Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in Texas

Median $19.53 an hour for 123,250 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$19.53/hrMedian hourly wageTexas, May data
$40,620/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$15.65 – $27.3710th to 90th percentilehourly range
123,250Jobs countedemployer survey

Construction laborer pay in Texas: the full range

Wage percentiles, TexasMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrTexas: 10th $15.65 · 25th $17.66 · median $19.53 · 75th $22.57 · 90th $27.37Texas$19.53$15.65$27.37United 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: Texas vs United States, May 2025.

Texas ranks 44th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 48th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $20.11). 123,250 construction laborers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.7× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$15.65 – $17.66$32,560 – $36,730roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$17.66 – $22.57$36,730 – $46,950the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$22.57 – $27.37$46,950 – $56,930the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in Texas

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrBeaumont: $21.27Beaumont$21.27Austin: $21.16Austin$21.16Dallas-Fort Worth: $21.14Dallas-Fort Worth$21.14Sherman: $20.91Sherman$20.91Corpus Christi: $20.40Corpus Christi$20.40Houston: $19.88Houston$19.88Midland: $18.99Midland$18.99San Antonio: $18.94San Antonio$18.94Odessa: $18.45Odessa$18.45Abilene: $18.35Abilene$18.35Amarillo: $18.35Amarillo$18.35Longview: $18.19Longview$18.19
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in Texas, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Beaumont$16.85$21.27$23.63$31.053,3409% above
Austin$16.31$21.16$21.57$28.3411,1408% above
Dallas-Fort Worth$17.06$21.14$20.50$27.3829,6708% above
Sherman$15.50$20.91$22.29$28.314907% above
Corpus Christi$15.93$20.40$22.01$29.602,6404% above
Houston$16.77$19.88$20.16$28.0434,0802% above
Midland$17.17$18.99$19.82$26.891,9703% below
San Antonio$16.41$18.94$20.00$24.618,4003% below
Odessa$16.53$18.45$19.65$24.359706% below
Abilene$15.47$18.35$20.30$23.695706% below
Amarillo$14.52$18.35$19.99$26.189706% below
Longview$15.26$18.19$20.32$25.071,6107% below
Tyler$14.43$18.13$19.66$23.396507% below
Killeen$15.19$18.12$19.89$27.399407% below
Waco$14.18$18.08$19.55$23.591,2207% below
College Station$14.59$17.88$19.65$22.907708% below
Lubbock$14.08$17.78$19.47$23.289809% below
Victoria$15.39$17.75$19.77$22.683409% below
San Angelo$13.89$17.70$19.14$25.002409% below
Wichita Falls$14.81$17.66$19.73$22.3624010% below
Texarkana$13.39$17.48$20.81$22.7745010% below
El Paso$14.08$17.15$19.08$22.472,14012% below
Brownsville$12.53$16.90$19.65$22.3146013% below
McAllen$12.59$16.57$19.29$21.641,36015% below
Laredo$13.18$16.22$18.64$21.2940017% below

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

Construction laborer wages in Texas over time

Texas, 1999-2025TexasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25200020052010201520202025$22.66United States$19.53Texas
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, Texas vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearTexas $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$8.37$16.17$10.8568,050
2000$8.60$16.08$11.1573,350
2001$9.00$16.36$11.5776,620
2002$9.17$16.41$11.9084,170
2003$9.28$16.24$11.8686,760
2004$9.37$15.97$12.1088,310
2005$9.44$15.56$12.2297,180
2006$9.64$15.39$12.66109,210
2007$10.00$15.53$13.13119,560
2008$10.62$15.88$13.71123,750
2009$10.96$16.45$14.01106,470
2010$11.30$16.68$14.0898,680
2011$11.59$16.59$14.30101,330
2012$11.89$16.67$14.42107,020
2013$12.36$17.08$14.64108,160
2014$12.97$17.64$14.95104,910
2015$13.34$18.12$15.34101,250
2016$13.84$18.56$16.07100,600
2017$14.28$18.76$16.60108,260
2018$14.99$19.22$17.21111,250
2019$15.66$19.72$17.72112,370
2020$16.15$20.09$18.22104,130
2021$17.07$20.28$18.16103,870
2022$17.39$19.13$19.59112,760
2023$17.86$18.87$21.78115,770
2024$18.36$18.84$22.47117,580
2025$19.53$19.53$22.66123,250

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Texas changed by +7.8% over the last ten years of data and by -1.0% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in Texas?

