Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in Nebraska

Median $22.72 an hour for 8,530 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$22.72/hrMedian hourly wageNebraska, May data
$47,260/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.50 – $29.7010th to 90th percentilehourly range
8,530Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Construction laborer pay in Nebraska: the full range

Wage percentiles, NebraskaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrNebraska: 10th $17.50 · 25th $19.38 · median $22.72 · 75th $26.71 · 90th $29.70Nebraska$22.72$17.50$29.70United 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: Nebraska vs United States, May 2025.

Nebraska ranks 27th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 18th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.22). 8,530 construction laborers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.7× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$17.50 – $19.38$36,400 – $40,320roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$19.38 – $26.71$40,320 – $55,550the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$26.71 – $29.70$55,550 – $61,780the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in Nebraska

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrSioux City: $23.38Sioux City$23.38Omaha: $23.22Omaha$23.22Lincoln: $22.45Lincoln$22.45Grand Island: $21.81Grand Island$21.81
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in Nebraska, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Sioux City$18.26$23.38$27.03$35.765603% above
Omaha$17.96$23.22$25.27$30.173,9902% above
Lincoln$17.79$22.45$24.51$29.281,2501% below
Grand Island$17.68$21.81$25.16$28.474104% below

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

Construction laborer wages in Nebraska over time

Nebraska, 1999-2025NebraskaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25200020052010201520202025$22.72Nebraska$22.66United States
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, Nebraska vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNebraska $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$10.18$19.67$10.859,430
2000$9.94$18.58$11.159,040
2001$10.13$18.41$11.578,650
2002$10.60$18.97$11.907,860
2003$10.43$18.25$11.866,820
2004$10.77$18.36$12.105,230
2005$10.48$17.28$12.223,740
2006$11.04$17.63$12.663,840
2007$11.38$17.67$13.133,850
2008$12.22$18.27$13.714,100
2009$12.47$18.71$14.013,490
2010$12.16$17.95$14.083,660
2011$11.42$16.34$14.303,610
2012$11.51$16.14$14.423,610
2013$12.41$17.15$14.643,500
2014$13.22$17.98$14.953,550
2015$13.44$18.26$15.343,400
2016$14.02$18.81$16.073,270
2017$14.81$19.45$16.603,240
2018$16.09$20.63$17.213,760
2019$16.90$21.28$17.723,750
2020$17.59$21.88$18.224,420
2021$18.07$21.47$18.165,450
2022$18.65$20.52$19.595,760
2023$21.46$22.67$21.786,820
2024$22.48$23.07$22.477,460
2025$22.72$22.72$22.668,530

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Nebraska changed by +24.5% over the last ten years of data and by +6.8% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in Nebraska?

+127.5%Jobs since 20193,750 then, 8,530 in 2025
+150.9%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
8.3Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 18th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in Nebraska has changed by -9.5%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +127.5%.

Construction laborers in Nebraska vs United States, 1999 = 100NebraskaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages050100150200200020052010201520202025144United States90Nebraska
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Nebraska vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNebraska jobsNebraska indexUS index
19999,430100100
20009,04096108
20018,65092108
20027,86083109
20036,82072110
20045,23056112
20053,74040122
20063,84041133
20073,85041138
20084,10044134
20093,49037112
20103,66039102
20113,61038102
20123,61038107
20133,50037108
20143,55038112
20153,40036116
20163,27035120
20173,24034126
20183,76040131
20193,75040134
20204,42047127
20215,45058127
20225,76061133
20236,82072134
20247,46079138
20258,53090144

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 Nebraska

+12.0%Projected growth in Nebraska2024–2034, state agency
970Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
10,170Jobs in 202411,400 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Nebraska's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +12.0% between 2024 and 2034, from 10,170 to 11,400, with about 970 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 8,530 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in Nebraska

