Construction laborer salary in New Hampshire
Median $24.03 an hour for 4,330 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Construction laborer pay in New Hampshire: the full range
New Hampshire ranks 18th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 31st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $23.06). 4,330 construction laborers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.7× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $18.28 – $21.61 | $38,020 – $44,950 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $21.61 – $28.32 | $44,950 – $58,910 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $28.32 – $30.44 | $58,910 – $63,310 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Construction laborer pay by metro in New Hampshire
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $22.34 | $30.49 | $28.15 | $47.80 | 11,580 | 27% above |
| Manchester | $18.46 | $22.84 | $21.61 | $29.83 | 1,070 | 5% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Construction laborer wages in New Hampshire over time
Table
| Year | New Hampshire $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $11.23 | $21.70 | $10.85 | 2,210 |
| 2000 | $11.92 | $22.29 | $11.15 | 3,050 |
| 2001 | $12.16 | $22.11 | $11.57 | 3,330 |
| 2002 | $12.39 | $22.17 | $11.90 | 3,390 |
| 2003 | $12.45 | $21.78 | $11.86 | 3,370 |
| 2004 | $12.24 | $20.86 | $12.10 | 3,290 |
| 2005 | $12.50 | $20.61 | $12.22 | 3,450 |
| 2006 | $13.21 | $21.10 | $12.66 | 3,230 |
| 2007 | $13.90 | $21.58 | $13.13 | 3,100 |
| 2008 | $14.60 | $21.83 | $13.71 | 2,740 |
| 2009 | $15.07 | $22.61 | $14.01 | 2,450 |
| 2010 | $15.03 | $22.19 | $14.08 | 2,200 |
| 2011 | $15.43 | $22.08 | $14.30 | 2,530 |
| 2012 | $15.54 | $21.79 | $14.42 | 2,670 |
| 2013 | $15.51 | $21.43 | $14.64 | 2,750 |
| 2014 | $15.92 | $21.65 | $14.95 | 2,840 |
| 2015 | $16.05 | $21.80 | $15.34 | 2,860 |
| 2016 | $16.86 | $22.62 | $16.07 | 3,310 |
| 2017 | $17.22 | $22.62 | $16.60 | 2,990 |
| 2018 | $17.62 | $22.59 | $17.21 | 3,050 |
| 2019 | $18.60 | $23.42 | $17.72 | 3,000 |
| 2020 | $19.08 | $23.73 | $18.22 | 2,730 |
| 2021 | $18.63 | $22.13 | $18.16 | 2,720 |
| 2022 | $20.42 | $22.46 | $19.59 | 3,010 |
| 2023 | $21.74 | $22.97 | $21.78 | 3,230 |
| 2024 | $23.05 | $23.66 | $22.47 | 3,650 |
| 2025 | $24.03 | $24.03 | $22.66 | 4,330 |
In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in New Hampshire changed by +10.2% over the last ten years of data and by +2.6% since 2019.
Are there more construction laborer jobs in New Hampshire?
Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in New Hampshire has changed by +95.9%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +44.3%.
