Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in Pennsylvania

Median $23.75 an hour for 35,920 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$23.75/hrMedian hourly wagePennsylvania, May data
$49,400/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.02 – $35.9010th to 90th percentilehourly range
35,920Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Construction laborer pay in Pennsylvania: the full range

Wage percentiles, PennsylvaniaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrPennsylvania: 10th $18.02 · 25th $21.69 · median $23.75 · 75th $29.72 · 90th $35.90Pennsylvania$23.75$18.02$35.90United 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: Pennsylvania vs United States, May 2025.

Pennsylvania ranks 21st of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 23rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $24.33). 35,920 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$18.02 – $21.69$37,480 – $45,110roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$21.69 – $29.72$45,110 – $61,810the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$29.72 – $35.90$61,810 – $74,670the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in Pennsylvania

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrPhiladelphia: $26.50Philadelphia$26.50State College: $25.68State College$25.68Pittsburgh: $24.33Pittsburgh$24.33Harrisburg: $23.88Harrisburg$23.88York: $23.72York$23.72Allentown: $23.70Allentown$23.70Reading: $23.46Reading$23.46Lancaster: $23.40Lancaster$23.40Scranton: $23.22Scranton$23.22Gettysburg: $23.08Gettysburg$23.08Lebanon: $22.85Lebanon$22.85Chambersburg: $22.53Chambersburg$22.53
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in Pennsylvania, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Philadelphia$18.46$26.50$25.83$40.0014,58012% above
State College$18.26$25.68$26.53$34.286208% above
Pittsburgh$17.98$24.33$25.69$34.548,6202% above
Harrisburg$18.23$23.88$24.19$33.481,3701% above
York$18.47$23.72$24.71$34.671,250about the same as
Allentown$18.09$23.70$23.70$36.211,670about the same as
Reading$18.18$23.46$24.16$34.289901% below
Lancaster$18.24$23.40$23.80$32.012,2701% below
Scranton$17.95$23.22$24.81$35.181,4502% below
Gettysburg$17.43$23.08$24.19$29.242403% below
Lebanon$17.19$22.85$24.52$29.572404% below
Chambersburg$18.02$22.53$23.82$28.884405% below
Erie$17.04$22.35$24.56$30.365406% below
Williamsport$17.61$22.29$24.15$31.592506% below
Altoona$17.12$22.03$24.61$29.023507% below
Johnstown$16.96$21.79$25.37$33.232108% below

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

Construction laborer wages in Pennsylvania over time

Pennsylvania, 1999-2025PennsylvaniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25$30200020052010201520202025$23.75Pennsylvania$22.66United States
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, Pennsylvania vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearPennsylvania $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.24$27.52$10.8524,780
2000$13.65$25.52$11.1529,540
2001$13.12$23.85$11.5733,850
2002$13.52$24.19$11.9033,140
2003$13.63$23.85$11.8632,530
2004$13.52$23.04$12.1033,660
2005$13.57$22.37$12.2235,250
2006$14.04$22.42$12.6635,180
2007$14.49$22.50$13.1336,170
2008$14.65$21.91$13.7135,000
2009$14.66$22.00$14.0132,780
2010$14.84$21.91$14.0829,570
2011$15.72$22.50$14.3030,310
2012$16.19$22.70$14.4232,130
2013$15.96$22.06$14.6433,380
2014$16.56$22.52$14.9533,590
2015$16.65$22.62$15.3435,730
2016$17.15$23.00$16.0738,180
2017$17.40$22.85$16.6041,150
2018$18.19$23.32$17.2141,280
2019$18.88$23.78$17.7240,620
2020$19.70$24.51$18.2237,000
2021$22.04$26.19$18.1636,570
2022$22.51$24.76$19.5937,970
2023$22.99$24.29$21.7839,370
2024$23.31$23.92$22.4738,350
2025$23.75$23.75$22.6635,920

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Pennsylvania changed by +5.0% over the last ten years of data and by -0.1% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in Pennsylvania?

-11.6%Jobs since 201940,620 then, 35,920 in 2025
+0.5%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
5.9Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.8× the US share, 39th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in Pennsylvania has changed by +45.0%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -11.6%.

