Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in North Carolina

Median $21.50 an hour for 35,620 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$21.50/hrMedian hourly wageNorth Carolina, May data
$44,720/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$15.31 – $28.8310th to 90th percentilehourly range
35,620Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Construction laborer pay in North Carolina: the full range

Wage percentiles, North CarolinaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrNorth Carolina: 10th $15.31 · 25th $17.97 · median $21.50 · 75th $23.59 · 90th $28.83North Carolina$21.50$15.31$28.83United 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: North Carolina vs United States, May 2025.

North Carolina ranks 39th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 34th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $22.80). 35,620 construction laborers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$15.31 – $17.97$31,850 – $37,380roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$17.97 – $23.59$37,380 – $49,070the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$23.59 – $28.83$49,070 – $59,970the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in North Carolina

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrAsheville: $22.85Asheville$22.85Durham: $22.38Durham$22.38Wilmington: $22.16Wilmington$22.16Pinehurst: $22.07Pinehurst$22.07Charlotte: $22.04Charlotte$22.04Raleigh: $21.95Raleigh$21.95Hickory: $21.42Hickory$21.42Fayetteville: $21.03Fayetteville$21.03Greenville: $20.40Greenville$20.40Burlington: $20.35Burlington$20.35Winston-Salem: $20.29Winston-Salem$20.29Greensboro: $19.28Greensboro$19.28
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in North Carolina, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Asheville$16.73$22.85$23.68$29.461,3406% above
Durham$17.65$22.38$22.93$28.641,1204% above
Wilmington$16.23$22.16$22.99$32.071,8703% above
Pinehurst$16.93$22.07$24.99$27.922403% above
Charlotte$14.29$22.04$22.65$29.8110,8403% above
Raleigh$17.25$21.95$22.35$28.786,3602% above
Hickory$14.50$21.42$24.20$30.41800about the same as
Fayetteville$15.82$21.03$22.86$28.726002% below
Greenville$15.82$20.40$23.08$28.754505% below
Burlington$14.76$20.35$21.83$27.464005% below
Winston-Salem$16.30$20.29$22.05$29.192,0006% below
Greensboro$14.62$19.28$20.75$27.842,19010% below
Jacksonville$14.69$19.15$20.79$27.9639011% below
Goldsboro$16.87$18.91$21.37$28.1749012% below
Virginia Beach$14.70$18.51$18.91$23.735,66014% below
Rocky Mount$14.58$18.32$20.82$27.2634015% below

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

Construction laborer wages in North Carolina over time

North Carolina, 1999-2025North CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25200020052010201520202025$22.66United States$21.50North Carolina
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, North Carolina vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNorth Carolina $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$9.43$18.22$10.8521,170
2000$9.73$18.19$11.1524,580
2001$9.90$18.00$11.5724,800
2002$10.04$17.97$11.9023,240
2003$10.13$17.72$11.8623,840
2004$10.13$17.26$12.1023,150
2005$10.44$17.21$12.2223,230
2006$10.82$17.28$12.6627,210
2007$11.29$17.53$13.1330,820
2008$11.75$17.57$13.7129,600
2009$11.74$17.62$14.0122,740
2010$11.75$17.35$14.0819,240
2011$11.94$17.09$14.3017,970
2012$11.84$16.60$14.4216,900
2013$11.99$16.57$14.6416,470
2014$12.06$16.40$14.9517,220
2015$12.55$17.05$15.3418,690
2016$13.17$17.67$16.0720,400
2017$14.00$18.39$16.6022,390
2018$14.29$18.32$17.2124,910
2019$14.79$18.62$17.7226,110
2020$15.26$18.98$18.2225,820
2021$17.08$20.29$18.1628,360
2022$17.46$19.21$19.5931,600
2023$18.53$19.58$21.7831,550
2024$20.31$20.84$22.4738,530
2025$21.50$21.50$22.6635,620

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in North Carolina changed by +26.1% over the last ten years of data and by +15.4% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in North Carolina?

+36.4%Jobs since 201926,110 then, 35,620 in 2025
+90.6%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
7.2Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.0× the US share, 26th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in North Carolina has changed by +68.3%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +36.4%.

