Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in Missouri

Median $27.28 an hour for 17,050 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$27.28/hrMedian hourly wageMissouri, May data
$56,730/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.21 – $40.1310th to 90th percentilehourly range
17,050Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Construction laborer pay in Missouri: the full range

Wage percentiles, MissouriMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrMissouri: 10th $18.21 · 25th $21.93 · median $27.28 · 75th $37.30 · 90th $40.13Missouri$27.28$18.21$40.13United 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: Missouri vs United States, May 2025.

Missouri ranks 11th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 2nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.04). 17,050 construction laborers work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$18.21 – $21.93$37,870 – $45,610roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$21.93 – $37.30$45,610 – $77,580the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$37.30 – $40.13$77,580 – $83,470the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in Missouri

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrSt. Louis: $31.01St. Louis$31.01Jefferson City: $27.99Jefferson City$27.99Cape Girardeau: $27.95Cape Girardeau$27.95Columbia: $27.31Columbia$27.31St. Joseph: $24.88St. Joseph$24.88Kansas City: $24.28Kansas City$24.28Joplin: $23.98Joplin$23.98Springfield: $23.00Springfield$23.00
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in Missouri, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
St. Louis$19.28$31.01$46.298,67014% above
Jefferson City$17.71$27.99$47.805803% above
Cape Girardeau$17.68$27.95$37.062202% above
Columbia$18.06$27.31$40.64470about the same as
St. Joseph$17.90$24.88$37.322809% below
Kansas City$17.44$24.28$38.546,58011% below
Joplin$17.37$23.98$35.1251012% below
Springfield$17.60$23.00$36.951,02016% below

Construction laborer wages in Missouri over time

Missouri, 1999-2025MissouriUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25$30200020052010201520202025$27.28Missouri$22.66United States
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, Missouri vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMissouri $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.11$27.27$10.8515,850
2000$15.02$28.08$11.1515,990
2001$15.76$28.65$11.5715,220
2002$15.54$27.81$11.9015,620
2003$14.73$25.77$11.8616,060
2004$15.23$25.96$12.1016,380
2005$15.58$25.68$12.2215,720
2006$16.05$25.63$12.6617,260
2007$16.48$25.59$13.1318,060
2008$17.22$25.75$13.7119,390
2009$18.06$27.10$14.0116,990
2010$18.03$26.62$14.0815,260
2011$18.65$26.69$14.3013,380
2012$18.54$26.00$14.4212,880
2013$18.46$25.51$14.6414,510
2014$17.49$23.79$14.9516,910
2015$17.93$24.35$15.3418,920
2016$18.45$24.75$16.0719,180
2017$19.18$25.19$16.6019,900
2018$20.47$26.24$17.2120,020
2019$21.61$27.21$17.7218,760
2020$22.86$28.44$18.2216,850
2021$21.90$26.02$18.1614,970
2022$22.39$24.63$19.5914,950
2023$22.85$24.14$21.7817,160
2024$25.89$26.57$22.4718,180
2025$27.28$27.28$22.6617,050

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Missouri changed by +12.0% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in Missouri