Construction laborers in Pennsylvania vs United States, 1999 = 100PennsylvaniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages80100120140160180200020052010201520202025145Pennsylvania144United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Pennsylvania vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearPennsylvania jobsPennsylvania indexUS index
199924,780100100
200029,540119108
200133,850137108
200233,140134109
200332,530131110
200433,660136112
200535,250142122
200635,180142133
200736,170146138
200835,000141134
200932,780132112
201029,570119102
201130,310122102
201232,130130107
201333,380135108
201433,590136112
201535,730144116
201638,180154120
201741,150166126
201841,280167131
201940,620164134
202037,000149127
202136,570148127
202237,970153133
202339,370159134
202438,350155138
202535,920145144

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 Pennsylvania

+6.9%Projected growth in Pennsylvania2024–2034, state agency
4,480Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
50,780Jobs in 202454,280 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Pennsylvania's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +6.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 50,780 to 54,280, with about 4,480 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 35,920 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in Pennsylvania

On federally funded construction in Pennsylvania, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 30 of the 67 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $43.36 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $28.17). 37 of the 67 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Adams County at $17.35). The market median for the state is $23.75.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, PAAdams: $17.35 (survey)Allegheny: $39.97 (union)Armstrong: $30.01 (survey)Beaver: $48.21 (union)Bedford: $28.17 (survey)Berks: $28.06 (survey)Blair: $27.91 (survey)Bradford: $29.33 (survey)Bucks: $61.17 (union)Butler: $42.07 (union)Cambria: $27.55 (survey)Cameron: $28.17 (survey)Carbon: $32.22 (survey)Centre: $28.22 (survey)Chester: $62.67 (union)Clarion: $46.21 (union)Clearfield: $28.29 (survey)Clinton: $27.79 (survey)Columbia: $37.90 (union)Crawford: $46.21 (union)Cumberland: $29.07 (survey)Dauphin: $27.78 (survey)Delaware: $62.67 (union)Elk: $27.54 (survey)Erie: $24.33 (survey)Fayette: $30.19 (survey)Forest: $46.21 (union)Franklin: $26.43 (survey)Fulton: $28.17 (survey)Greene: $46.21 (union)Huntingdon: $27.79 (survey)Indiana: $46.21 (union)Jefferson: $28.17 (survey)Juniata: $25.25 (survey)Lackawanna: $36.83 (union)Lancaster: $40.19 (union)Lawrence: $46.21 (union)Lebanon: $26.84 (survey)Lehigh: $36.19 (survey)Luzerne: $37.68 (union)Lycoming: $39.79 (union)McKean: $28.17 (survey)Mercer: $41.70 (union)Mifflin: $43.36 (union)Monroe: $42.73 (union)Montgomery: $43.62 (survey)Montour: $39.79 (union)Northampton: $42.73 (union)Northumberland: $29.06 (survey)Perry: $28.64 (survey)Philadelphia: $65.79 (union)Pike: $32.50 (survey)Potter: $28.17 (survey)Schuylkill: $21.00 (survey)Snyder: $25.25 (survey)Somerset: $28.17 (survey)Sullivan: $30.79 (survey)Susquehanna: $30.79 (survey)Tioga: $30.86 (survey)Union: $25.25 (survey)Venango: $46.21 (union)Warren: $46.21 (union)Washington: $35.82 (union)Wayne: $45.78 (union)Westmoreland: $43.36 (union)Wyoming: $37.68 (union)York: $40.19 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$27.94$29.17$37.81$45.35survey 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$80/hrPhiladelphia (Philadelphia): market median $26.50, prevailing (union) $65.79, gap +$39.29Philadelphia (Philadelphia)+$39.29Beaver (Pittsburgh): market median $24.33, prevailing (union) $48.21, gap +$23.88Beaver (Pittsburgh)+$23.88Northampton (Allentown): market median $23.70, prevailing (union) $42.73, gap +$19.03Northampton (Allentown)+$19.03Lycoming (Williamsport): market median $22.29, prevailing (union) $39.79, gap +$17.50Lycoming (Williamsport)+$17.50Lancaster (Lancaster): market median $23.40, prevailing (union) $40.19, gap +$16.79Lancaster (Lancaster)+$16.79York (York): market median $23.72, prevailing (union) $40.19, gap +$16.47York (York)+$16.47Luzerne (Scranton): market median $23.22, prevailing (union) $37.68, gap +$14.46Luzerne (Scranton)+$14.46Blair (Altoona): market median $22.03, prevailing (survey) $27.91, gap +$5.88Blair (Altoona)+$5.88Cambria (Johnstown): market median $21.79, prevailing (survey) $27.55, gap +$5.76Cambria (Johnstown)+$5.76Cumberland (Harrisburg): market median $23.88, prevailing (survey) $29.07, gap +$5.19Cumberland (Harrisburg)+$5.19Berks (Reading): market median $23.46, prevailing (survey) $28.06, gap +$4.60Berks (Reading)+$4.60Lebanon (Lebanon): market median $22.85, prevailing (survey) $26.84, gap +$3.99Lebanon (Lebanon)+$3.99Franklin (Chambersburg): market median $22.53, prevailing (survey) $26.43, gap +$3.90Franklin (Chambersburg)+$3.90Centre (State College): market median $25.68, prevailing (survey) $28.22, gap +$2.54Centre (State College)+$2.54Erie (Erie): market median $22.35, prevailing (survey) $24.33, gap +$1.98Erie (Erie)+$1.98Adams (Gettysburg): market median $23.08, prevailing (survey) $17.35, gap −$5.73Adams (Gettysburg)−$5.73
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in Pennsylvania.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
PhiladelphiaUnion LABO0332-001 2025-05-01$39.10$26.69$65.79PA20260003
ChesterUnion LABO0413-007 2025-05-01$37.25$25.42$62.67PA20260083
DelawareUnion LABO0413-007 2025-05-01$37.25$25.42$62.67PA20260087
BucksUnion LABO0135-002 2024-05-01$35.85$25.32$61.17PA20260078
BeaverUnion LABO0833-001 2026-01-01$27.82$20.39$48.21PA20260075
ClarionUnion LABO0910-005 2024-01-01$26.82$19.39$46.21PA20260046
CrawfordUnion LABO0910-005 2024-01-01$26.82$19.39$46.21PA20260049
ForestUnion LABO0910-005 2024-01-01$26.82$19.39$46.21PA20260051
GreeneUnion LABO0910-005 2024-01-01$26.82$19.39$46.21PA20260053
IndianaUnion LABO0910-005 2024-01-01$26.82$19.39$46.21PA20260055
LawrenceUnion LABO0910-005 2024-01-01$26.82$19.39$46.21PA20260058
VenangoUnion LABO0910-005 2024-01-01$26.82$19.39$46.21PA20260070
WarrenUnion LABO0910-005 2024-01-01$26.82$19.39$46.21PA20260071
WayneUnion LABO0130-008 2024-05-01$24.35$21.43$45.78PA20260072
MontgomerySurvey SUPA2011-057 2014-08-20$23.85$19.77$43.62PA20260099

