Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in Kentucky

Median $21.98 an hour for 13,280 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$21.98/hrMedian hourly wageKentucky, May data
$45,710/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$16.23 – $28.9410th to 90th percentilehourly range
13,280Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Construction laborer pay in Kentucky: the full range

Wage percentiles, KentuckyMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrKentucky: 10th $16.23 · 25th $18.13 · median $21.98 · 75th $24.06 · 90th $28.94Kentucky$21.98$16.23$28.94United 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: Kentucky vs United States, May 2025.

Kentucky ranks 34th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 22nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $24.37). 13,280 construction laborers work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$16.23 – $18.13$33,770 – $37,700roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$18.13 – $24.06$37,700 – $50,040the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$24.06 – $28.94$50,040 – $60,200the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in Kentucky

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrCincinnati: $26.41Cincinnati$26.41Louisville: $22.80Louisville$22.80Paducah: $22.53Paducah$22.53Lexington: $22.26Lexington$22.26Huntington: $21.72Huntington$21.72Owensboro: $21.04Owensboro$21.04Clarksville: $20.17Clarksville$20.17Bowling Green: $20.13Bowling Green$20.13Elizabethtown: $18.63Elizabethtown$18.63
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in Kentucky, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Cincinnati$18.18$26.41$37.595,70020% above
Louisville$17.58$22.80$31.244,6004% above
Paducah$16.40$22.53$27.405903% above
Lexington$16.91$22.26$29.381,8101% above
Huntington$14.76$21.72$32.211,5801% below
Owensboro$14.82$21.04$28.673404% below
Clarksville$15.70$20.17$26.876208% below
Bowling Green$14.35$20.13$24.068408% below
Elizabethtown$14.82$18.63$25.6122015% below

Construction laborer wages in Kentucky over time

Kentucky, 1999-2025KentuckyUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25200020052010201520202025$22.66United States$21.98Kentucky
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, Kentucky vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearKentucky $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$10.36$20.02$10.8511,680
2000$10.18$19.03$11.1513,540
2001$10.81$19.65$11.5712,190
2002$10.92$19.54$11.9013,080
2003$10.95$19.16$11.8612,460
2004$11.51$19.62$12.1011,730
2005$11.38$18.76$12.2211,920
2006$12.18$19.45$12.6611,330
2007$12.74$19.78$13.1310,980
2008$13.33$19.93$13.7110,360
2009$13.80$20.71$14.017,960
2010$13.28$19.61$14.088,730
2011$13.24$18.95$14.308,850
2012$13.42$18.82$14.4210,410
2013$14.46$19.98$14.648,720
2014$16.05$21.83$14.958,400
2015$15.28$20.76$15.348,740
2016$15.01$20.13$16.079,880
2017$15.35$20.16$16.6010,340
2018$16.16$20.72$17.2110,710
2019$17.31$21.80$17.7211,000
2020$17.85$22.20$18.2211,000
2021$17.75$21.09$18.1610,720
2022$18.68$20.55$19.5912,010
2023$20.31$21.46$21.7814,140
2024$21.80$22.37$22.4714,200
2025$21.98$21.98$22.6613,280

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Kentucky changed by +5.9% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in Kentucky