+9.7%Jobs since 2019112,370 then, 123,250 in 2025
+21.7%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
8.8Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 15th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in Texas has changed by +81.1%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +9.7%.

Construction laborers in Texas vs United States, 1999 = 100TexasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages75100125150175200200020052010201520202025181Texas144United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Texas vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearTexas jobsTexas indexUS index
199968,050100100
200073,350108108
200176,620113108
200284,170124109
200386,760128110
200488,310130112
200597,180143122
2006109,210160133
2007119,560176138
2008123,750182134
2009106,470156112
201098,680145102
2011101,330149102
2012107,020157107
2013108,160159108
2014104,910154112
2015101,250149116
2016100,600148120
2017108,260159126
2018111,250164131
2019112,370165134
2020104,130153127
2021103,870153127
2022112,760166133
2023115,770170134
2024117,580173138
2025123,250181144

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 Texas

+12.2%Projected growth in Texas2024–2034, state agency
15,270Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
159,660Jobs in 2024179,140 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Texas's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +12.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 159,660 to 179,140, with about 15,270 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 123,250 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in Texas

On federally funded construction in Texas, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 254 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $9.73). 254 of the 254 counties still use a survey rate dated 2009 or earlier (for example Anderson County at $12.19). The market median for the state is $19.53.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, TXUnion / prevailing package, $/hr$8.72$9.73$10.04$12.00survey 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 (survey)$5$10$15$20$25/hrCochran (Lubbock): market median $17.78, prevailing (survey) $14.03, gap −$3.75Cochran (Lubbock)−$3.75Comal (San Antonio): market median $18.94, prevailing (survey) $14.11, gap −$4.83Comal (San Antonio)−$4.83Randall (Amarillo): market median $18.35, prevailing (survey) $12.85, gap −$5.50Randall (Amarillo)−$5.50Robertson (College Station): market median $17.88, prevailing (survey) $12.00, gap −$5.88Robertson (College Station)−$5.88Bowie (Texarkana): market median $17.48, prevailing (survey) $11.50, gap −$5.98Bowie (Texarkana)−$5.98Callahan (Abilene): market median $18.35, prevailing (survey) $11.89, gap −$6.46Callahan (Abilene)−$6.46Johnson (Dallas-Fort Worth): market median $21.14, prevailing (survey) $14.55, gap −$6.59Johnson (Dallas-Fort Worth)−$6.59Ector (Odessa): market median $18.45, prevailing (survey) $11.80, gap −$6.65Ector (Odessa)−$6.65Smith (Tyler): market median $18.13, prevailing (survey) $11.42, gap −$6.71Smith (Tyler)−$6.71McLennan (Waco): market median $18.08, prevailing (survey) $11.10, gap −$6.98McLennan (Waco)−$6.98Rusk (Longview): market median $18.19, prevailing (survey) $11.20, gap −$6.99Rusk (Longview)−$6.99Midland (Midland): market median $18.99, prevailing (survey) $11.80, gap −$7.19Midland (Midland)−$7.19Bell (Killeen): market median $18.12, prevailing (survey) $10.53, gap −$7.59Bell (Killeen)−$7.59Wichita (Wichita Falls): market median $17.66, prevailing (survey) $10.05, gap −$7.61Wichita (Wichita Falls)−$7.61Williamson (Austin): market median $21.16, prevailing (survey) $13.26, gap −$7.90Williamson (Austin)−$7.90Irion (San Angelo): market median $17.70, prevailing (survey) $9.74, gap −$7.96Irion (San Angelo)−$7.96Harris (Houston): market median $19.88, prevailing (survey) $11.76, gap −$8.12Harris (Houston)−$8.12Hardin (Beaumont): market median $21.27, prevailing (survey) $12.15, gap −$9.12Hardin (Beaumont)−$9.12Aransas (Corpus Christi): market median $20.40, prevailing (survey) $9.68, gap −$10.72Aransas (Corpus Christi)−$10.72Grayson (Sherman): market median $20.91, prevailing (survey) $10.00, gap −$10.91Grayson (Sherman)−$10.91