On federally funded construction in Missouri, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 93 of the 115 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $45.56 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $24.18). 13 of the 115 counties still use a survey rate dated 2010 or earlier (for example Butler County at $22.75). The market median for the state is $27.28.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MOAdair: $48.06 (union)Andrew: $48.06 (union)Atchison: $48.06 (union)Audrain: $44.83 (union)Barry: $40.67 (union)Barton: $40.67 (union)Bates: $49.85 (union)Benton: $40.67 (union)Bollinger: $45.39 (union)Boone: $44.83 (union)Buchanan: $48.06 (union)Butler: $22.75 (survey)Caldwell: $49.85 (union)Callaway: $44.83 (union)Camden: $39.36 (union)Cape Girardeau: $45.39 (union)Carroll: $46.40 (union)Carter: $45.39 (union)Cass: $49.85 (union)Cedar: $20.44 (survey)Chariton: $23.20 (survey)Christian: $31.25 (survey)Clark: $45.56 (union)Clay: $49.85 (union)Clinton: $49.85 (union)Cole: $44.83 (union)Cooper: $44.83 (union)Crawford: $45.63 (union)Dade: $39.68 (union)Dallas: $31.25 (survey)Daviess: $45.56 (union)DeKalb: $48.06 (union)Dent: $57.14 (union)Douglas: $39.68 (union)Dunklin: $21.95 (survey)Franklin: $58.38 (union)Gasconade: $57.14 (union)Gentry: $45.56 (union)Greene: $31.12 (survey)Grundy: $45.56 (union)Harrison: $45.56 (union)Henry: $39.68 (union)Hickory: $39.68 (union)Holt: $45.56 (union)Howard: $44.83 (union)Howell: $45.39 (union)Iron: $45.39 (union)Jackson: $49.85 (union)Jasper: $31.04 (survey)Jefferson: $49.49 (union)Johnson: $23.30 (survey)Knox: $45.56 (union)Laclede: $39.68 (union)Lafayette: $49.85 (union)Lawrence: $21.98 (survey)Lewis: $45.56 (union)Lincoln: $57.14 (union)Linn: $45.56 (union)Livingston: $45.56 (union)McDonald: $23.47 (survey)Macon: $45.56 (union)Madison: $45.39 (union)Maries: $57.14 (union)Marion: $45.56 (union)Mercer: $45.56 (union)Miller: $57.14 (union)Mississippi: $15.36 (survey)Moniteau: $45.58 (survey)Monroe: $45.56 (union)Montgomery: $57.14 (union)Morgan: $57.14 (union)New Madrid: $27.35 (survey)Newton: $23.47 (survey)Nodaway: $45.56 (union)Oregon: $45.39 (union)Osage: $44.83 (union)Ozark: $39.68 (union)Pemiscot: $21.95 (survey)Perry: $45.39 (union)Pettis: $25.26 (survey)Phelps: $45.63 (union)Pike: $45.56 (union)Platte: $49.85 (union)Polk: $31.25 (survey)Pulaski: $45.63 (union)Putnam: $45.56 (union)Ralls: $22.23 (survey)Randolph: $45.56 (union)Ray: $49.85 (union)Reynolds: $45.39 (union)Ripley: $45.39 (union)St. Charles: $57.14 (union)St. Clair: $39.68 (union)Ste. Genevieve: $45.39 (union)St. Francois: $45.39 (union)St. Louis: $48.14 (union)Saline: $45.56 (union)Schuyler: $45.56 (union)Scotland: $45.56 (union)Scott: $45.39 (union)Shannon: $25.00 (survey)Shelby: $45.56 (union)Stoddard: $45.39 (union)Stone: $39.68 (union)Sullivan: $45.56 (union)Taney: $39.68 (union)Texas: $24.90 (survey)Vernon: $39.68 (union)Warren: $57.14 (union)Washington: $48.14 (union)Wayne: $45.39 (union)Webster: $31.25 (survey)Worth: $45.56 (union)Wright: $40.67 (union)St. Louis: $58.38 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$39.68$45.39$45.56$48.08survey 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)$20$40$60$80/hrFranklin (St. Louis): market median $31.01, prevailing (union) $58.38, gap +$27.37Franklin (St. Louis)+$27.37Bates (Kansas City): market median $24.28, prevailing (union) $49.85, gap +$25.57Bates (Kansas City)+$25.57Andrew (St. Joseph): market median $24.88, prevailing (union) $48.06, gap +$23.18Andrew (St. Joseph)+$23.18Moniteau (Jefferson City): market median $27.99, prevailing (survey) $45.58, gap +$17.59Moniteau (Jefferson City)+$17.59Boone (Columbia): market median $27.31, prevailing (union) $44.83, gap +$17.52Boone (Columbia)+$17.52Bollinger (Cape Girardeau): market median $27.95, prevailing (union) $45.39, gap +$17.44Bollinger (Cape Girardeau)+$17.44Christian (Springfield): market median $23.00, prevailing (survey) $31.25, gap +$8.25Christian (Springfield)+$8.25Jasper (Joplin): market median $23.98, prevailing (survey) $31.04, gap +$7.06Jasper (Joplin)+$7.06
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in Missouri.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
FranklinUnion LABO0110-007 2025-06-04$40.82$17.56$58.38MO20260074
St. LouisUnion LABO0110-006 2025-06-04$40.82$17.56$58.38MO20260080
DentUnion LABO0660-005 2025-06-02$41.18$15.96$57.14MO20260033
GasconadeUnion LABO0660-005 2025-06-02$41.18$15.96$57.14MO20260033
LincolnUnion LABO0660-007 2025-06-02$41.18$15.96$57.14MO20260087
MariesUnion LABO0660-005 2025-06-02$41.18$15.96$57.14MO20260033
MillerUnion LABO0660-005 2025-06-02$41.18$15.96$57.14MO20260033
MontgomeryUnion LABO0660-005 2025-06-02$41.18$15.96$57.14MO20260033
MorganUnion LABO0660-005 2025-06-02$41.18$15.96$57.14MO20260033
St. CharlesUnion LABO0660-007 2025-06-02$41.18$15.96$57.14MO20260087
WarrenUnion LABO0660-007 2025-06-02$41.18$15.96$57.14MO20260087
BatesUnion LABO0264-009 2023-04-01$31.60$18.25$49.85MO20260082
CaldwellUnion LABO0264-009 2023-04-01$31.60$18.25$49.85MO20260082
CassUnion LABO0264-009 2023-04-01$31.60$18.25$49.85MO20260072
ClayUnion LABO0264-009 2023-04-01$31.60$18.25$49.85MO20260082

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

Is construction work growing in Missouri?

165.4kConstruction jobsMissouri, 2026-08
+6.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025165kAug 2026
Construction employment in Missouri (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
Dunklin County68$97,322$1,872
St. Louis City5,141$97,072$1,867
Buchanan County1,388$91,358$1,757
St. Louis County21,744$89,441$1,720
Jackson County14,997$88,854$1,709
Camden County804$78,244$1,505
Jasper County1,635$77,303$1,487
Ste. Genevieve County438$76,951$1,480
St. Charles County6,796$75,773$1,457
Cole County2,285$74,999$1,442
Marion County129$74,165$1,426
Clay County3,500$73,760$1,418

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Missouri

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in Missouri?

The median construction laborer in Missouri earned $27.28 an hour ($56,730 a year) in May 2025, 20% above the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $21.93–$37.30; the top 10% earn more than $40.13.

Where does Missouri rank for construction laborer pay?

Missouri ranks 11th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $27.28 an hour, and 2nd after adjusting for Missouri's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.8, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in Missouri?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for construction laborers in 93 counties, with a typical package of $45.56 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many construction laborers work in Missouri?

BLS counted 17,050 construction laborers in Missouri in May 2025, 5.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.82; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

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