Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in Colorado

Median $23.03 an hour for 18,680 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$23.03/hrMedian hourly wageColorado, May data
$47,900/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.47 – $29.8110th to 90th percentilehourly range
18,680Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Construction laborer pay in Colorado: the full range

Wage percentiles, ColoradoMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrColorado: 10th $18.47 · 25th $20.53 · median $23.03 · 75th $27.25 · 90th $29.81Colorado$23.03$18.47$29.81United 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: Colorado vs United States, May 2025.

Colorado ranks 26th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 36th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $22.34). 18,680 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$18.47 – $20.53$38,410 – $42,700roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$20.53 – $27.25$42,700 – $56,670the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$27.25 – $29.81$56,670 – $62,010the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in Colorado

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrDenver: $23.44Denver$23.44Boulder: $23.07Boulder$23.07Fort Collins: $22.86Fort Collins$22.86Colorado Springs: $22.28Colorado Springs$22.28Greeley: $22.19Greeley$22.19Pueblo: $21.89Pueblo$21.89Grand Junction: $21.51Grand Junction$21.51
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in Colorado, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Denver$18.74$23.44$22.16$30.329,6502% above
Boulder$18.35$23.07$21.93$32.00540about the same as
Fort Collins$18.17$22.86$22.61$30.019301% below
Colorado Springs$18.09$22.28$22.13$28.991,7903% below
Greeley$18.46$22.19$22.15$30.001,4304% below
Pueblo$18.37$21.89$23.85$27.995305% below
Grand Junction$17.33$21.51$22.52$40.285707% below

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

Construction laborer wages in Colorado over time

Colorado, 1999-2025ColoradoUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25200020052010201520202025$23.03Colorado$22.66United States
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, Colorado vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearColorado $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$10.47$20.23$10.8517,530
2000$10.61$19.84$11.1520,590
2001$11.39$20.71$11.5718,590
2002$11.91$21.31$11.9017,990
2003$12.07$21.12$11.8617,030
2004$12.34$21.03$12.1017,640
2005$12.29$20.26$12.2219,210
2006$12.42$19.83$12.6621,650
2007$13.02$20.22$13.1322,440
2008$13.74$20.55$13.7122,620
2009$14.30$21.46$14.0118,930
2010$14.51$21.42$14.0815,770
2011$14.58$20.87$14.3015,600
2012$14.82$20.78$14.4215,100
2013$14.53$20.08$14.6416,340
2014$14.77$20.09$14.9518,860
2015$15.43$20.96$15.3420,630
2016$16.27$21.82$16.0720,620
2017$16.75$22.00$16.6021,250
2018$17.05$21.86$17.2120,910
2019$17.65$22.23$17.7222,060
2020$18.32$22.79$18.2221,210
2021$18.31$21.75$18.1620,590
2022$19.92$21.91$19.5920,740
2023$21.91$23.15$21.7820,800
2024$22.41$23.00$22.4719,230
2025$23.03$23.03$22.6618,680

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Colorado changed by +9.9% over the last ten years of data and by +3.6% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in Colorado?

-15.3%Jobs since 201922,060 then, 18,680 in 2025
-9.5%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
6.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 32nd of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in Colorado has changed by +6.6%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -15.3%.

Construction laborers in Colorado vs United States, 1999 = 100ColoradoUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages80100120140160200020052010201520202025144United States107Colorado
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Colorado vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearColorado jobsColorado indexUS index
199917,530100100
200020,590118108
200118,590106108
200217,990103109
200317,03097110
200417,640101112
200519,210110122
200621,650124133
200722,440128138
200822,620129134
200918,930108112
201015,77090102
201115,60089102
201215,10086107
201316,34093108
201418,860108112
201520,630118116
201620,620118120
201721,250121126
201820,910119131
201922,060126134
202021,210121127
202120,590118127
202220,740118133
202320,800119134
202419,230110138
202518,680107144

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 Colorado

+20.5%Projected growth in Colorado2024–2034, state agency
2,770Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
25,920Jobs in 202431,230 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Colorado's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +20.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 25,920 to 31,230, with about 2,770 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 18,680 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in Colorado