Construction laborers in North Carolina vs United States, 1999 = 100North CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200200020052010201520202025168North Carolina144United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, North Carolina vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNorth Carolina jobsNorth Carolina indexUS index
199921,170100100
200024,580116108
200124,800117108
200223,240110109
200323,840113110
200423,150109112
200523,230110122
200627,210128133
200730,820146138
200829,600140134
200922,740107112
201019,24091102
201117,97085102
201216,90080107
201316,47078108
201417,22081112
201518,69088116
201620,40096120
201722,390106126
201824,910118131
201926,110123134
202025,820122127
202128,360134127
202231,600149133
202331,550149134
202438,530182138
202535,620168144

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 North Carolina

+7.9%Projected growth in North Carolina2024–2034, state agency
4,740Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
52,940Jobs in 202457,120 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

North Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +7.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 52,940 to 57,120, with about 4,740 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 35,620 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in North Carolina

On federally funded construction in North Carolina, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 100 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $12.17). 54 of the 100 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Alleghany County at $12.17). The market median for the state is $21.50.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NCAlamance: $15.74 (survey)Alexander: $12.63 (survey)Alleghany: $12.17 (survey)Anson: $14.03 (survey)Ashe: $12.17 (survey)Avery: $12.17 (survey)Beaufort: $11.24 (survey)Bertie: $11.24 (survey)Bladen: $11.92 (survey)Brunswick: $13.63 (survey)Buncombe: $16.25 (survey)Burke: $12.63 (survey)Cabarrus: $16.91 (survey)Caldwell: $12.63 (survey)Camden: $11.24 (survey)Carteret: $11.24 (survey)Caswell: $12.89 (survey)Catawba: $12.58 (survey)Chatham: $15.74 (survey)Cherokee: $12.17 (survey)Chowan: $11.24 (survey)Clay: $12.17 (survey)Cleveland: $11.92 (survey)Columbus: $11.92 (survey)Craven: $15.27 (survey)Cumberland: $19.76 (survey)Currituck: $15.27 (survey)Dare: $11.24 (survey)Davidson: $12.94 (survey)Davie: $12.94 (survey)Duplin: $11.92 (survey)Durham: $11.72 (survey)Edgecombe: $10.88 (survey)Forsyth: $12.94 (survey)Franklin: $16.91 (survey)Gaston: $16.91 (survey)Gates: $15.27 (survey)Graham: $12.17 (survey)Granville: $12.89 (survey)Greene: $10.20 (survey)Guilford: $12.10 (survey)Halifax: $12.89 (survey)Harnett: $11.92 (survey)Haywood: $16.25 (survey)Henderson: $16.25 (survey)Hertford: $11.24 (survey)Hoke: $19.76 (survey)Hyde: $11.24 (survey)Iredell: $21.79 (survey)Jackson: $14.03 (survey)Johnston: $16.91 (survey)Jones: $15.27 (survey)Lee: $11.92 (survey)Lenoir: $11.92 (survey)Lincoln: $16.91 (survey)McDowell: $12.17 (survey)Macon: $12.17 (survey)Madison: $16.25 (survey)Martin: $11.24 (survey)Mecklenburg: $15.90 (survey)Mitchell: $12.17 (survey)Montgomery: $11.92 (survey)Moore: $11.92 (survey)Nash: $10.88 (survey)New Hanover: $11.92 (survey)Northampton: $12.89 (survey)Onslow: $12.79 (survey)Orange: $15.74 (survey)Pamlico: $15.27 (survey)Pasquotank: $12.20 (survey)Pender: $13.63 (survey)Perquimans: $11.24 (survey)Person: $15.74 (survey)Pitt: $10.88 (survey)Polk: $12.17 (survey)Randolph: $12.53 (survey)Richmond: $11.92 (survey)Robeson: $11.92 (survey)Rockingham: $12.53 (survey)Rowan: $16.91 (survey)Rutherford: $12.17 (survey)Sampson: $11.92 (survey)Scotland: $11.92 (survey)Stanly: $14.76 (survey)Stokes: $12.94 (survey)Surry: $12.17 (survey)Swain: $12.17 (survey)Transylvania: $12.17 (survey)Tyrrell: $11.24 (survey)Union: $16.91 (survey)Vance: $12.89 (survey)Wake: $16.74 (survey)Warren: $12.89 (survey)Washington: $11.24 (survey)Watauga: $11.56 (survey)Wayne: $10.20 (survey)Wilkes: $12.17 (survey)Wilson: $11.92 (survey)Yadkin: $12.94 (survey)Yancey: $12.17 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$11.92$12.17$12.89$15.36survey 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 (survey)$5$10$15$20$25/hrIredell (Charlotte): market median $22.04, prevailing (survey) $21.79, gap −$0.25Iredell (Charlotte)−$0.25Cumberland (Fayetteville): market median $21.03, prevailing (survey) $19.76, gap −$1.27Cumberland (Fayetteville)−$1.27Currituck (Virginia Beach): market median $18.51, prevailing (survey) $15.27, gap −$3.24Currituck (Virginia Beach)−$3.24Alamance (Burlington): market median $20.35, prevailing (survey) $15.74, gap −$4.61Alamance (Burlington)−$4.61Franklin (Raleigh): market median $21.95, prevailing (survey) $16.91, gap −$5.04Franklin (Raleigh)−$5.04Onslow (Jacksonville): market median $19.15, prevailing (survey) $12.79, gap −$6.36Onslow (Jacksonville)−$6.36Buncombe (Asheville): market median $22.85, prevailing (survey) $16.25, gap −$6.60Buncombe (Asheville)−$6.60Chatham (Durham): market median $22.38, prevailing (survey) $15.74, gap −$6.64Chatham (Durham)−$6.64Randolph (Greensboro): market median $19.28, prevailing (survey) $12.53, gap −$6.75Randolph (Greensboro)−$6.75Davidson (Winston-Salem): market median $20.29, prevailing (survey) $12.94, gap −$7.35Davidson (Winston-Salem)−$7.35Edgecombe (Rocky Mount): market median $18.32, prevailing (survey) $10.88, gap −$7.44Edgecombe (Rocky Mount)−$7.44Brunswick (Wilmington): market median $22.16, prevailing (survey) $13.63, gap −$8.53Brunswick (Wilmington)−$8.53Wayne (Goldsboro): market median $18.91, prevailing (survey) $10.20, gap −$8.71Wayne (Goldsboro)−$8.71Alexander (Hickory): market median $21.42, prevailing (survey) $12.63, gap −$8.79Alexander (Hickory)−$8.79Pitt (Greenville): market median $20.40, prevailing (survey) $10.88, gap −$9.52Pitt (Greenville)−$9.52Moore (Pinehurst): market median $22.07, prevailing (survey) $11.92, gap −$10.15Moore (Pinehurst)−$10.15
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in North Carolina.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
IredellSurvey SUNC2018-007 2023-08-08$13.97$7.82$21.79NC20260007
CumberlandSurvey SUNC2018-019 2023-08-08$15.00$4.76$19.76NC20260122
HokeSurvey SUNC2018-019 2023-08-08$15.00$4.76$19.76NC20260122
CabarrusSurvey SUNC2018-017 2023-08-08$14.12$2.79$16.91NC20260017
FranklinSurvey SUNC2018-023 2023-08-08$14.78$2.13$16.91NC20260126
GastonSurvey SUNC2018-005 2023-08-08$14.12$2.79$16.91NC20260005
JohnstonSurvey SUNC2018-023 2023-08-08$14.78$2.13$16.91NC20260126
LincolnSurvey SUNC2018-017 2023-08-08$14.12$2.79$16.91NC20260017
RowanSurvey SUNC2018-017 2023-08-08$14.12$2.79$16.91NC20260017
UnionSurvey SUNC2018-017 2023-08-08$14.12$2.79$16.91NC20260017
WakeSurvey SUNC2018-011 2023-08-08$14.67$2.07$16.74NC20260011
BuncombeSurvey SUNC2018-016 2023-08-08$13.56$2.69$16.25NC20260016
HaywoodSurvey SUNC2018-016 2023-08-08$13.56$2.69$16.25NC20260016
HendersonSurvey SUNC2018-016 2023-08-08$13.56$2.69$16.25NC20260016
MadisonSurvey SUNC2018-016 2023-08-08$13.56$2.69$16.25NC20260016

