Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in New York

Median $26.89 an hour for 52,090 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$26.89/hrMedian hourly wageNew York, May data
$55,930/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$16.50 – $46.4410th to 90th percentilehourly range
52,090Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Construction laborer pay in New York: the full range

Wage percentiles, New YorkMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrNew York: 10th $16.50 · 25th $21.13 · median $26.89 · 75th $38.18 · 90th $46.44New York$26.89$16.50$46.44United 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: New York vs United States, May 2025.

New York ranks 14th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 19th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $24.92). 52,090 construction laborers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$16.50 – $21.13$34,320 – $43,950roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$21.13 – $38.18$43,950 – $79,420the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$38.18 – $46.44$79,420 – $96,590the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in New York

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrNew York City: $29.46New York City$29.46Poughkeepsie: $25.94Poughkeepsie$25.94Albany: $25.45Albany$25.45Binghamton: $24.40Binghamton$24.40Buffalo: $24.34Buffalo$24.34Utica: $23.90Utica$23.90Elmira: $23.84Elmira$23.84Kingston: $23.81Kingston$23.81Rochester: $23.70Rochester$23.70Syracuse: $23.64Syracuse$23.64Glens Falls: $23.60Glens Falls$23.60Watertown: $23.29Watertown$23.29
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in New York, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
New York City$16.50$29.46$26.16$50.1450,87010% above
Poughkeepsie$18.07$25.94$23.71$43.421,6404% below
Albany$18.67$25.45$25.55$41.562,7005% below
Binghamton$17.77$24.40$26.26$38.496509% below
Buffalo$18.30$24.34$25.41$39.522,7909% below
Utica$18.46$23.90$25.78$39.8655011% below
Elmira$17.54$23.84$25.25$36.1613011% below
Kingston$17.37$23.81$23.64$38.5743011% below
Rochester$16.20$23.70$24.43$38.742,55012% below
Syracuse$17.38$23.64$24.70$39.441,66012% below
Glens Falls$17.47$23.60$24.87$39.1437012% below
Watertown$16.75$23.29$26.56$30.5829013% below
Ithaca$17.44$22.50$21.78$30.7813016% below

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

Construction laborer wages in New York over time

New York, 1999-2025New YorkUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$0$10$20$30200020052010201520202025$26.89New York$22.66United States
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, New York vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNew York $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$18.76$36.25$10.8545,750
2000$16.64$31.11$11.1550,790
2001$17.17$31.21$11.5746,620
2002$17.93$32.09$11.9044,940
2003$16.82$29.43$11.8642,980
2004$17.66$30.10$12.1042,590
2005$17.64$29.08$12.2245,340
2006$19.06$30.44$12.6647,120
2007$19.72$30.62$13.1346,520
2008$20.54$30.71$13.7148,760
2009$20.79$31.20$14.0144,710
2010$20.28$29.94$14.0846,430
2011$20.87$29.87$14.3047,720
2012$19.88$27.88$14.4249,790
2013$18.91$26.13$14.6450,620
2014$18.44$25.08$14.9553,450
2015$18.68$25.37$15.3458,700
2016$19.31$25.90$16.0761,050
2017$20.44$26.85$16.6060,780
2018$21.38$27.41$17.2163,020
2019$22.39$28.20$17.7266,740
2020$23.56$29.31$18.2258,380
2021$26.65$31.66$18.1649,090
2022$24.18$26.60$19.5948,320
2023$27.23$28.77$21.7849,080
2024$27.73$28.46$22.4749,890
2025$26.89$26.89$22.6652,090

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in New York changed by +6.0% over the last ten years of data and by -4.6% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in New York?

-22.0%Jobs since 201966,740 then, 52,090 in 2025
-11.3%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
5.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.8× the US share, 44th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in New York has changed by +13.9%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -22.0%.

