Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in Ohio

Median $26.96 an hour for 31,910 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$26.96/hrMedian hourly wageOhio, May data
$56,080/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.97 – $38.0410th to 90th percentilehourly range
31,910Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Construction laborer pay in Ohio: the full range

Wage percentiles, OhioMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrOhio: 10th $17.97 · 25th $22.09 · median $26.96 · 75th $35.76 · 90th $38.04Ohio$26.96$17.97$38.04United 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: Ohio vs United States, May 2025.

Ohio ranks 13th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 5th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.05). 31,910 construction laborers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$17.97 – $22.09$37,370 – $45,940roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.09 – $35.76$45,940 – $74,370the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$35.76 – $38.04$74,370 – $79,110the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in Ohio

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrSandusky: $29.14Sandusky$29.14Columbus: $29.11Columbus$29.11Akron: $28.28Akron$28.28Cleveland: $27.49Cleveland$27.49Cincinnati: $26.41Cincinnati$26.41Canton: $25.85Canton$25.85Dayton: $25.48Dayton$25.48Lima: $24.57Lima$24.57Toledo: $24.38Toledo$24.38Springfield: $24.07Springfield$24.07Youngstown: $23.36Youngstown$23.36Mansfield: $23.23Mansfield$23.23
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in Ohio, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Sandusky$17.64$29.14$32.63$36.963008% above
Columbus$18.50$29.11$30.48$39.065,5908% above
Akron$17.84$28.28$30.28$38.041,8305% above
Cleveland$18.11$27.49$29.28$38.365,6602% above
Cincinnati$18.18$26.41$27.68$37.595,7002% below
Canton$17.52$25.85$28.91$36.711,1004% below
Dayton$17.82$25.48$27.49$37.731,3905% below
Lima$17.18$24.57$27.39$48.762309% below
Toledo$17.64$24.38$26.64$38.151,52010% below
Springfield$17.77$24.07$26.60$37.4616011% below
Youngstown$16.72$23.36$26.73$36.7785013% below
Mansfield$16.56$23.23$26.13$36.2726014% below
Wheeling$16.13$22.02$24.94$34.1445018% below
Huntington$14.76$21.72$24.57$32.211,58019% below
Weirton$16.00$21.56$24.22$34.3530020% below

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

Construction laborer wages in Ohio over time

Ohio, 1999-2025OhioUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25$30200020052010201520202025$26.96Ohio$22.66United States
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, Ohio vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearOhio $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$16.13$31.17$10.8534,090
2000$14.66$27.41$11.1534,070
2001$14.70$26.72$11.5731,730
2002$15.52$27.77$11.9030,670
2003$15.16$26.53$11.8628,570
2004$14.73$25.10$12.1028,450
2005$15.51$25.57$12.2228,180
2006$16.19$25.85$12.6628,610
2007$16.34$25.37$13.1327,190
2008$16.73$25.02$13.7125,240
2009$17.22$25.84$14.0121,860
2010$16.93$25.00$14.0820,380
2011$17.36$24.85$14.3021,830
2012$17.15$24.05$14.4224,680
2013$17.56$24.27$14.6425,640
2014$17.34$23.58$14.9528,630
2015$17.66$23.99$15.3433,000
2016$17.88$23.98$16.0735,090
2017$18.75$24.63$16.6037,990
2018$19.22$24.64$17.2136,990
2019$20.04$25.24$17.7235,900
2020$20.67$25.71$18.2234,230
2021$22.22$26.40$18.1632,330
2022$22.86$25.15$19.5932,760
2023$23.40$24.72$21.7831,070
2024$23.86$24.49$22.4730,820
2025$26.96$26.96$22.6631,910

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Ohio changed by +12.4% over the last ten years of data and by +6.8% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in Ohio?

-11.1%Jobs since 201935,900 then, 31,910 in 2025
-3.3%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
5.8Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.8× the US share, 41st of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in Ohio has changed by -6.4%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -11.1%.

