Construction laborer salary in Maine
Median $22.32 an hour for 3,960 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Construction laborer pay in Maine: the full range
Maine ranks 32nd of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 32nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $23.01). 3,960 construction laborers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $17.40 – $19.51 | $36,190 – $40,570 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $19.51 – $25.51 | $40,570 – $53,070 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $25.51 – $29.10 | $53,070 – $60,520 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Construction laborer pay by metro in Maine
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $17.44 | $23.31 | $29.72 | 1,470 | 4% above |
| Lewiston | $16.62 | $22.06 | $29.48 | 330 | 1% below |
| Bangor | $16.20 | $21.35 | $26.79 | 530 | 4% below |
Construction laborer wages in Maine over time
Table
| Year | Maine $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $9.01 | $17.41 | $10.85 | 2,430 |
| 2000 | $9.76 | $18.25 | $11.15 | 3,190 |
| 2001 | $9.98 | $18.14 | $11.57 | 3,120 |
| 2002 | $10.05 | $17.99 | $11.90 | 3,240 |
| 2003 | $10.48 | $18.34 | $11.86 | 3,300 |
| 2004 | $10.59 | $18.05 | $12.10 | 2,990 |
| 2005 | $11.85 | $19.53 | $12.22 | 2,610 |
| 2006 | $11.96 | $19.10 | $12.66 | 3,250 |
| 2007 | $12.82 | $19.91 | $13.13 | 3,020 |
| 2008 | $13.29 | $19.87 | $13.71 | 3,230 |
| 2009 | $13.16 | $19.75 | $14.01 | 2,790 |
| 2010 | $12.95 | $19.12 | $14.08 | 2,810 |
| 2011 | $13.35 | $19.11 | $14.30 | 2,650 |
| 2012 | $13.63 | $19.11 | $14.42 | 2,900 |
| 2013 | $13.76 | $19.02 | $14.64 | 2,940 |
| 2014 | $13.83 | $18.81 | $14.95 | 2,940 |
| 2015 | $14.02 | $19.04 | $15.34 | 2,560 |
| 2016 | $14.51 | $19.46 | $16.07 | 2,570 |
| 2017 | $14.77 | $19.40 | $16.60 | 2,650 |
| 2018 | $15.43 | $19.78 | $17.21 | 2,980 |
| 2019 | $16.32 | $20.55 | $17.72 | 3,150 |
| 2020 | $17.10 | $21.27 | $18.22 | 2,940 |
| 2021 | $17.87 | $21.23 | $18.16 | 3,170 |
| 2022 | $18.66 | $20.53 | $19.59 | 3,460 |
| 2023 | $20.81 | $21.99 | $21.78 | 3,130 |
| 2024 | $21.90 | $22.48 | $22.47 | 3,180 |
| 2025 | $22.32 | $22.32 | $22.66 | 3,960 |
In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Maine changed by +17.2% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in Maine
On federally funded construction in Maine, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 15 of the 16 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $41.62 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $30.04). The market median for the state is $22.32.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aroostook | Union LABO0327-003 2023-12-01 | $21.90 | $19.72 | $41.62 | ME20260006 |
| Cumberland | Union LABO0327-004 2023-12-01 | $21.90 | $19.72 | $41.62 | ME20260050 |
| Franklin | Union LABO0327-003 2023-12-01 | $21.90 | $19.72 | $41.62 | ME20260007 |
| Hancock | Union LABO0327-003 2023-12-01 | $21.90 | $19.72 | $41.62 | ME20260008 |
| Kennebec | Union LABO0327-003 2023-12-01 | $21.90 | $19.72 | $41.62 | ME20260009 |
| Knox | Union LABO0327-003 2023-12-01 | $21.90 | $19.72 | $41.62 | ME20260010 |
| Lincoln | Union LABO0327-003 2023-12-01 | $21.90 | $19.72 | $41.62 | ME20260014 |
| Oxford | Union LABO0327-003 2023-12-01 | $21.90 | $19.72 | $41.62 | ME20260014 |
| Penobscot | Union LABO0327-004 2023-12-01 | $21.90 | $19.72 | $41.62 | ME20260051 |
| Piscataquis | Union LABO0327-003 2023-12-01 | $21.90 | $19.72 | $41.62 | ME20260011 |
| Sagadahoc | Union LABO0327-004 2023-12-01 | $21.90 | $19.72 | $41.62 | ME20260052 |
| Somerset | Union LABO0327-003 2023-12-01 | $21.90 | $19.72 | $41.62 | ME20260012 |
| Waldo | Union LABO0327-003 2023-12-01 | $21.90 | $19.72 | $41.62 | ME20260014 |
| Washington | Union LABO0327-003 2023-12-01 | $21.90 | $19.72 | $41.62 | ME20260013 |
| York | Union LABO0327-004 2023-12-01 | $21.90 | $19.72 | $41.62 | ME20260053 |
| Androscoggin | Survey SUME2022-001 2024-06-26 | $18.66 | $11.38 | $30.04 | ME20260004 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Maine prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Maine?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County | 6,379 | $81,283 | $1,563 |
| Androscoggin County | 2,515 | $76,181 | $1,465 |
| Penobscot County | 2,673 | $74,649 | $1,436 |
| Kennebec County | 1,887 | $67,949 | $1,307 |
| York County | 2,786 | $67,273 | $1,294 |
| Aroostook County | 638 | $65,825 | $1,266 |
| Somerset County | 583 | $65,115 | $1,252 |
| Franklin County | 414 | $61,850 | $1,189 |
| Waldo County | 568 | $60,329 | $1,160 |
| Sagadahoc County | 474 | $60,170 | $1,157 |
| Hancock County | 1,041 | $60,086 | $1,155 |
| Knox County | 616 | $59,495 | $1,144 |
| Lincoln County | 490 | $58,731 | $1,129 |
| Oxford County | 647 | $58,645 | $1,128 |
| Washington County | 224 | $49,769 | $957 |
| Piscataquis County | — | — | — |
Keep comparing
Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Maine
Questions this page answers
How much do construction laborers make in Maine?
The median construction laborer in Maine earned $22.32 an hour ($46,430 a year) in May 2025, 2% below the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $19.51–$25.51; the top 10% earn more than $29.10.
Where does Maine rank for construction laborer pay?
Maine ranks 32nd of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $22.32 an hour, and 32nd after adjusting for Maine's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.0, US = 100).
What is the union construction laborer rate in Maine?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for construction laborers in 15 counties, with a typical package of $41.62 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many construction laborers work in Maine?
BLS counted 3,960 construction laborers in Maine in May 2025, 6.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.88; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Maine 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.