Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in North Dakota

Median $23.59 an hour for 5,050 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$23.59/hrMedian hourly wageNorth Dakota, May data
$49,070/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.75 – $34.2310th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,050Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Construction laborer pay in North Dakota: the full range

Wage percentiles, North DakotaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrNorth Dakota: 10th $18.75 · 25th $21.96 · median $23.59 · 75th $29.17 · 90th $34.23North Dakota$23.59$18.75$34.23United 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 Dakota vs United States, May 2025.

North Dakota ranks 22nd of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 13th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.51). 5,050 construction laborers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.75 – $21.96$38,990 – $45,680roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$21.96 – $29.17$45,680 – $60,680the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$29.17 – $34.23$60,680 – $71,210the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in North Dakota

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrBismarck: $23.93Bismarck$23.93Fargo: $23.72Fargo$23.72Minot: $23.64Minot$23.64Grand Forks: $23.59Grand Forks$23.59
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in North Dakota, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Bismarck$18.72$23.93$26.30$35.106201% above
Fargo$21.16$23.72$26.09$37.191,7601% above
Minot$17.89$23.64$27.17$32.22340about the same as
Grand Forks$19.77$23.59$27.21$31.80510about the same as

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

Construction laborer wages in North Dakota over time

North Dakota, 1999-2025North DakotaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25200020052010201520202025$23.59North Dakota$22.66United States
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, North Dakota vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNorth Dakota $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$9.59$18.53$10.852,760
2000$10.12$18.92$11.152,370
2001$10.44$18.98$11.572,090
2002$10.92$19.54$11.902,050
2003$11.05$19.33$11.861,910
2004$11.18$19.05$12.101,880
2005$11.66$19.22$12.222,340
2006$11.97$19.12$12.662,390
2007$12.38$19.22$13.132,630
2008$12.90$19.29$13.712,410
2009$13.56$20.35$14.012,110
2010$13.72$20.26$14.082,490
2011$14.54$20.81$14.303,120
2012$14.90$20.89$14.424,380
2013$16.81$23.23$14.645,790
2014$17.11$23.27$14.956,220
2015$17.80$24.18$15.346,350
2016$18.27$24.51$16.075,380
2017$18.73$24.60$16.604,960
2018$19.50$25.00$17.214,610
2019$19.28$24.28$17.724,660
2020$20.22$25.15$18.224,210
2021$22.22$26.40$18.163,910
2022$22.46$24.71$19.593,560
2023$22.60$23.88$21.783,420
2024$23.24$23.85$22.474,600
2025$23.59$23.59$22.665,050

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in North Dakota changed by -2.4% over the last ten years of data and by -2.8% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in North Dakota?

+8.4%Jobs since 20194,660 then, 5,050 in 2025
-20.5%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
11.8Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.7× the US share, 5th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in North Dakota has changed by +83.0%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +8.4%.

Construction laborers in North Dakota vs United States, 1999 = 100North DakotaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200250200020052010201520202025183North Dakota144United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, North Dakota vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNorth Dakota jobsNorth Dakota indexUS index
19992,760100100
20002,37086108
20012,09076108
20022,05074109
20031,91069110
20041,88068112
20052,34085122
20062,39087133
20072,63095138
20082,41087134
20092,11076112
20102,49090102
20113,120113102
20124,380159107
20135,790210108
20146,220225112
20156,350230116
20165,380195120
20174,960180126
20184,610167131
20194,660169134
20204,210152127
20213,910142127
20223,560129133
20233,420124134
20244,600167138
20255,050183144

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 Dakota

+9.6%Projected growth in North Dakota2024–2034, state agency
480Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
5,150Jobs in 20245,650 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

North Dakota's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +9.6% between 2024 and 2034, from 5,150 to 5,650, with about 480 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,050 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: North Dakota 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 Dakota

