +14.9% over the last ten years of data and by +2.5% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in Arkansas?

+108.0%Jobs since 20195,120 then, 10,650 in 2025
+42.2%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
8.2Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 19th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in Arkansas has changed by +181.7%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +108.0%.

Construction laborers in Arkansas vs United States, 1999 = 100ArkansasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages0100200300200020052010201520202025282Arkansas144United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Arkansas vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearArkansas jobsArkansas indexUS index
19993,780100100
20004,670124108
20014,280113108
20024,260113109
20034,610122110
20044,360115112
20055,220138122
20065,770153133
20107,480198102
20117,890209102
20128,660229107
20137,420196108
20147,280193112
20157,490198116
20167,500198120
20176,650176126
20185,340141131
20195,120135134
20205,680150127
20217,920210127
20228,480224133
20238,860234134
20248,910236138
202510,650282144

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 Arkansas

+9.8%Projected growth in Arkansas2024–2034, state agency
1,150Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
12,480Jobs in 202413,700 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Arkansas's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +9.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 12,480 to 13,700, with about 1,150 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 10,650 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in Arkansas

On federally funded construction in Arkansas, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 75 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $11.72). 75 of the 75 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Arkansas County at $10.63). The market median for the state is $18.09.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, ARArkansas: $10.63 (survey)Ashley: $10.63 (survey)Baxter: $11.72 (survey)Benton: $13.87 (survey)Boone: $11.72 (survey)Bradley: $10.63 (survey)Calhoun: $12.84 (survey)Carroll: $11.72 (survey)Chicot: $10.63 (survey)Clark: $12.84 (survey)Clay: $11.12 (survey)Cleburne: $11.12 (survey)Cleveland: $10.80 (survey)Columbia: $12.84 (survey)Conway: $11.72 (survey)Craighead: $10.61 (survey)Crawford: $13.56 (survey)Crittenden: $10.80 (survey)Cross: $11.12 (survey)Dallas: $12.84 (survey)Desha: $10.63 (survey)Drew: $10.63 (survey)Faulkner: $12.69 (survey)Franklin: $11.72 (survey)Fulton: $11.12 (survey)Garland: $15.01 (survey)Grant: $12.88 (survey)Greene: $10.00 (survey)Hempstead: $12.84 (survey)Hot Spring: $12.63 (survey)Howard: $12.84 (survey)Independence: $11.91 (survey)Izard: $11.12 (survey)Jackson: $11.12 (survey)Jefferson: $10.80 (survey)Johnson: $11.72 (survey)Lafayette: $12.84 (survey)Lawrence: $11.12 (survey)Lee: $11.12 (survey)Lincoln: $10.80 (survey)Little River: $11.29 (survey)Logan: $11.72 (survey)Lonoke: $12.88 (survey)Madison: $13.69 (survey)Marion: $11.72 (survey)Miller: $11.29 (survey)Mississippi: $11.12 (survey)Monroe: $11.12 (survey)Montgomery: $12.84 (survey)Nevada: $12.84 (survey)Newton: $11.72 (survey)Ouachita: $12.84 (survey)Perry: $12.88 (survey)Phillips: $10.63 (survey)Pike: $12.84 (survey)Poinsett: $10.61 (survey)Polk: $10.73 (survey)Pope: $14.54 (survey)Prairie: $10.63 (survey)Pulaski: $12.85 (survey)Randolph: $11.12 (survey)St. Francis: $11.12 (survey)Saline: $12.88 (survey)Scott: $11.72 (survey)Searcy: $11.72 (survey)Sebastian: $11.53 (survey)Sevier: $12.84 (survey)Sharp: $11.12 (survey)Stone: $11.12 (survey)Union: $15.50 (survey)Van Buren: $11.72 (survey)Washington: $13.47 (survey)White: $11.12 (survey)Woodruff: $11.12 (survey)Yell: $12.18 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$10.80$11.12$11.72$12.84survey 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 (survey)$5$10$15$20$25/hrGarland (Hot Springs): market median $16.75, prevailing (survey) $15.01, gap −$1.74Garland (Hot Springs)−$1.74Crawford (Fort Smith): market median $17.77, prevailing (survey) $13.56, gap −$4.21Crawford (Fort Smith)−$4.21Grant (Little Rock): market median $17.88, prevailing (survey) $12.88, gap −$5.00Grant (Little Rock)−$5.00Benton (Fayetteville): market median $18.93, prevailing (survey) $13.87, gap −$5.06Benton (Fayetteville)−$5.06Little River (Texarkana): market median $17.48, prevailing (survey) $11.29, gap −$6.19Little River (Texarkana)−$6.19Craighead (Jonesboro): market median $18.26, prevailing (survey) $10.61, gap −$7.65Craighead (Jonesboro)−$7.65Crittenden (Memphis): market median $21.54, prevailing (survey) $10.80, gap −$10.74Crittenden (Memphis)−$10.74
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in Arkansas.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
UnionSurvey SUAR2015-010 2017-01-09$15.50$0.00$15.50AR20260013
GarlandSurvey SUAR2015-025 2017-01-09$15.01$0.00$15.01AR20260028
PopeSurvey SUAR2015-008 2017-01-09$12.28$2.26$14.54AR20260011
BentonSurvey SUAR2015-020 2017-01-09$13.87$0.00$13.87AR20260023
MadisonSurvey SUAR2015-027 2017-01-09$13.69$0.00$13.69AR20260030
CrawfordSurvey SUAR2015-022 2017-01-09$13.56$0.00$13.56AR20260025
WashingtonSurvey SUAR2015-032 2017-01-09$13.47$0.00$13.47AR20260035
GrantSurvey SUAR2015-034 2017-01-09$12.88$0.00$12.88AR20260037
LonokeSurvey SUAR2015-026 2017-01-09$12.88$0.00$12.88AR20260029
PerrySurvey SUAR2015-034 2017-01-09$12.88$0.00$12.88AR20260037
SalineSurvey SUAR2015-030 2017-01-09$12.88$0.00$12.88AR20260033
PulaskiSurvey SUAR2015-029 2017-01-09$12.85$0.00$12.85AR20260032
CalhounSurvey SUAR2015-017 2017-01-09$12.84$0.00$12.84AR20260020
ClarkSurvey SUAR2015-017 2017-01-09$12.84$0.00$12.84AR20260020
ColumbiaSurvey SUAR2015-017 2017-01-09$12.84$0.00$12.84AR20260020

