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 and the trend since 1999.

$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 2026-09-28

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.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$17.97 – $22.09$37,370 – $45,940roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$22.09 – $35.76$45,940 – $74,370the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$35.76 – $38.04$74,370 – $79,110the 75th–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 $/hr90thJobsvs state
Sandusky$17.64$29.14$36.963008% above
Columbus$18.50$29.11$39.065,5908% above
Akron$17.84$28.28$38.041,8305% above
Cleveland$18.11$27.49$38.365,6602% above
Cincinnati$18.18$26.41$37.595,7002% below
Canton$17.52$25.85$36.711,1004% below
Dayton$17.82$25.48$37.731,3905% below
Lima$17.18$24.57$48.762309% below
Toledo$17.64$24.38$38.151,52010% below
Springfield$17.77$24.07$37.4616011% below
Youngstown$16.72$23.36$36.7785013% below
Mansfield$16.56$23.23$36.2726014% below
Wheeling$16.13$22.02$34.1445018% below
Huntington$14.76$21.72$32.211,58019% below
Weirton$16.00$21.56$34.3530020% below

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.

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 2026-09-28. 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?

289.4kConstruction jobsOhio, 2026-08
+7.0%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025289kAug 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.

CountyEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Delaware County2,405$96,672$1,859
Union County2,117$95,544$1,837
Franklin County24,313$92,686$1,782
Butler County6,913$88,888$1,709
Wyandot County915$87,638$1,685
Jackson County568$87,194$1,677
Fairfield County2,731$87,052$1,674
Pike County301$86,494$1,663
Summit County8,784$84,432$1,624
Cuyahoga County16,326$82,393$1,584
Stark County5,907$81,825$1,574
Shelby County1,206$81,167$1,561

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in 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).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Ohio and metro areas, SOC 47-2061.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.