On federally funded construction in North Dakota, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 8 of the 53 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $51.39 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $16.05). 45 of the 53 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Adams County at $25.96). The market median for the state is $23.59.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NDAdams: $25.96 (survey)Barnes: $15.15 (survey)Benson: $16.05 (survey)Billings: $25.96 (survey)Bottineau: $13.18 (survey)Bowman: $25.96 (survey)Burke: $51.39 (union)Burleigh: $13.64 (survey)Cass: $15.97 (survey)Cavalier: $16.05 (survey)Dickey: $16.12 (survey)Divide: $25.96 (survey)Dunn: $25.96 (survey)Eddy: $16.05 (survey)Emmons: $16.12 (survey)Foster: $16.05 (survey)Golden Valley: $25.96 (survey)Grand Forks: $15.80 (survey)Grant: $16.12 (survey)Griggs: $16.05 (survey)Hettinger: $25.96 (survey)Kidder: $16.05 (survey)LaMoure: $16.05 (survey)Logan: $16.05 (survey)McHenry: $51.39 (union)McIntosh: $16.05 (survey)McKenzie: $25.96 (survey)McLean: $51.39 (union)Mercer: $51.39 (union)Morton: $22.57 (survey)Mountrail: $51.39 (union)Nelson: $16.05 (survey)Oliver: $51.39 (union)Pembina: $13.50 (survey)Pierce: $51.39 (union)Ramsey: $16.05 (survey)Ransom: $16.12 (survey)Renville: $12.47 (survey)Richland: $16.12 (survey)Rolette: $14.02 (survey)Sargent: $16.12 (survey)Sheridan: $51.39 (union)Sioux: $23.47 (survey)Slope: $25.96 (survey)Stark: $25.96 (survey)Steele: $16.05 (survey)Stutsman: $17.93 (survey)Towner: $16.05 (survey)Traill: $16.05 (survey)Walsh: $16.05 (survey)Ward: $18.24 (survey)Wells: $16.05 (survey)Williams: $25.96 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$16.05$19.11$25.96survey 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)$0$20$40$60/hrMcHenry (Minot): market median $23.64, prevailing (union) $51.39, gap +$27.75McHenry (Minot)+$27.75Oliver (Bismarck): market median $23.93, prevailing (union) $51.39, gap +$27.46Oliver (Bismarck)+$27.46Cass (Fargo): market median $23.72, prevailing (survey) $15.97, gap −$7.75Cass (Fargo)−$7.75Grand Forks (Grand Forks): market median $23.59, prevailing (survey) $15.80, gap −$7.79Grand Forks (Grand Forks)−$7.79
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in North Dakota.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BurkeUnion LABR0563-004 2024-05-01$29.20$22.19$51.39ND20260035
McHenryUnion LABR0563-004 2024-05-01$29.20$22.19$51.39ND20260035
McLeanUnion LABR0563-004 2024-05-01$29.20$22.19$51.39ND20260023
MercerUnion LABR0563-004 2024-05-01$29.20$22.19$51.39ND20260024
MountrailUnion LABR0563-004 2024-05-01$29.20$22.19$51.39ND20260025
OliverUnion LABR0563-002 2024-05-01$29.20$22.19$51.39ND20260016
PierceUnion LABR0563-004 2024-05-01$29.20$22.19$51.39ND20260035
SheridanUnion LABR0563-004 2024-05-01$29.20$22.19$51.39ND20260035
AdamsSurvey SUND2012-007 2014-08-18$17.91$8.05$25.96ND20260018
BillingsSurvey SUND2012-009 2014-08-18$17.91$8.05$25.96ND20260020
BowmanSurvey SUND2012-023 2014-08-18$17.91$8.05$25.96ND20260034
DivideSurvey SUND2012-023 2014-08-18$17.91$8.05$25.96ND20260034
DunnSurvey SUND2012-023 2014-08-18$17.91$8.05$25.96ND20260034
Golden ValleySurvey SUND2012-023 2014-08-18$17.91$8.05$25.96ND20260034
HettingerSurvey SUND2012-023 2014-08-18$17.91$8.05$25.96ND20260034

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

Is construction work growing in North Dakota?

33.7kConstruction jobsNorth Dakota, 2026-09
-0.3%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k10k20k30k40k50k1990199520002005201020152020202534kSep 2026
Construction employment in North Dakota (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 33 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 17,862 in 2015 to 17,468 in 2025, -2.2%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Dickey County40672$113,607$2,185
Williams County1361,317$103,672$1,994
Dunn County14149$103,085$1,982
McKenzie County69576$102,677$1,975
Mercer County24185$98,994$1,904
Traill County26153$92,980$1,788
Stark County1141,030$88,688$1,706
Mountrail County47295$81,311$1,564
Morton County120670$76,303$1,467
Billings County22136$76,153$1,464
Cass County6335,965$74,363$1,430
Grand Forks County1991,568$73,468$1,413

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in North Dakota

More on North Dakota

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in North Dakota?

The median construction laborer in North Dakota earned $23.59 an hour ($49,070 a year) in May 2025, 4% above the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $21.96–$29.17; the top 10% earn more than $34.23.

Where does North Dakota rank for construction laborer pay?

North Dakota ranks 22nd of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $23.59 an hour, and 13th after adjusting for North Dakota's cost of living (BEA price parity 89.0, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in North Dakota?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for construction laborers in 8 counties, with a typical package of $51.39 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many construction laborers work in North Dakota?

BLS counted 5,050 construction laborers in North Dakota in May 2025, 11.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.67; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is construction laborer work growing in North Dakota?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in North Dakota went from 6,350 in 2015 to 5,050 in 2025, -20.5%, and +8.4% since 2019. North Dakota's labor market agency projects +9.6% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 5,150 to 5,650 jobs.

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

North Dakota projects about 480 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 Dakota 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 Dakota labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.