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in Texas.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
JohnsonSurvey SUTX2014-033 2014-07-21$11.91$2.64$14.55TX20260257
ComalSurvey SUTX2014-016 2014-07-21$14.11$0.00$14.11TX20260240
BaileySurvey SUTX2009-004 2009-04-20$11.23$2.80$14.03TX20260117
BaylorSurvey SUTX2009-079 2009-04-20$11.23$2.80$14.03TX20260192
CochranSurvey SUTX2009-014 2009-04-20$11.23$2.80$14.03TX20260127
CottleSurvey SUTX2009-079 2009-04-20$11.23$2.80$14.03TX20260192
DickensSurvey SUTX2009-079 2009-04-20$11.23$2.80$14.03TX20260192
FloydSurvey SUTX2009-028 2009-04-20$11.23$2.80$14.03TX20260141
FoardSurvey SUTX2009-087 2009-04-20$11.23$2.80$14.03TX20260200
GarzaSurvey SUTX2009-087 2009-04-20$11.23$2.80$14.03TX20260200
HaleSurvey SUTX2009-036 2009-04-20$11.23$2.80$14.03TX20260149
HardemanSurvey SUTX2009-091 2009-04-20$11.23$2.80$14.03TX20260204
HaskellSurvey SUTX2009-092 2009-04-20$11.23$2.80$14.03TX20260205
HockleySurvey SUTX2009-079 2009-04-20$11.23$2.80$14.03TX20260192
JackSurvey SUTX2009-079 2009-04-20$11.23$2.80$14.03TX20260192

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

Is construction work growing in Texas?

924.5kConstruction jobsTexas, 2026-09
+1.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026200k400k600k800k1,000k19901995200020052010201520202025924kSep 2026
Construction employment in Texas (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 173 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 374,938 in 2015 to 475,675 in 2025, +26.9%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Ward County22492$114,200$2,196
Armstrong County7186$112,884$2,171
Marion County882$112,162$2,157
Bosque County24326$104,299$2,006
Jones County20176$102,591$1,973
Andrews County21562$97,060$1,867
Fayette County58635$95,031$1,828
Midland County3084,427$94,134$1,810
Yoakum County15206$93,961$1,807
Jefferson County2586,951$92,846$1,785
Chambers County27181$92,338$1,776
Brazoria County3634,932$90,928$1,749

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Texas

More on Texas

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in Texas?

The median construction laborer in Texas earned $19.53 an hour ($40,620 a year) in May 2025, 14% below the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $17.66–$22.57; the top 10% earn more than $27.37.

Where does Texas rank for construction laborer pay?

Texas ranks 44th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $19.53 an hour, and 48th after adjusting for Texas's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.1, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in Texas?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a construction laborer classification for most Texas counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many construction laborers work in Texas?

BLS counted 123,250 construction laborers in Texas in May 2025, 8.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.24; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is construction laborer work growing in Texas?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in Texas went from 101,250 in 2015 to 123,250 in 2025, +21.7%, and +9.7% since 2019. Texas's labor market agency projects +12.2% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 159,660 to 179,140 jobs.

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

Texas projects about 15,270 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, Texas 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: Texas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.