On federally funded construction in Nebraska, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 2 of the 93 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $37.48 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $14.79). 91 of the 93 counties still use a survey rate dated 2012 or earlier (for example Adams County at $14.79). The market median for the state is $22.72.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NEAdams: $14.79 (survey)Antelope: $14.92 (survey)Arthur: $10.24 (survey)Banner: $10.24 (survey)Blaine: $14.79 (survey)Boone: $14.92 (survey)Box Butte: $10.24 (survey)Boyd: $14.92 (survey)Brown: $14.92 (survey)Buffalo: $12.58 (survey)Burt: $14.92 (survey)Butler: $18.17 (survey)Cass: $37.48 (union)Cedar: $14.92 (survey)Chase: $10.24 (survey)Cherry: $10.27 (survey)Cheyenne: $10.24 (survey)Clay: $14.79 (survey)Colfax: $14.92 (survey)Cuming: $14.92 (survey)Custer: $10.81 (survey)Dakota: $18.66 (survey)Dawes: $10.24 (survey)Dawson: $10.24 (survey)Deuel: $10.24 (survey)Dixon: $18.66 (survey)Dodge: $14.92 (survey)Douglas: $20.81 (survey)Dundy: $10.24 (survey)Fillmore: $18.17 (survey)Franklin: $14.79 (survey)Frontier: $10.24 (survey)Furnas: $10.24 (survey)Gage: $18.17 (survey)Garden: $10.24 (survey)Garfield: $14.79 (survey)Gosper: $10.24 (survey)Grant: $10.24 (survey)Greeley: $14.79 (survey)Hall: $12.70 (survey)Hamilton: $14.79 (survey)Harlan: $14.79 (survey)Hayes: $10.24 (survey)Hitchcock: $10.24 (survey)Holt: $14.92 (survey)Hooker: $10.24 (survey)Howard: $14.79 (survey)Jefferson: $18.17 (survey)Johnson: $18.17 (survey)Kearney: $14.79 (survey)Keith: $10.24 (survey)Keya Paha: $14.92 (survey)Kimball: $10.24 (survey)Knox: $14.92 (survey)Lancaster: $12.03 (survey)Lincoln: $10.24 (survey)Logan: $10.24 (survey)Loup: $14.79 (survey)McPherson: $10.24 (survey)Madison: $9.38 (survey)Merrick: $14.79 (survey)Morrill: $10.24 (survey)Nance: $14.79 (survey)Nemaha: $18.17 (survey)Nuckolls: $14.79 (survey)Otoe: $18.17 (survey)Pawnee: $18.17 (survey)Perkins: $10.24 (survey)Phelps: $14.79 (survey)Pierce: $14.92 (survey)Platte: $17.11 (survey)Polk: $18.17 (survey)Red Willow: $10.24 (survey)Richardson: $18.17 (survey)Rock: $14.92 (survey)Saline: $18.17 (survey)Sarpy: $20.61 (survey)Saunders: $12.06 (survey)Scotts Bluff: $10.24 (survey)Seward: $12.11 (survey)Sheridan: $10.24 (survey)Sherman: $14.79 (survey)Sioux: $10.24 (survey)Stanton: $14.92 (survey)Thayer: $18.17 (survey)Thomas: $10.24 (survey)Thurston: $14.14 (survey)Valley: $14.79 (survey)Washington: $19.92 (survey)Wayne: $14.92 (survey)Webster: $14.79 (survey)Wheeler: $14.79 (survey)York: $37.48 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$10.24$13.85$14.79$17.75survey 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)$10$20$30$40/hrCass (Omaha): market median $23.22, prevailing (union) $37.48, gap +$14.26Cass (Omaha)+$14.26Dakota (Sioux City): market median $23.38, prevailing (survey) $18.66, gap −$4.72Dakota (Sioux City)−$4.72Howard (Grand Island): market median $21.81, prevailing (survey) $14.79, gap −$7.02Howard (Grand Island)−$7.02Seward (Lincoln): market median $22.45, prevailing (survey) $12.11, gap −$10.34Seward (Lincoln)−$10.34
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in Nebraska.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
CassUnion LABO1140-001 2023-10-01$24.00$13.48$37.48NE20260056
YorkUnion LABO1140-001 2023-10-01$24.00$13.48$37.48NE20260077
DouglasSurvey SUNE2011-031 2011-10-27$15.47$5.34$20.81NE20260057
SarpySurvey SUNE2011-033 2011-10-27$15.41$5.20$20.61NE20260059
WashingtonSurvey SUNE2011-036 2011-10-27$14.80$5.12$19.92NE20260062
DakotaSurvey SUNE2011-037 2011-10-27$14.23$4.43$18.66NE20260063
DixonSurvey SUNE2011-037 2011-10-27$14.23$4.43$18.66NE20260063
ButlerSurvey SUNE2012-018 2012-04-19$14.54$3.63$18.17NE20260081
FillmoreSurvey SUNE2012-018 2012-04-19$14.54$3.63$18.17NE20260081
GageSurvey SUNE2012-018 2012-04-19$14.54$3.63$18.17NE20260081
JeffersonSurvey SUNE2012-018 2012-04-19$14.54$3.63$18.17NE20260081
JohnsonSurvey SUNE2012-018 2012-04-19$14.54$3.63$18.17NE20260081
NemahaSurvey SUNE2012-018 2012-04-19$14.54$3.63$18.17NE20260081
OtoeSurvey SUNE2012-020 2012-04-19$14.54$3.63$18.17NE20260083
PawneeSurvey SUNE2012-020 2012-04-19$14.54$3.63$18.17NE20260083

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Nebraska prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Nebraska?

70.4kConstruction jobsNebraska, 2026-09
+7.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k20k40k60k80k1990199520002005201020152020202570kSep 2026
Construction employment in Nebraska (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 58 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 30,915 in 2015 to 40,806 in 2025, +32.0%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Sarpy County5257,555$74,555$1,434
Douglas County1,34614,088$73,877$1,421
Washington County90558$70,250$1,351
Adams County66671$69,388$1,334
Hamilton County32220$67,950$1,307
Dodge County86639$67,910$1,306
Lancaster County7667,227$67,672$1,301
Lincoln County70597$67,340$1,295
Platte County88789$67,272$1,294
Merrick County20117$66,920$1,287
Antelope County839$66,896$1,286
Phelps County24177$64,452$1,239

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Nebraska

More on Nebraska

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in Nebraska?

The median construction laborer in Nebraska earned $22.72 an hour ($47,260 a year) in May 2025, about the same as the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $19.38–$26.71; the top 10% earn more than $29.70.

Where does Nebraska rank for construction laborer pay?

Nebraska ranks 27th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $22.72 an hour, and 18th after adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.1, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in Nebraska?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for construction laborers in 2 counties, with a typical package of $37.48 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many construction laborers work in Nebraska?

BLS counted 8,530 construction laborers in Nebraska in May 2025, 8.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.18; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is construction laborer work growing in Nebraska?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in Nebraska went from 3,400 in 2015 to 8,530 in 2025, +150.9%, and +127.5% since 2019. Nebraska's labor market agency projects +12.0% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 10,170 to 11,400 jobs.

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

Nebraska projects about 970 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, Nebraska 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: Nebraska labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.