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 and the trend since 1999.

$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 2026-09-28

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.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$18.02 – $21.69$37,480 – $45,110roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$21.69 – $29.72$45,110 – $61,810the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$29.72 – $35.90$61,810 – $74,670the 75th–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 $/hr90thJobsvs state
Philadelphia$18.46$26.50$40.0014,58012% above
State College$18.26$25.68$34.286208% above
Pittsburgh$17.98$24.33$34.548,6202% above
Harrisburg$18.23$23.88$33.481,3701% above
York$18.47$23.72$34.671,250about the same as
Allentown$18.09$23.70$36.211,670about the same as
Reading$18.18$23.46$34.289901% below
Lancaster$18.24$23.40$32.012,2701% below
Scranton$17.95$23.22$35.181,4502% below
Gettysburg$17.43$23.08$29.242403% below
Lebanon$17.19$22.85$29.572404% below
Chambersburg$18.02$22.53$28.884405% below
Erie$17.04$22.35$30.365406% below
Williamsport$17.61$22.29$31.592506% below
Altoona$17.12$22.03$29.023507% below
Johnstown$16.96$21.79$33.232108% below

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.

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 2026-09-28. 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?

272.7kConstruction jobsPennsylvania, 2026-08
-0.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025273kAug 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.

CountyEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Philadelphia County6,693$98,589$1,896
Montgomery County16,106$96,595$1,858
Delaware County8,209$90,253$1,736
Bucks County13,004$89,660$1,724
Chester County8,219$88,826$1,708
Dauphin County4,004$87,575$1,684
Allegheny County19,111$84,965$1,634
Berks County5,685$84,441$1,624
Lehigh County4,680$83,544$1,607
York County6,931$83,318$1,602
Washington County4,102$81,236$1,562
Lawrence County937$80,439$1,547

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in 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).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Pennsylvania 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.