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

Is construction work growing in Arkansas?

68.0kConstruction jobsArkansas, 2026-09
+1.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k40k60k80k1990199520002005201020152020202568kSep 2026
Construction employment in Arkansas (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 60 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 28,946 in 2015 to 39,465 in 2025, +36.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Mississippi County32932$85,257$1,640
Union County46648$82,147$1,580
Lawrence County20128$80,802$1,554
Grant County39319$79,574$1,530
Pulaski County6116,605$70,446$1,355
Greene County50371$66,953$1,288
Washington County4775,917$66,623$1,281
Craighead County1931,879$65,719$1,264
Benton County6525,746$65,634$1,262
Conway County42444$64,241$1,235
Little River County827$63,193$1,215
Pope County110661$62,920$1,210

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Arkansas

More on Arkansas

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in Arkansas?

The median construction laborer in Arkansas earned $18.09 an hour ($37,630 a year) in May 2025, 20% below the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $16.63–$21.31; the top 10% earn more than $23.27.

Where does Arkansas rank for construction laborer pay?

Arkansas ranks 50th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $18.09 an hour, and 45th after adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (BEA price parity 86.9, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in Arkansas?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a construction laborer classification for most Arkansas counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many construction laborers work in Arkansas?

BLS counted 10,650 construction laborers in Arkansas in May 2025, 8.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.16; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is construction laborer work growing in Arkansas?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in Arkansas went from 7,490 in 2015 to 10,650 in 2025, +42.2%, and +108.0% since 2019. Arkansas's labor market agency projects +9.8% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 12,480 to 13,700 jobs.

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

Arkansas projects about 1,150 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, Arkansas 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: Arkansas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.