On federally funded construction in Kentucky, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 23 of the 120 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $45.51 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $28.32). 97 of the 120 counties still use a survey rate dated 2015 or earlier (for example Adair County at $23.08). The market median for the state is $21.98.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, KYAdair: $23.08 (survey)Allen: $12.50 (survey)Anderson: $28.32 (survey)Ballard: $29.14 (survey)Barren: $23.08 (survey)Bath: $28.32 (survey)Bell: $31.56 (survey)Boone: $46.05 (union)Bourbon: $45.51 (union)Boyd: $36.94 (survey)Boyle: $28.32 (survey)Bracken: $46.05 (union)Breathitt: $31.56 (survey)Breckinridge: $29.14 (survey)Bullitt: $40.01 (union)Butler: $12.50 (survey)Caldwell: $29.14 (survey)Calloway: $29.14 (survey)Campbell: $46.05 (union)Carlisle: $29.14 (survey)Carroll: $28.32 (survey)Carter: $31.56 (survey)Casey: $23.08 (survey)Christian: $18.04 (survey)Clark: $45.51 (union)Clay: $31.56 (survey)Clinton: $23.08 (survey)Crittenden: $29.14 (survey)Cumberland: $23.08 (survey)Daviess: $25.79 (survey)Edmonson: $12.50 (survey)Elliott: $31.56 (survey)Estill: $28.32 (survey)Fayette: $45.51 (union)Fleming: $28.32 (survey)Floyd: $31.56 (survey)Franklin: $28.32 (survey)Fulton: $29.14 (survey)Gallatin: $46.05 (union)Garrard: $28.32 (survey)Grant: $46.05 (union)Graves: $29.14 (survey)Grayson: $29.14 (survey)Green: $23.08 (survey)Greenup: $36.94 (survey)Hancock: $25.79 (survey)Hardin: $24.08 (survey)Harlan: $31.56 (survey)Harrison: $28.32 (survey)Hart: $23.08 (survey)Henderson: $48.09 (union)Henry: $40.01 (union)Hickman: $29.14 (survey)Hopkins: $28.45 (survey)Jackson: $31.56 (survey)Jefferson: $40.01 (union)Jessamine: $45.51 (union)Johnson: $31.56 (survey)Kenton: $46.05 (union)Knott: $31.56 (survey)Knox: $23.08 (survey)Larue: $24.16 (survey)Laurel: $17.06 (survey)Lawrence: $37.90 (survey)Lee: $31.56 (survey)Leslie: $31.56 (survey)Letcher: $31.56 (survey)Lewis: $28.32 (survey)Lincoln: $28.32 (survey)Livingston: $29.14 (survey)Logan: $23.08 (survey)Lyon: $29.14 (survey)McCracken: $29.14 (survey)McCreary: $23.08 (survey)McLean: $25.79 (survey)Madison: $28.32 (survey)Magoffin: $31.56 (survey)Marion: $23.08 (survey)Marshall: $29.14 (survey)Martin: $31.56 (survey)Mason: $28.32 (survey)Meade: $24.16 (survey)Menifee: $28.32 (survey)Mercer: $30.38 (survey)Metcalfe: $23.08 (survey)Monroe: $23.08 (survey)Montgomery: $21.65 (survey)Morgan: $31.56 (survey)Muhlenberg: $29.14 (survey)Nelson: $22.05 (survey)Nicholas: $28.32 (survey)Ohio: $29.14 (survey)Oldham: $40.01 (union)Owen: $28.32 (survey)Owsley: $31.56 (survey)Pendleton: $46.05 (union)Perry: $31.56 (survey)Pike: $31.06 (survey)Powell: $28.32 (survey)Pulaski: $41.01 (union)Robertson: $28.32 (survey)Rockcastle: $28.32 (survey)Rowan: $28.32 (survey)Russell: $23.08 (survey)Scott: $45.51 (union)Shelby: $40.01 (union)Simpson: $23.08 (survey)Spencer: $40.01 (union)Taylor: $23.08 (survey)Todd: $29.14 (survey)Trigg: $18.04 (survey)Trimble: $40.01 (union)Union: $29.14 (survey)Warren: $12.50 (survey)Washington: $28.32 (survey)Wayne: $23.08 (survey)Webster: $48.09 (union)Whitley: $23.08 (survey)Wolfe: $31.56 (survey)Woodford: $45.51 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$23.08$28.32$29.14$37.13survey 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)$0$10$20$30$40$50/hrBourbon (Lexington): market median $22.26, prevailing (union) $45.51, gap +$23.25Bourbon (Lexington)+$23.25Boone (Cincinnati): market median $26.41, prevailing (union) $46.05, gap +$19.64Boone (Cincinnati)+$19.64Bullitt (Louisville): market median $22.80, prevailing (union) $40.01, gap +$17.21Bullitt (Louisville)+$17.21Lawrence (Huntington): market median $21.72, prevailing (survey) $37.90, gap +$16.18Lawrence (Huntington)+$16.18Ballard (Paducah): market median $22.53, prevailing (survey) $29.14, gap +$6.61Ballard (Paducah)+$6.61Larue (Elizabethtown): market median $18.63, prevailing (survey) $24.16, gap +$5.53Larue (Elizabethtown)+$5.53Daviess (Owensboro): market median $21.04, prevailing (survey) $25.79, gap +$4.75Daviess (Owensboro)+$4.75Christian (Clarksville): market median $20.17, prevailing (survey) $18.04, gap −$2.13Christian (Clarksville)−$2.13Allen (Bowling Green): market median $20.13, prevailing (survey) $12.50, gap −$7.63Allen (Bowling Green)−$7.63
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in Kentucky.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
HendersonUnion LABO0561-010 2025-04-01$28.89$19.20$48.09KY20260092
WebsterUnion LABO0561-010 2025-04-01$28.89$19.20$48.09KY20260098
BooneUnion LABO0265-013 2025-06-01$27.30$18.75$46.05KY20260044
BrackenUnion LABO0265-013 2025-06-01$27.30$18.75$46.05KY20260102
CampbellUnion LABO0265-013 2025-06-01$27.30$18.75$46.05KY20260088
GallatinUnion LABO0265-013 2025-06-01$27.30$18.75$46.05KY20260102
GrantUnion LABO0265-013 2025-06-01$27.30$18.75$46.05KY20260102
KentonUnion LABO0265-013 2025-06-01$27.30$18.75$46.05KY20260095
PendletonUnion LABO0265-013 2025-06-01$27.30$18.75$46.05KY20260102
BourbonUnion LABO0189-030 2025-06-01$28.13$17.38$45.51KY20260100
ClarkUnion LABO0189-030 2025-06-01$28.13$17.38$45.51KY20260100
FayetteUnion LABO0189-030 2025-06-01$28.13$17.38$45.51KY20260090
JessamineUnion LABO0189-030 2025-06-01$28.13$17.38$45.51KY20260094
ScottUnion LABO0189-030 2025-06-01$28.13$17.38$45.51KY20260100
WoodfordUnion LABO0189-030 2025-06-01$28.13$17.38$45.51KY20260100

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Kentucky prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Kentucky?

96.4kConstruction jobsKentucky, 2026-08
+1.3%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202640k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202596kAug 2026
Construction employment in Kentucky (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.

CountyEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Monroe County79$89,609$1,723
Laurel County602$85,874$1,651
Boyd County930$84,083$1,617
Owen County31$80,473$1,548
Grant County269$80,397$1,546
Harrison County65$80,322$1,545
Mason County366$80,276$1,544
Henderson County824$80,139$1,541
Hancock County128$79,869$1,536
Jefferson County15,635$79,698$1,533
Webster County432$78,159$1,503
Garrard County381$77,840$1,497

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Kentucky

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in Kentucky?

The median construction laborer in Kentucky earned $21.98 an hour ($45,710 a year) in May 2025, 3% below the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $18.13–$24.06; the top 10% earn more than $28.94.

Where does Kentucky rank for construction laborer pay?

Kentucky ranks 34th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $21.98 an hour, and 22nd after adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.2, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in Kentucky?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for construction laborers in 23 counties, with a typical package of $45.51 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many construction laborers work in Kentucky?

BLS counted 13,280 construction laborers in Kentucky in May 2025, 6.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.94; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Kentucky 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.