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

Is construction work growing in North Carolina?

296.4kConstruction jobsNorth Carolina, 2026-09
+6.0%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025296kSep 2026
Construction employment in North Carolina (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 91 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 116,615 in 2015 to 167,614 in 2025, +43.7%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Northampton County19143$90,853$1,747
Clay County30123$88,869$1,709
Mecklenburg County2,17826,786$81,939$1,576
Wake County2,36626,700$78,996$1,519
Lenoir County981,318$78,808$1,516
Randolph County2912,578$76,487$1,471
Guilford County8539,330$76,294$1,467
Union County7426,038$75,738$1,456
Halifax County53387$74,980$1,442
Rowan County2992,616$74,689$1,436
Polk County48190$73,921$1,422
Graham County24288$73,214$1,408

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in North Carolina

More on North Carolina

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in North Carolina?

The median construction laborer in North Carolina earned $21.50 an hour ($44,720 a year) in May 2025, 5% below the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $17.97–$23.59; the top 10% earn more than $28.83.

Where does North Carolina rank for construction laborer pay?

North Carolina ranks 39th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $21.50 an hour, and 34th after adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.3, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in North Carolina?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a construction laborer classification for most North Carolina counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many construction laborers work in North Carolina?

BLS counted 35,620 construction laborers in North Carolina in May 2025, 7.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.02; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is construction laborer work growing in North Carolina?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in North Carolina went from 18,690 in 2015 to 35,620 in 2025, +90.6%, and +36.4% since 2019. North Carolina's labor market agency projects +7.9% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 52,940 to 57,120 jobs.

How many construction laborer openings a year are there in North Carolina?

North Carolina projects about 4,740 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, North Carolina 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: North Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.