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

Is construction work growing in Pennsylvania?

272.0kConstruction jobsPennsylvania, 2026-09
-0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025272kSep 2026
Construction employment in Pennsylvania (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 64 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 139,301 in 2015 to 159,871 in 2025, +14.8%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Philadelphia County8466,693$98,589$1,896
Montgomery County1,54016,106$96,595$1,858
Delaware County9088,209$90,253$1,736
Bucks County1,63813,004$89,660$1,724
Chester County9288,219$88,826$1,708
Dauphin County2824,004$87,575$1,684
Allegheny County1,73419,111$84,965$1,634
Berks County5965,685$84,441$1,624
Lehigh County4244,680$83,544$1,607
York County6256,931$83,318$1,602
Washington County4334,102$81,236$1,562
Lawrence County124937$80,439$1,547

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Pennsylvania

More on Pennsylvania

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in Pennsylvania?

The median construction laborer in Pennsylvania earned $23.75 an hour ($49,400 a year) in May 2025, 5% above the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $21.69–$29.72; the top 10% earn more than $35.90.

Where does Pennsylvania rank for construction laborer pay?

Pennsylvania ranks 21st of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $23.75 an hour, and 23rd after adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.6, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in Pennsylvania?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for construction laborers in 30 counties, with a typical package of $43.36 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many construction laborers work in Pennsylvania?

BLS counted 35,920 construction laborers in Pennsylvania in May 2025, 5.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.84; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is construction laborer work growing in Pennsylvania?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in Pennsylvania went from 35,730 in 2015 to 35,920 in 2025, +0.5%, and -11.6% since 2019. Pennsylvania's labor market agency projects +6.9% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 50,780 to 54,280 jobs.

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

Pennsylvania projects about 4,480 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, Pennsylvania 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: Pennsylvania labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.