Construction laborers in New York vs United States, 1999 = 100New YorkUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages80100120140160200020052010201520202025144United States114New York
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, New York vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNew York jobsNew York indexUS index
199945,750100100
200050,790111108
200146,620102108
200244,94098109
200342,98094110
200442,59093112
200545,34099122
200647,120103133
200746,520102138
200848,760107134
200944,71098112
201046,430102102
201147,720104102
201249,790109107
201350,620111108
201453,450117112
201558,700128116
201661,050133120
201760,780133126
201863,020138131
201966,740146134
202058,380128127
202149,090107127
202248,320106133
202349,080107134
202449,890109138
202552,090114144

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 York

+2.9%Projected growth in New York2024–2034, state agency
5,980Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
72,360Jobs in 202474,440 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

New York's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +2.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 72,360 to 74,440, with about 5,980 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 52,090 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: New York 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 York

On federally funded construction in New York, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 50 of the 62 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $58.26 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $40.62). The market median for the state is $26.89.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NYAlbany: $62.84 (union)Allegany: $40.62 (survey)Bronx: $104.25 (union)Broome: $48.96 (union)Cattaraugus: $40.62 (survey)Cayuga: $52.47 (union)Chautauqua: $49.82 (union)Chemung: $61.16 (union)Chenango: $49.15 (survey)Clinton: $51.03 (union)Columbia: $49.90 (survey)Cortland: $49.21 (union)Delaware: $49.15 (survey)Dutchess: $76.35 (union)Erie: $60.68 (union)Essex: $51.03 (union)Franklin: $51.03 (union)Fulton: $51.03 (union)Genesee: $40.62 (survey)Greene: $49.90 (survey)Hamilton: $51.03 (union)Herkimer: $52.39 (union)Jefferson: $52.48 (union)Kings: $104.25 (union)Lewis: $51.03 (union)Livingston: $58.26 (union)Madison: $43.14 (union)Monroe: $58.26 (union)Montgomery: $51.03 (union)Nassau: $77.34 (union)New York: $104.25 (union)Niagara: $73.81 (union)Oneida: $43.14 (union)Onondaga: $52.78 (union)Ontario: $58.26 (union)Orange: $76.35 (union)Orleans: $58.26 (union)Oswego: $52.78 (union)Otsego: $73.30 (union)Putnam: $76.45 (union)Queens: $104.25 (union)Rensselaer: $62.84 (union)Richmond: $104.25 (union)Rockland: $80.50 (union)St. Lawrence: $51.03 (union)Saratoga: $62.84 (union)Schenectady: $62.84 (union)Schoharie: $62.84 (union)Schuyler: $40.62 (survey)Seneca: $40.62 (survey)Steuben: $40.62 (survey)Suffolk: $77.34 (union)Sullivan: $49.15 (survey)Tioga: $48.96 (union)Tompkins: $49.21 (union)Ulster: $76.35 (union)Warren: $62.07 (union)Washington: $62.84 (union)Wayne: $50.56 (union)Westchester: $76.45 (union)Wyoming: $40.62 (survey)Yates: $50.56 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$49.15$51.03$58.26$75.84survey 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)$0$25$50$75$100$125/hrBronx (New York City): market median $29.46, prevailing (union) $104.25, gap +$74.79Bronx (New York City)+$74.79Ulster (Kingston): market median $23.81, prevailing (union) $76.35, gap +$52.54Ulster (Kingston)+$52.54Dutchess (Poughkeepsie): market median $25.94, prevailing (union) $76.35, gap +$50.41Dutchess (Poughkeepsie)+$50.41Niagara (Buffalo): market median $24.34, prevailing (union) $73.81, gap +$49.47Niagara (Buffalo)+$49.47Washington (Glens Falls): market median $23.60, prevailing (union) $62.84, gap +$39.24Washington (Glens Falls)+$39.24Albany (Albany): market median $25.45, prevailing (union) $62.84, gap +$37.39Albany (Albany)+$37.39Chemung (Elmira): market median $23.84, prevailing (union) $61.16, gap +$37.32Chemung (Elmira)+$37.32Livingston (Rochester): market median $23.70, prevailing (union) $58.26, gap +$34.56Livingston (Rochester)+$34.56Jefferson (Watertown): market median $23.29, prevailing (union) $52.48, gap +$29.19Jefferson (Watertown)+$29.19Onondaga (Syracuse): market median $23.64, prevailing (union) $52.78, gap +$29.14Onondaga (Syracuse)+$29.14Herkimer (Utica): market median $23.90, prevailing (union) $52.39, gap +$28.49Herkimer (Utica)+$28.49Tompkins (Ithaca): market median $22.50, prevailing (union) $49.21, gap +$26.71Tompkins (Ithaca)+$26.71Broome (Binghamton): market median $24.40, prevailing (union) $48.96, gap +$24.56Broome (Binghamton)+$24.56
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in New York.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BronxUnion LABO1010-002 2025-07-01$50.20$54.05$104.25NY20260003
KingsUnion LABO1010-002 2025-07-01$50.20$54.05$104.25NY20260003
New YorkUnion LABO1010-002 2025-07-01$50.20$54.05$104.25NY20260003
QueensUnion LABO1010-002 2025-07-01$50.20$54.05$104.25NY20260003
RichmondUnion LABO1010-002 2025-07-01$50.20$54.05$104.25NY20260003
RocklandUnion LABO0754-001 2022-06-01$52.35$28.15$80.50NY20260020
NassauUnion LABO0066-001 2025-07-01$42.55$34.79$77.34NY20260012
SuffolkUnion LABO0066-001 2025-07-01$42.55$34.79$77.34NY20260012
PutnamUnion LABO0235-001 2025-05-01$44.05$32.40$76.45NY20260025
WestchesterUnion LABO0235-001 2025-05-01$44.05$32.40$76.45NY20260017
DutchessUnion LABO0235-003 2025-06-01$43.45$32.90$76.35NY20260007
OrangeUnion LABO0235-003 2025-06-01$43.45$32.90$76.35NY20260007
UlsterUnion LABO0235-003 2025-06-01$43.45$32.90$76.35NY20260007
NiagaraUnion LABO0091-001 2023-07-01$32.45$41.36$73.81NY20260019
OtsegoUnion LABO0017-008 2025-06-01$43.55$29.75$73.30NY20260113

