Construction laborer salary in Rhode Island
Median $27.52 an hour for 2,110 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Construction laborer pay in Rhode Island: the full range
Rhode Island ranks 10th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 11th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.90). 2,110 construction laborers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.98 – $22.51 | $39,480 – $46,810 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.51 – $37.25 | $46,810 – $77,480 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $37.25 – $42.61 | $77,480 – $88,620 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Construction laborer pay by metro in Rhode Island
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $19.12 | $28.50 | $43.65 | 3,240 | 4% above |
Construction laborer wages in Rhode Island over time
Table
| Year | Rhode Island $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.63 | $24.41 | $10.85 | 1,570 |
| 2000 | $15.43 | $28.85 | $11.15 | 2,010 |
| 2001 | $16.27 | $29.58 | $11.57 | 2,310 |
| 2002 | $13.75 | $24.61 | $11.90 | — |
| 2003 | $15.54 | $27.19 | $11.86 | 3,420 |
| 2005 | $17.38 | $28.65 | $12.22 | 3,470 |
| 2006 | $18.73 | $29.91 | $12.66 | 3,240 |
| 2007 | $20.02 | $31.09 | $13.13 | 2,770 |
| 2008 | $21.03 | $31.45 | $13.71 | 2,200 |
| 2009 | $20.02 | $30.04 | $14.01 | 1,830 |
| 2010 | $18.52 | $27.34 | $14.08 | 1,540 |
| 2011 | $18.43 | $26.38 | $14.30 | 1,650 |
| 2012 | $21.15 | $29.66 | $14.42 | 1,800 |
| 2013 | $19.37 | $26.77 | $14.64 | 2,080 |
| 2014 | $16.77 | $22.81 | $14.95 | 2,250 |
| 2015 | $18.33 | $24.90 | $15.34 | 2,510 |
| 2016 | $18.68 | $25.06 | $16.07 | 2,520 |
| 2017 | $19.39 | $25.47 | $16.60 | 2,650 |
| 2018 | $21.25 | $27.24 | $17.21 | 2,580 |
| 2019 | $24.30 | $30.60 | $17.72 | 2,660 |
| 2020 | $26.49 | $32.95 | $18.22 | 2,600 |
| 2021 | $22.97 | $27.29 | $18.16 | 2,680 |
| 2022 | $23.87 | $26.26 | $19.59 | 2,590 |
| 2023 | $26.51 | $28.01 | $21.78 | 2,140 |
| 2024 | $28.02 | $28.76 | $22.47 | 2,080 |
| 2025 | $27.52 | $27.52 | $22.66 | 2,110 |
In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Rhode Island changed by +10.5% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in Rhode Island
On federally funded construction in Rhode Island, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 5 of the 5 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $65.90 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $27.52.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | Union LABO0271-001 2023-12-03 | $39.00 | $26.90 | $65.90 | RI20260001 |
| Kent | Union LABO0271-001 2023-12-03 | $39.00 | $26.90 | $65.90 | RI20260001 |
| Newport | Union LABO0271-001 2023-12-03 | $39.00 | $26.90 | $65.90 | RI20260001 |
| Providence | Union LABO0271-001 2023-12-03 | $39.00 | $26.90 | $65.90 | RI20260001 |
| Washington | Union LABO0271-001 2023-12-03 | $39.00 | $26.90 | $65.90 | RI20260001 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Rhode Island prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Rhode Island?
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.
| County | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence County | 8,688 | $84,454 | $1,624 |
| Kent County | 2,826 | $78,742 | $1,514 |
| Washington County | 1,590 | $78,211 | $1,504 |
| Newport County | 1,102 | $73,003 | $1,404 |
| Bristol County | 502 | $72,651 | $1,397 |
Keep comparing
Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Rhode Island
Questions this page answers
How much do construction laborers make in Rhode Island?
The median construction laborer in Rhode Island earned $27.52 an hour ($57,240 a year) in May 2025, 21% above the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $22.51–$37.25; the top 10% earn more than $42.61.
Where does Rhode Island rank for construction laborer pay?
Rhode Island ranks 10th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $27.52 an hour, and 11th after adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (BEA price parity 102.3, US = 100).
What is the union construction laborer rate in Rhode Island?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for construction laborers in 5 counties, with a typical package of $65.90 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many construction laborers work in Rhode Island?
BLS counted 2,110 construction laborers in Rhode Island in May 2025, 4.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.60; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Rhode Island 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.