Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in Oregon

Median $24.45 an hour for 12,620 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$24.45/hrMedian hourly wageOregon, May data
$50,860/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.85 – $37.7010th to 90th percentilehourly range
12,620Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Construction laborer pay in Oregon: the full range

Wage percentiles, OregonMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrOregon: 10th $18.85 · 25th $21.65 · median $24.45 · 75th $29.91 · 90th $37.70Oregon$24.45$18.85$37.70United 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: Oregon vs United States, May 2025.

Oregon ranks 15th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 27th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $23.65). 12,620 construction laborers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.85 – $21.65$39,210 – $45,030roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$21.65 – $29.91$45,030 – $62,200the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$29.91 – $37.70$62,200 – $78,410the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in Oregon

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrSalem: $26.20Salem$26.20Portland: $26.08Portland$26.08Bend: $25.37Bend$25.37Albany: $24.74Albany$24.74Medford: $23.72Medford$23.72Grants Pass: $23.67Grants Pass$23.67Corvallis: $22.98Corvallis$22.98Eugene: $22.85Eugene$22.85
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in Oregon, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Salem$18.98$26.20$25.29$36.901,6907% above
Portland$18.75$26.08$24.74$39.767,9507% above
Bend$19.46$25.37$24.49$36.767804% above
Albany$19.38$24.74$24.23$34.743701% above
Medford$18.59$23.72$23.39$33.285203% below
Grants Pass$19.92$23.67$24.20$30.671903% below
Corvallis$18.63$22.98$22.10$36.161506% below
Eugene$18.65$22.85$22.49$34.671,0107% below

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

Construction laborer wages in Oregon over time

Oregon, 1999-2025OregonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25$30200020052010201520202025$24.45Oregon$22.66United States
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, Oregon vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearOregon $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$13.20$25.51$10.858,730
2000$12.79$23.91$11.158,890
2001$13.16$23.92$11.577,980
2002$13.67$24.46$11.908,510
2003$13.33$23.32$11.868,290
2004$13.64$23.25$12.108,540
2005$13.54$22.32$12.2210,060
2006$13.98$22.33$12.6610,070
2007$14.15$21.97$13.1311,870
2008$14.68$21.95$13.7111,530
2009$15.05$22.58$14.0110,170
2010$15.49$22.87$14.089,520
2011$15.80$22.61$14.309,470
2012$16.48$23.11$14.429,200
2013$16.33$22.57$14.649,040
2014$16.30$22.17$14.9510,290
2015$15.98$21.71$15.3410,550
2016$16.49$22.12$16.0711,500
2017$17.29$22.71$16.6011,160
2018$18.27$23.42$17.2112,390
2019$19.21$24.19$17.7213,270
2020$20.03$24.92$18.2213,020
2021$22.01$26.15$18.1612,400
2022$22.36$24.60$19.5912,470
2023$23.14$24.45$21.7813,090
2024$24.03$24.66$22.4712,050
2025$24.45$24.45$22.6612,620

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Oregon changed by +12.6% over the last ten years of data and by +1.1% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in Oregon?

-4.9%Jobs since 201913,270 then, 12,620 in 2025
+19.6%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
6.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 34th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in Oregon has changed by +44.6%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -4.9%.

Construction laborers in Oregon vs United States, 1999 = 100OregonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages80100120140160200020052010201520202025145Oregon144United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Oregon vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearOregon jobsOregon indexUS index
19998,730100100
20008,890102108
20017,98091108
20028,51098109
20038,29095110
20048,54098112
200510,060115122
200610,070115133
200711,870136138
200811,530132134
200910,170116112
20109,520109102
20119,470108102
20129,200105107
20139,040104108
201410,290118112
201510,550121116
201611,500132120
201711,160128126
201812,390142131
201913,270152134
202013,020149127
202112,400142127
202212,470143133
202313,090150134
202412,050138138
202512,620145144

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 Oregon

+13.4%Projected growth in Oregon2024–2034, state agency
1,590Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
16,370Jobs in 202418,560 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Oregon's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +13.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 16,370 to 18,560, with about 1,590 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 12,620 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in Oregon

