Construction laborer salary in District of Columbia
Median $24.05 an hour for 2,090 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Construction laborer pay in District of Columbia: the full range
District of Columbia ranks 17th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 40th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $21.88). 2,090 construction laborers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $17.88 – $20.80 | $37,190 – $43,260 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $20.80 – $28.41 | $43,260 – $59,090 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $28.41 – $34.77 | $59,090 – $72,320 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Construction laborer pay by metro in District of Columbia
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | $17.80 | $22.80 | $30.19 | 17,710 | 5% below |
Construction laborer wages in District of Columbia over time
Table
| Year | District of Columbia $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $13.42 | $25.93 | $10.85 | 1,090 |
| 2000 | $12.95 | $24.21 | $11.15 | 2,110 |
| 2001 | $13.33 | $24.23 | $11.57 | 1,940 |
| 2002 | $13.80 | $24.70 | $11.90 | 2,320 |
| 2003 | $13.23 | $23.15 | $11.86 | 2,700 |
| 2004 | $11.71 | $19.96 | $12.10 | 2,770 |
| 2005 | $12.11 | $19.96 | $12.22 | 2,960 |
| 2006 | $13.79 | $22.02 | $12.66 | 2,580 |
| 2007 | $14.83 | $23.03 | $13.13 | 2,720 |
| 2008 | $15.37 | $22.98 | $13.71 | 2,280 |
| 2009 | $14.84 | $22.27 | $14.01 | 2,330 |
| 2010 | $16.63 | $24.55 | $14.08 | 1,790 |
| 2011 | $18.07 | $25.86 | $14.30 | 2,400 |
| 2012 | $19.18 | $26.89 | $14.42 | 2,520 |
| 2013 | $18.38 | $25.40 | $14.64 | 3,200 |
| 2014 | $17.52 | $23.83 | $14.95 | 2,880 |
| 2015 | $18.42 | $25.02 | $15.34 | 3,350 |
| 2016 | $17.99 | $24.13 | $16.07 | 3,560 |
| 2017 | $18.32 | $24.06 | $16.60 | 3,720 |
| 2018 | $18.69 | $23.96 | $17.21 | 3,200 |
| 2019 | $18.69 | $23.54 | $17.72 | 3,060 |
| 2020 | $19.21 | $23.90 | $18.22 | 2,810 |
| 2021 | $22.28 | $26.47 | $18.16 | 2,410 |
| 2022 | $21.00 | $23.10 | $19.59 | 2,370 |
| 2023 | $22.80 | $24.09 | $21.78 | 2,450 |
| 2024 | $23.81 | $24.44 | $22.47 | 2,260 |
| 2025 | $24.05 | $24.05 | $22.66 | 2,090 |
In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in District of Columbia changed by -3.9% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in District of Columbia
On federally funded construction in District of Columbia, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 1 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $15.84). 1 of the 1 counties still use a survey rate dated 2009 or earlier (for example District of Columbia County at $15.84). The market median for the state is $24.05.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | Survey SUDC2009-003 2009-05-19 | $13.04 | $2.80 | $15.84 | DC20260002 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the District of Columbia prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in District of Columbia?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 8,078 | $90,639 | $1,743 |
Keep comparing
Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in District of Columbia
Questions this page answers
How much do construction laborers make in District of Columbia?
The median construction laborer in District of Columbia earned $24.05 an hour ($50,020 a year) in May 2025, 6% above the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $20.80–$28.41; the top 10% earn more than $34.77.
Where does District of Columbia rank for construction laborer pay?
District of Columbia ranks 17th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $24.05 an hour, and 40th after adjusting for District of Columbia's cost of living (BEA price parity 109.9, US = 100).
What is the union construction laborer rate in District of Columbia?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a construction laborer classification for most District of Columbia counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many construction laborers work in District of Columbia?
BLS counted 2,090 construction laborers in District of Columbia in May 2025, 3.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.42; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, District of Columbia 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.