On federally funded construction in Colorado, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 64 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $9.75). 64 of the 64 counties still use a survey rate dated 2015 or earlier (for example Adams County at $19.17). The market median for the state is $23.03.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, COAdams: $19.17 (survey)Alamosa: $9.75 (survey)Arapahoe: $19.75 (survey)Archuleta: $9.75 (survey)Baca: $9.75 (survey)Bent: $9.75 (survey)Boulder: $11.76 (survey)Broomfield: $19.84 (survey)Chaffee: $9.75 (survey)Cheyenne: $9.75 (survey)Clear Creek: $19.84 (survey)Conejos: $9.75 (survey)Costilla: $9.75 (survey)Crowley: $9.75 (survey)Custer: $9.75 (survey)Delta: $9.75 (survey)Denver: $19.71 (survey)Dolores: $9.75 (survey)Douglas: $20.99 (survey)Eagle: $9.75 (survey)Elbert: $19.84 (survey)El Paso: $14.80 (survey)Fremont: $9.75 (survey)Garfield: $9.75 (survey)Gilpin: $19.84 (survey)Grand: $9.75 (survey)Gunnison: $9.75 (survey)Hinsdale: $9.75 (survey)Huerfano: $9.75 (survey)Jackson: $9.75 (survey)Jefferson: $20.77 (survey)Kiowa: $9.75 (survey)Kit Carson: $9.75 (survey)Lake: $9.75 (survey)La Plata: $9.75 (survey)Larimer: $16.67 (survey)Las Animas: $9.75 (survey)Lincoln: $9.75 (survey)Logan: $9.75 (survey)Mesa: $13.25 (survey)Mineral: $9.75 (survey)Moffat: $9.75 (survey)Montezuma: $9.75 (survey)Montrose: $9.75 (survey)Morgan: $9.75 (survey)Otero: $9.75 (survey)Ouray: $9.75 (survey)Park: $19.84 (survey)Phillips: $9.75 (survey)Pitkin: $9.75 (survey)Prowers: $9.75 (survey)Pueblo: $15.03 (survey)Rio Blanco: $9.75 (survey)Rio Grande: $9.75 (survey)Routt: $9.75 (survey)Saguache: $9.75 (survey)San Juan: $9.75 (survey)San Miguel: $9.75 (survey)Sedgwick: $9.75 (survey)Summit: $9.75 (survey)Teller: $14.80 (survey)Washington: $9.75 (survey)Weld: $14.00 (survey)Yuma: $9.75 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$14.80survey 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)$10$15$20$25/hrDouglas (Denver): market median $23.44, prevailing (survey) $20.99, gap −$2.45Douglas (Denver)−$2.45Larimer (Fort Collins): market median $22.86, prevailing (survey) $16.67, gap −$6.19Larimer (Fort Collins)−$6.19Pueblo (Pueblo): market median $21.89, prevailing (survey) $15.03, gap −$6.86Pueblo (Pueblo)−$6.86El Paso (Colorado Springs): market median $22.28, prevailing (survey) $14.80, gap −$7.48El Paso (Colorado Springs)−$7.48Weld (Greeley): market median $22.19, prevailing (survey) $14.00, gap −$8.19Weld (Greeley)−$8.19Mesa (Grand Junction): market median $21.51, prevailing (survey) $13.25, gap −$8.26Mesa (Grand Junction)−$8.26Boulder (Boulder): market median $23.07, prevailing (survey) $11.76, gap −$11.31Boulder (Boulder)−$11.31
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in Colorado.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
DouglasSurvey SUCO2013-007 2015-07-31$16.04$4.95$20.99CO20260021
JeffersonSurvey SUCO2013-009 2015-07-31$15.42$5.35$20.77CO20260023
BroomfieldSurvey SUCO2013-004 2015-07-31$14.86$4.98$19.84CO20260018
Clear CreekSurvey SUCO2013-005 2015-07-31$14.86$4.98$19.84CO20260019
ElbertSurvey SUCO2013-016 2015-07-31$14.86$4.98$19.84CO20260030
GilpinSurvey SUCO2013-016 2015-07-31$14.86$4.98$19.84CO20260030
ParkSurvey SUCO2013-012 2015-07-31$14.86$4.98$19.84CO20260026
ArapahoeSurvey SUCO2013-002 2015-07-31$15.21$4.54$19.75CO20260016
DenverSurvey SUCO2013-006 2015-07-31$14.49$5.22$19.71CO20260020
AdamsSurvey SUCO2013-001 2015-07-31$14.93$4.24$19.17CO20260015
LarimerSurvey SUCO2013-010 2015-07-31$13.87$2.80$16.67CO20260024
PuebloSurvey SUCO2013-013 2015-07-31$13.67$1.36$15.03CO20260027
El PasoSurvey SUCO2013-008 2015-07-31$13.40$1.40$14.80CO20260022
TellerSurvey SUCO2013-014 2015-07-31$13.40$1.40$14.80CO20260028
WeldSurvey SUCO2013-015 2015-07-31$14.00$0.00$14.00CO20260029

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

Is construction work growing in Colorado?

193.6kConstruction jobsColorado, 2026-09
+3.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k50k100k150k200k250k19901995200020052010201520202025194kSep 2026
Construction employment in Colorado (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 48 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 96,806 in 2015 to 118,768 in 2025, +22.7%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Denver County1,21413,814$88,160$1,695
Jefferson County1,48012,463$84,364$1,622
Adams County1,52619,605$83,598$1,608
Arapahoe County1,45314,058$82,624$1,589
Douglas County7356,506$80,059$1,540
Eagle County4272,741$77,396$1,488
Boulder County4593,183$75,142$1,445
Broomfield County132826$73,547$1,414
Summit County209938$73,255$1,409
Grand County114541$72,999$1,404
Weld County9497,458$72,660$1,397
Larimer County9327,322$72,635$1,397

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Colorado

More on Colorado

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in Colorado?

The median construction laborer in Colorado earned $23.03 an hour ($47,900 a year) in May 2025, 2% above the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $20.53–$27.25; the top 10% earn more than $29.81.

Where does Colorado rank for construction laborer pay?

Colorado ranks 26th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $23.03 an hour, and 36th after adjusting for Colorado's cost of living (BEA price parity 103.1, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in Colorado?

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

How many construction laborers work in Colorado?

BLS counted 18,680 construction laborers in Colorado in May 2025, 6.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.92; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is construction laborer work growing in Colorado?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in Colorado went from 20,630 in 2015 to 18,680 in 2025, -9.5%, and -15.3% since 2019. Colorado's labor market agency projects +20.5% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 25,920 to 31,230 jobs.

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

Colorado projects about 2,770 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, Colorado 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: Colorado labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.