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, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$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 2026-11-13

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. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$16.23 – $18.13$33,770 – $37,700roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$18.13 – $24.06$37,700 – $50,040the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$24.06 – $28.94$50,040 – $60,200the 75th to 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 $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Cincinnati$18.18$26.41$27.68$37.595,70020% above
Louisville$17.58$22.80$24.49$31.244,6004% above
Paducah$16.40$22.53$26.17$27.405903% above
Lexington$16.91$22.26$23.96$29.381,8101% above
Huntington$14.76$21.72$24.57$32.211,5801% below
Owensboro$14.82$21.04$23.75$28.673404% below
Clarksville$15.70$20.17$22.19$26.876208% below
Bowling Green$14.35$20.13$22.32$24.068408% below
Elizabethtown$14.82$18.63$20.56$25.6122015% below

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

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 and by +0.8% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in Kentucky?

+20.7%Jobs since 201911,000 then, 13,280 in 2025
+51.9%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
6.6Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 31st of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in Kentucky has changed by +13.7%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +20.7%.

Construction laborers in Kentucky vs United States, 1999 = 100KentuckyUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages5075100125150175200020052010201520202025144United States114Kentucky
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Kentucky vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearKentucky jobsKentucky indexUS index
199911,680100100
200013,540116108
200112,190104108
200213,080112109
200312,460107110
200411,730100112
200511,920102122
200611,33097133
200710,98094138
200810,36089134
20097,96068112
20108,73075102
20118,85076102
201210,41089107
20138,72075108
20148,40072112
20158,74075116
20169,88085120
201710,34088126
201810,71092131
201911,00094134
202011,00094127
202110,72092127
202212,010103133
202314,140121134
202414,200122138
202513,280114144

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 Kentucky

+4.1%Projected growth in Kentucky2024–2034, state agency
1,660Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
19,710Jobs in 202420,510 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Kentucky's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +4.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 19,710 to 20,510, with about 1,660 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 13,280 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

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 2026-11-13. 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?

95.6kConstruction jobsKentucky, 2026-09
+0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202640k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202596kSep 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. Across the 92 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 43,567 in 2015 to 56,410 in 2025, +29.5%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Monroe County1879$89,609$1,723
Laurel County73602$85,874$1,651
Boyd County84930$84,083$1,617
Owen County1031$80,473$1,548
Grant County42269$80,397$1,546
Harrison County2865$80,322$1,545
Mason County28366$80,276$1,544
Henderson County84824$80,139$1,541
Hancock County16128$79,869$1,536
Jefferson County1,33815,635$79,698$1,533
Webster County21432$78,159$1,503
Garrard County59381$77,840$1,497

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Kentucky

More on 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).

Is construction laborer work growing in Kentucky?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in Kentucky went from 8,740 in 2015 to 13,280 in 2025, +51.9%, and +20.7% since 2019. Kentucky's labor market agency projects +4.1% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 19,710 to 20,510 jobs.

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

Kentucky projects about 1,660 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, Kentucky 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: Kentucky labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.