Construction laborers in Ohio vs United States, 1999 = 100OhioUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200200020052010201520202025144United States94Ohio
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Ohio vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearOhio jobsOhio indexUS index
199934,090100100
200034,070100108
200131,73093108
200230,67090109
200328,57084110
200428,45084112
200528,18083122
200628,61084133
200727,19080138
200825,24074134
200921,86064112
201020,38060102
201121,83064102
201224,68072107
201325,64075108
201428,63084112
201533,00097116
201635,090103120
201737,990111126
201836,990108131
201935,900105134
202034,230100127
202132,33095127
202232,76096133
202331,07091134
202430,82090138
202531,91094144

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 Ohio

+4.9%Projected growth in Ohio2024–2034, state agency
3,540Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
41,380Jobs in 202443,420 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Ohio's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +4.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 41,380 to 43,420, with about 3,540 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 31,910 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in Ohio

On federally funded construction in Ohio, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 47 of the 88 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $47.57 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $29.97). 40 of the 88 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Adams County at $34.47). The market median for the state is $26.96.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, OHAdams: $34.47 (survey)Allen: $45.36 (union)Ashland: $20.77 (survey)Ashtabula: $53.65 (union)Athens: $55.07 (union)Auglaize: $26.82 (survey)Belmont: $41.47 (union)Brown: $46.05 (union)Butler: $46.94 (union)Carroll: $45.57 (union)Champaign: $30.11 (survey)Clark: $44.60 (union)Clermont: $46.05 (union)Clinton: $55.07 (union)Columbiana: $38.03 (survey)Coshocton: $33.13 (survey)Crawford: $46.57 (union)Cuyahoga: $54.55 (union)Darke: $27.88 (survey)Defiance: $48.77 (union)Delaware: $34.41 (survey)Erie: $48.77 (union)Fairfield: $16.11 (survey)Fayette: $33.08 (survey)Franklin: $30.50 (survey)Fulton: $48.77 (union)Gallia: $55.07 (union)Geauga: $40.03 (survey)Greene: $44.60 (union)Guernsey: $33.13 (survey)Hamilton: $46.05 (union)Hancock: $27.13 (survey)Hardin: $29.97 (survey)Harrison: $33.13 (survey)Henry: $29.97 (survey)Highland: $55.07 (union)Hocking: $55.07 (union)Holmes: $30.05 (survey)Huron: $15.64 (survey)Jackson: $55.07 (union)Jefferson: $47.43 (union)Knox: $46.57 (union)Lake: $54.55 (union)Lawrence: $55.07 (union)Licking: $14.71 (survey)Logan: $30.75 (survey)Lorain: $48.12 (union)Lucas: $48.77 (union)Madison: $26.23 (survey)Mahoning: $44.59 (union)Marion: $30.05 (survey)Medina: $47.57 (union)Meigs: $15.02 (survey)Mercer: $29.97 (survey)Miami: $25.99 (survey)Monroe: $48.77 (union)Montgomery: $26.79 (survey)Morgan: $33.13 (survey)Morrow: $18.84 (survey)Muskingum: $41.97 (union)Noble: $33.13 (survey)Ottawa: $48.77 (union)Paulding: $29.97 (survey)Perry: $33.13 (survey)Pickaway: $27.94 (survey)Pike: $55.07 (union)Portage: $47.57 (union)Preble: $27.14 (survey)Putnam: $29.78 (survey)Richland: $46.57 (union)Ross: $55.07 (union)Sandusky: $48.77 (union)Scioto: $55.07 (union)Seneca: $28.47 (survey)Shelby: $29.97 (survey)Stark: $45.57 (union)Summit: $47.57 (union)Trumbull: $44.81 (union)Tuscarawas: $44.18 (union)Union: $27.94 (survey)Van Wert: $45.36 (union)Vinton: $55.07 (union)Warren: $30.50 (survey)Washington: $29.17 (survey)Wayne: $45.57 (union)Williams: $33.86 (survey)Wood: $48.77 (union)Wyandot: $44.10 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$29.86$33.13$45.57$48.77survey 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)$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrLawrence (Huntington): market median $21.72, prevailing (union) $55.07, gap +$33.35Lawrence (Huntington)+$33.35Cuyahoga (Cleveland): market median $27.49, prevailing (union) $54.55, gap +$27.06Cuyahoga (Cleveland)+$27.06Hocking (Columbus): market median $29.11, prevailing (union) $55.07, gap +$25.96Hocking (Columbus)+$25.96Jefferson (Weirton): market median $21.56, prevailing (union) $47.43, gap +$25.87Jefferson (Weirton)+$25.87Fulton (Toledo): market median $24.38, prevailing (union) $48.77, gap +$24.39Fulton (Toledo)+$24.39Richland (Mansfield): market median $23.23, prevailing (union) $46.57, gap +$23.34Richland (Mansfield)+$23.34Trumbull (Youngstown): market median $23.36, prevailing (union) $44.81, gap +$21.45Trumbull (Youngstown)+$21.45Allen (Lima): market median $24.57, prevailing (union) $45.36, gap +$20.79Allen (Lima)+$20.79Clark (Springfield): market median $24.07, prevailing (union) $44.60, gap +$20.53Clark (Springfield)+$20.53Butler (Cincinnati): market median $26.41, prevailing (union) $46.94, gap +$20.53Butler (Cincinnati)+$20.53Carroll (Canton): market median $25.85, prevailing (union) $45.57, gap +$19.72Carroll (Canton)+$19.72Erie (Sandusky): market median $29.14, prevailing (union) $48.77, gap +$19.63Erie (Sandusky)+$19.63Belmont (Wheeling): market median $22.02, prevailing (union) $41.47, gap +$19.45Belmont (Wheeling)+$19.45Portage (Akron): market median $28.28, prevailing (union) $47.57, gap +$19.29Portage (Akron)+$19.29Greene (Dayton): market median $25.48, prevailing (union) $44.60, gap +$19.12Greene (Dayton)+$19.12
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in Ohio.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AthensUnion LABO0083-003 2024-06-01$40.97$14.10$55.07OH20260033
ClintonUnion LABO0083-003 2024-06-01$40.97$14.10$55.07OH20260064
GalliaUnion LABO0083-007 2024-06-01$40.97$14.10$55.07OH20260041
HighlandUnion LABO0083-003 2024-06-01$40.97$14.10$55.07OH20260064
HockingUnion LABO0083-003 2024-06-01$40.97$14.10$55.07OH20260064
JacksonUnion LABO0083-003 2024-06-01$40.97$14.10$55.07OH20260064
LawrenceUnion LABO0083-006 2024-06-01$40.97$14.10$55.07OH20260085
PikeUnion LABO0083-003 2024-06-01$40.97$14.10$55.07OH20260051
RossUnion LABO0083-003 2024-06-01$40.97$14.10$55.07OH20260053
SciotoUnion LABO0083-003 2024-06-01$40.97$14.10$55.07OH20260055
VintonUnion LABO0083-005 2024-06-01$40.97$14.10$55.07OH20260060
CuyahogaUnion LABO0310-002 2024-06-01$31.89$22.66$54.55OH20260074
LakeUnion LABO0310-002 2024-06-01$31.89$22.66$54.55OH20260084
AshtabulaUnion LABO0245-001 2025-05-01$37.70$15.95$53.65OH20260032
DefianceUnion LABO0500-005 2024-05-01$32.35$16.42$48.77OH20260039

