Construction laborer salary in Delaware
Median $21.90 an hour for 3,240 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Construction laborer pay in Delaware: the full range
Delaware ranks 36th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 39th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $21.94). 3,240 construction laborers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $15.98 – $17.93 | $33,240 – $37,280 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $17.93 – $27.07 | $37,280 – $56,310 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $27.07 – $30.64 | $56,310 – $63,730 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Construction laborer pay by metro in Delaware
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $18.46 | $26.50 | $40.00 | 14,580 | 21% above |
| Dover | $17.02 | $22.02 | $28.86 | 400 | 1% above |
Construction laborer wages in Delaware over time
Table
| Year | Delaware $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $11.53 | $22.28 | $10.85 | 2,970 |
| 2000 | $11.54 | $21.58 | $11.15 | 3,090 |
| 2001 | $11.94 | $21.71 | $11.57 | 3,110 |
| 2002 | $12.35 | $22.10 | $11.90 | 2,480 |
| 2003 | $12.21 | $21.36 | $11.86 | 2,760 |
| 2004 | $11.85 | $20.20 | $12.10 | 3,780 |
| 2005 | $12.01 | $19.80 | $12.22 | 3,970 |
| 2006 | $12.81 | $20.46 | $12.66 | 4,380 |
| 2007 | $13.27 | $20.60 | $13.13 | 3,770 |
| 2008 | $13.77 | $20.59 | $13.71 | 3,620 |
| 2009 | $13.89 | $20.84 | $14.01 | 2,760 |
| 2010 | $14.34 | $21.17 | $14.08 | 2,280 |
| 2011 | $14.21 | $20.34 | $14.30 | 2,180 |
| 2012 | $14.10 | $19.77 | $14.42 | 2,090 |
| 2013 | $14.03 | $19.39 | $14.64 | 2,300 |
| 2014 | $15.08 | $20.51 | $14.95 | 2,320 |
| 2015 | $16.07 | $21.83 | $15.34 | 1,950 |
| 2016 | $16.57 | $22.23 | $16.07 | 1,920 |
| 2017 | $16.60 | $21.80 | $16.60 | 1,810 |
| 2018 | $16.81 | $21.55 | $17.21 | 1,870 |
| 2019 | $17.44 | $21.96 | $17.72 | 1,810 |
| 2020 | $17.95 | $22.33 | $18.22 | 2,000 |
| 2021 | $18.09 | $21.49 | $18.16 | 2,280 |
| 2022 | $20.17 | $22.19 | $19.59 | 2,640 |
| 2023 | $22.21 | $23.47 | $21.78 | 2,460 |
| 2024 | $21.92 | $22.50 | $22.47 | 2,760 |
| 2025 | $21.90 | $21.90 | $22.66 | 3,240 |
In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Delaware changed by +0.3% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in Delaware
On federally funded construction in Delaware, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 2 of the 3 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $55.15 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $33.10). 1 of the 3 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Sussex County at $33.10). The market median for the state is $21.90.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | Union LABO0199-005 2024-02-01 | $29.45 | $25.70 | $55.15 | DE20260007 |
| New Castle | Union LABO0199-005 2024-02-01 | $29.45 | $25.70 | $55.15 | DE20260008 |
| Sussex | Survey SUDE2014-006 2016-01-20 | $24.45 | $8.65 | $33.10 | DE20260009 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Delaware prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Delaware?
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.
| County | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Castle County | 10,015 | $79,861 | $1,536 |
| Kent County | 1,656 | $71,423 | $1,374 |
| Sussex County | 4,234 | $64,356 | $1,238 |
Keep comparing
Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Delaware
Questions this page answers
How much do construction laborers make in Delaware?
The median construction laborer in Delaware earned $21.90 an hour ($45,550 a year) in May 2025, 3% below the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $17.93–$27.07; the top 10% earn more than $30.64.
Where does Delaware rank for construction laborer pay?
Delaware ranks 36th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $21.90 an hour, and 39th after adjusting for Delaware's cost of living (BEA price parity 99.8, US = 100).
What is the union construction laborer rate in Delaware?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for construction laborers in 2 counties, with a typical package of $55.15 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many construction laborers work in Delaware?
BLS counted 3,240 construction laborers in Delaware in May 2025, 6.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.95; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Delaware and metro areas, SOC 47-2061.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.