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

Is construction work growing in New York?

396.1kConstruction jobsNew York, 2026-09
-0.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k200k300k400k500k19901995200020052010201520202025396kSep 2026
Construction employment in New York (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 59 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 230,604 in 2015 to 242,213 in 2025, +5.0%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
New York County1,02517,505$112,347$2,161
Ontario County1682,596$110,692$2,129
Albany County4565,751$97,044$1,866
Queens County2,92131,155$96,866$1,863
Rensselaer County2301,684$93,618$1,800
Nassau County2,71521,871$93,401$1,796
Bronx County7726,727$91,769$1,765
Erie County1,30313,400$88,790$1,707
Westchester County2,26017,930$88,549$1,703
Onondaga County6166,868$88,060$1,693
Cayuga County121856$87,850$1,689
Herkimer County87531$87,293$1,679

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in New York

More on New York

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in New York?

The median construction laborer in New York earned $26.89 an hour ($55,930 a year) in May 2025, 19% above the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $21.13–$38.18; the top 10% earn more than $46.44.

Where does New York rank for construction laborer pay?

New York ranks 14th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $26.89 an hour, and 19th after adjusting for New York's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.9, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in New York?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for construction laborers in 50 counties, with a typical package of $58.26 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many construction laborers work in New York?

BLS counted 52,090 construction laborers in New York in May 2025, 5.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.76; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is construction laborer work growing in New York?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in New York went from 58,700 in 2015 to 52,090 in 2025, -11.3%, and -22.0% since 2019. New York's labor market agency projects +2.9% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 72,360 to 74,440 jobs.

How many construction laborer openings a year are there in New York?

New York projects about 5,980 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 York 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 York labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.