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Ohio prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Ohio?

285.5kConstruction jobsOhio, 2026-09
+6.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025286kSep 2026
Construction employment in Ohio (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 85 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 125,848 in 2015 to 165,365 in 2025, +31.4%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Delaware County3202,405$96,672$1,859
Union County1132,117$95,544$1,837
Franklin County1,49924,313$92,686$1,782
Butler County5006,913$88,888$1,709
Wyandot County40915$87,638$1,685
Jackson County44568$87,194$1,677
Fairfield County2722,731$87,052$1,674
Pike County28301$86,494$1,663
Summit County7208,784$84,432$1,624
Cuyahoga County1,46616,326$82,393$1,584
Stark County6025,907$81,825$1,574
Shelby County851,206$81,167$1,561

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Ohio

More on Ohio

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in Ohio?

The median construction laborer in Ohio earned $26.96 an hour ($56,080 a year) in May 2025, 19% above the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $22.09–$35.76; the top 10% earn more than $38.04.

Where does Ohio rank for construction laborer pay?

Ohio ranks 13th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $26.96 an hour, and 5th after adjusting for Ohio's cost of living (BEA price parity 92.8, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in Ohio?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for construction laborers in 47 counties, with a typical package of $47.57 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many construction laborers work in Ohio?

BLS counted 31,910 construction laborers in Ohio in May 2025, 5.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.82; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is construction laborer work growing in Ohio?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in Ohio went from 33,000 in 2015 to 31,910 in 2025, -3.3%, and -11.1% since 2019. Ohio's labor market agency projects +4.9% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 41,380 to 43,420 jobs.

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

Ohio projects about 3,540 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, Ohio 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 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Ohio labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.