On federally funded construction in Oregon, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 29 of the 36 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $56.41 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $37.57). The market median for the state is $24.45.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, ORBaker: $56.41 (union)Benton: $41.31 (survey)Clackamas: $56.41 (union)Clatsop: $56.41 (union)Columbia: $56.41 (union)Coos: $39.55 (survey)Crook: $56.41 (union)Curry: $56.41 (union)Deschutes: $23.85 (survey)Douglas: $37.57 (survey)Gilliam: $56.41 (union)Grant: $56.41 (union)Harney: $56.41 (union)Hood River: $56.41 (union)Jackson: $24.33 (survey)Jefferson: $56.41 (union)Josephine: $24.33 (survey)Klamath: $56.41 (union)Lake: $56.41 (union)Lane: $41.14 (survey)Lincoln: $56.41 (union)Linn: $56.41 (union)Malheur: $56.41 (union)Marion: $56.41 (union)Morrow: $56.41 (union)Multnomah: $56.41 (union)Polk: $56.41 (union)Sherman: $56.41 (union)Tillamook: $56.41 (union)Umatilla: $56.41 (union)Union: $56.41 (union)Wallowa: $56.41 (union)Wasco: $56.41 (union)Washington: $56.41 (union)Wheeler: $56.41 (union)Yamhill: $56.41 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hrsurvey 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)$20$30$40$50$60/hrLinn (Albany): market median $24.74, prevailing (union) $56.41, gap +$31.67Linn (Albany)+$31.67Crook (Bend): market median $25.37, prevailing (union) $56.41, gap +$31.04Crook (Bend)+$31.04Clackamas (Portland): market median $26.08, prevailing (union) $56.41, gap +$30.33Clackamas (Portland)+$30.33Marion (Salem): market median $26.20, prevailing (union) $56.41, gap +$30.21Marion (Salem)+$30.21Benton (Corvallis): market median $22.98, prevailing (survey) $41.31, gap +$18.33Benton (Corvallis)+$18.33Lane (Eugene): market median $22.85, prevailing (survey) $41.14, gap +$18.29Lane (Eugene)+$18.29Josephine (Grants Pass): market median $23.67, prevailing (survey) $24.33, gap +$0.66Josephine (Grants Pass)+$0.66Jackson (Medford): market median $23.72, prevailing (survey) $24.33, gap +$0.61Jackson (Medford)+$0.61
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in Oregon.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BakerUnion LABO0737-035 2024-06-01$39.11$17.30$56.41OR20260002
ClackamasUnion LABO0737-035 2024-06-01$39.11$17.30$56.41OR20260095
ClatsopUnion LABO0737-035 2024-06-01$39.11$17.30$56.41OR20260092
ColumbiaUnion LABO0737-035 2024-06-01$39.11$17.30$56.41OR20260096
CrookUnion LABO0737-035 2024-06-01$39.11$17.30$56.41OR20260083
CurryUnion LABO0737-035 2024-06-01$39.11$17.30$56.41OR20260084
GilliamUnion LABO0737-035 2024-06-01$39.11$17.30$56.41OR20260093
GrantUnion LABO0737-035 2024-06-01$39.11$17.30$56.41OR20260093
HarneyUnion LABO0737-035 2024-06-01$39.11$17.30$56.41OR20260086
Hood RiverUnion LABO0737-035 2024-06-01$39.11$17.30$56.41OR20260087
JeffersonUnion LABO0737-035 2024-06-01$39.11$17.30$56.41OR20260093
KlamathUnion LABO0737-035 2024-06-01$39.11$17.30$56.41OR20260093
LakeUnion LABO0737-035 2024-06-01$39.11$17.30$56.41OR20260093
LincolnUnion LABO0737-035 2024-06-01$39.11$17.30$56.41OR20260092
LinnUnion LABO0737-035 2024-06-01$39.11$17.30$56.41OR20260099

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

Is construction work growing in Oregon?

117.9kConstruction jobsOregon, 2026-09
+3.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202625k50k75k100k125k150k19901995200020052010201520202025118kSep 2026
Construction employment in Oregon (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 30 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 50,466 in 2015 to 68,271 in 2025, +35.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Multnomah County1,12814,421$103,962$1,999
Crook County87632$94,024$1,808
Washington County1,13812,297$90,996$1,750
Gilliam County535$84,448$1,624
Clackamas County1,1439,697$84,334$1,622
Jefferson County34131$79,914$1,537
Linn County2462,210$79,045$1,520
Lake County842$78,899$1,517
Umatilla County132877$76,733$1,476
Columbia County96579$76,327$1,468
Marion County9787,006$75,069$1,444
Yamhill County2441,422$74,949$1,441

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Oregon

More on Oregon

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in Oregon?

The median construction laborer in Oregon earned $24.45 an hour ($50,860 a year) in May 2025, 8% above the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $21.65–$29.91; the top 10% earn more than $37.70.

Where does Oregon rank for construction laborer pay?

Oregon ranks 15th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $24.45 an hour, and 27th after adjusting for Oregon's cost of living (BEA price parity 103.4, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in Oregon?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for construction laborers in 29 counties, with a typical package of $56.41 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many construction laborers work in Oregon?

BLS counted 12,620 construction laborers in Oregon in May 2025, 6.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.91; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is construction laborer work growing in Oregon?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in Oregon went from 10,550 in 2015 to 12,620 in 2025, +19.6%, and -4.9% since 2019. Oregon's labor market agency projects +13.4% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 16,370 to 18,560 jobs.

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

Oregon projects about 1,590 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, Oregon 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: Oregon labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.