Table
| Year | New Hampshire jobs | New Hampshire index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 2,210 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 3,050 | 138 | 108 |
| 2001 | 3,330 | 151 | 108 |
| 2002 | 3,390 | 153 | 109 |
| 2003 | 3,370 | 152 | 110 |
| 2004 | 3,290 | 149 | 112 |
| 2005 | 3,450 | 156 | 122 |
| 2006 | 3,230 | 146 | 133 |
| 2007 | 3,100 | 140 | 138 |
| 2008 | 2,740 | 124 | 134 |
| 2009 | 2,450 | 111 | 112 |
| 2010 | 2,200 | 100 | 102 |
| 2011 | 2,530 | 114 | 102 |
| 2012 | 2,670 | 121 | 107 |
| 2013 | 2,750 | 124 | 108 |
| 2014 | 2,840 | 128 | 112 |
| 2015 | 2,860 | 129 | 116 |
| 2016 | 3,310 | 150 | 120 |
| 2017 | 2,990 | 135 | 126 |
| 2018 | 3,050 | 138 | 131 |
| 2019 | 3,000 | 136 | 134 |
| 2020 | 2,730 | 124 | 127 |
| 2021 | 2,720 | 123 | 127 |
| 2022 | 3,010 | 136 | 133 |
| 2023 | 3,230 | 146 | 134 |
| 2024 | 3,650 | 165 | 138 |
| 2025 | 4,330 | 196 | 144 |
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 New Hampshire
New Hampshire's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +8.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 4,820 to 5,250, with about 440 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 4,330 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: New Hampshire labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in New Hampshire
On federally funded construction in New Hampshire, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 4 of the 10 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $46.83 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $26.56). 6 of the 10 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Belknap County at $25.80). The market median for the state is $24.03.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheshire | Union LABO0668-001 2023-12-01 | $25.40 | $21.43 | $46.83 | NH20260020 |
| Merrimack | Union LABO0668-001 2023-12-01 | $25.40 | $21.43 | $46.83 | NH20260019 |
| Rockingham | Union LABO0976-008 2023-12-01 | $25.40 | $21.43 | $46.83 | NH20260022 |
| Sullivan | Union LABO0668-001 2023-12-01 | $25.40 | $21.43 | $46.83 | NH20260020 |
| Strafford | Survey SUNH2015-009 2017-06-16 | $17.92 | $12.72 | $30.64 | NH20260023 |
| Carroll | Survey SUNH2015-002 2017-06-16 | $17.61 | $10.02 | $27.63 | NH20260016 |
| Hillsborough | Survey SUNH2015-007 2017-06-16 | $17.46 | $9.86 | $27.32 | NH20260021 |
| Belknap | Survey SUNH2015-001 2017-06-16 | $16.77 | $9.03 | $25.80 | NH20260015 |
| Grafton | Survey SUNH2015-004 2017-06-16 | $17.02 | $6.99 | $24.01 | NH20260018 |
| Coos | Survey SUNH2015-003 2017-06-16 | $19.09 | $4.30 | $23.39 | NH20260017 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the New Hampshire prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in New Hampshire?
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 10 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 15,259 in 2015 to 20,966 in 2025, +37.4%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough County | 976 | 6,935 | $86,903 | $1,671 |
| Coos County | 67 | 320 | $86,825 | $1,670 |
| Rockingham County | 868 | 5,588 | $81,699 | $1,571 |
| Merrimack County | 372 | 2,352 | $80,560 | $1,549 |
| Belknap County | 189 | 941 | $79,698 | $1,533 |
| Strafford County | 252 | 1,356 | $73,271 | $1,409 |
| Cheshire County | 230 | 1,391 | $72,846 | $1,401 |
| Grafton County | 212 | 1,040 | $71,293 | $1,371 |
| Carroll County | 183 | 632 | $65,169 | $1,253 |
| Sullivan County | 97 | 411 | $63,458 | $1,220 |
Keep comparing
Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Hampshire
More on New Hampshire
Questions this page answers
How much do construction laborers make in New Hampshire?
The median construction laborer in New Hampshire earned $24.03 an hour ($49,980 a year) in May 2025, 6% above the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $21.61–$28.32; the top 10% earn more than $30.44.
Where does New Hampshire rank for construction laborer pay?
New Hampshire ranks 18th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $24.03 an hour, and 31st after adjusting for New Hampshire's cost of living (BEA price parity 104.2, US = 100).
What is the union construction laborer rate in New Hampshire?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for construction laborers in 4 counties, with a typical package of $46.83 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many construction laborers work in New Hampshire?
BLS counted 4,330 construction laborers in New Hampshire in May 2025, 6.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.90; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is construction laborer work growing in New Hampshire?
The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in New Hampshire went from 2,860 in 2015 to 4,330 in 2025, +51.4%, and +44.3% since 2019. New Hampshire's labor market agency projects +8.9% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 4,820 to 5,250 jobs.
How many construction laborer openings a year are there in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire projects about 440 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, New Hampshire 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: New Hampshire labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.