Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in Virginia

Median $20.94 an hour for 25,830 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$20.94/hrMedian hourly wageVirginia, May data
$43,560/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$15.82 – $27.4610th to 90th percentilehourly range
25,830Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Construction laborer pay in Virginia: the full range

Wage percentiles, VirginiaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrVirginia: 10th $15.82 · 25th $17.80 · median $20.94 · 75th $22.86 · 90th $27.46Virginia$20.94$15.82$27.46United 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: Virginia vs United States, May 2025.

Virginia ranks 41st of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 46th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $20.71). 25,830 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$15.82 – $17.80$32,900 – $37,020roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$17.80 – $22.86$37,020 – $47,550the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$22.86 – $27.46$47,550 – $57,110the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in Virginia

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrWashington DC: $22.80Washington DC$22.80Kingsport: $21.81Kingsport$21.81Charlottesville: $21.67Charlottesville$21.67Harrisonburg: $20.92Harrisonburg$20.92Richmond: $20.39Richmond$20.39Winchester: $20.27Winchester$20.27Blacksburg: $20.03Blacksburg$20.03Virginia Beach: $18.51Virginia Beach$18.51Lynchburg: $18.46Lynchburg$18.46Roanoke: $18.34Roanoke$18.34Staunton: $18.29Staunton$18.29
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in Virginia, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Washington DC$17.80$22.80$20.94$30.1917,7109% above
Kingsport$16.30$21.81$25.24$31.841,4304% above
Charlottesville$16.98$21.67$21.87$24.735703% above
Harrisonburg$16.77$20.92$22.04$23.37480about the same as
Richmond$15.62$20.39$20.83$25.574,5603% below
Winchester$16.72$20.27$21.01$24.903503% below
Blacksburg$15.03$20.03$21.61$24.62—4% below
Virginia Beach$14.70$18.51$18.91$23.735,66012% below
Lynchburg$15.22$18.46$20.65$22.8560012% below
Roanoke$14.40$18.34$19.59$23.561,21012% below
Staunton$15.49$18.29$20.08$23.8830013% below

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

Construction laborer wages in Virginia over time

Virginia, 1999-2025VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25200020052010201520202025$22.66United States$20.94Virginia
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, Virginia vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearVirginia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$9.10$17.59$10.8519,860
2000$9.35$17.48$11.1526,630
2001$9.99$18.16$11.5722,570
2002$10.39$18.59$11.9020,580
2003$10.57$18.49$11.8620,850
2004$10.85$18.49$12.1021,880
2005$10.83$17.85$12.2226,150
2006$11.50$18.36$12.6629,030
2007$11.78$18.29$13.1329,640
2008$12.19$18.23$13.7128,220
2009$12.16$18.25$14.0124,820
2010$12.34$18.22$14.0821,980
2011$12.56$17.98$14.3021,930
2012$12.90$18.09$14.4220,640
2013$13.11$18.12$14.6419,840
2014$13.46$18.30$14.9520,410
2015$13.62$18.50$15.3420,710
2016$13.82$18.54$16.0721,370
2017$14.15$18.58$16.6021,300
2018$14.85$19.04$17.2122,530
2019$15.24$19.19$17.7222,950
2020$15.72$19.55$18.2222,030
2021$17.46$20.74$18.1623,240
2022$17.48$19.23$19.5923,370
2023$18.04$19.06$21.7826,510
2024$19.33$19.84$22.4726,860
2025$20.94$20.94$22.6625,830

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Virginia changed by +13.2% over the last ten years of data and by +9.1% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in Virginia?

+12.5%Jobs since 201922,950 then, 25,830 in 2025
+24.7%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
6.3Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 36th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in Virginia has changed by +30.1%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +12.5%.

Construction laborers in Virginia vs United States, 1999 = 100VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages80100120140160200020052010201520202025144United States130Virginia
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Virginia vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearVirginia jobsVirginia indexUS index
199919,860100100
200026,630134108
200122,570114108
200220,580104109
200320,850105110
200421,880110112
200526,150132122
200629,030146133
200729,640149138
200828,220142134
200924,820125112
201021,980111102
201121,930110102
201220,640104107
201319,840100108
201420,410103112
201520,710104116
201621,370108120
201721,300107126
201822,530113131
201922,950116134
202022,030111127
202123,240117127
202223,370118133
202326,510134134
202426,860135138
202525,830130144

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 Virginia

+9.4%Projected growth in Virginia2024–2034, state agency
3,660Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
37,180Jobs in 202440,660 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Virginia's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +9.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 37,180 to 40,660, with about 3,660 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 25,830 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in Virginia

On federally funded construction in Virginia, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 131 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $13.74). 131 of the 131 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Accomack County at $16.00). The market median for the state is $20.94.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, VAAccomack: $16.00 (survey)Albemarle: $11.15 (survey)Alleghany: $13.37 (survey)Amelia: $12.52 (survey)Amherst: $14.08 (survey)Appomattox: $13.78 (survey)Arlington: $17.99 (survey)Augusta: $15.03 (survey)Bath: $13.37 (survey)Bedford: $14.08 (survey)Bland: $10.89 (survey)Botetourt: $16.73 (survey)Brunswick: $14.15 (survey)Buchanan: $10.89 (survey)Buckingham: $11.15 (survey)Campbell: $14.08 (survey)Caroline: $14.58 (survey)Carroll: $10.89 (survey)Charles City: $12.52 (survey)Charlotte: $14.15 (survey)Chesterfield: $13.60 (survey)Clarke: $17.93 (survey)Craig: $16.73 (survey)Culpeper: $17.93 (survey)Cumberland: $14.15 (survey)Dickenson: $10.89 (survey)Dinwiddie: $11.83 (survey)Essex: $16.00 (survey)Fairfax: $19.17 (survey)Fauquier: $17.93 (survey)Floyd: $13.34 (survey)Fluvanna: $11.15 (survey)Franklin: $16.73 (survey)Frederick: $17.93 (survey)Giles: $13.34 (survey)Gloucester: $13.74 (survey)Goochland: $12.52 (survey)Grayson: $10.89 (survey)Greene: $11.15 (survey)Greensville: $14.15 (survey)Halifax: $15.20 (survey)Hanover: $12.52 (survey)Henrico: $13.46 (survey)Henry: $10.89 (survey)Highland: $13.37 (survey)Isle of Wight: $12.80 (survey)James City: $13.74 (survey)King and Queen: $16.00 (survey)King George: $16.00 (survey)King William: $12.52 (survey)Lancaster: $16.00 (survey)Lee: $10.89 (survey)Loudoun: $17.90 (survey)Louisa: $13.37 (survey)Lunenburg: $14.15 (survey)Madison: $13.37 (survey)Mathews: $13.74 (survey)Mecklenburg: $14.15 (survey)Middlesex: $16.00 (survey)Montgomery: $13.34 (survey)Nelson: $11.15 (survey)New Kent: $12.52 (survey)Northampton: $16.00 (survey)Northumberland: $16.00 (survey)Nottoway: $14.15 (survey)Orange: $13.37 (survey)Page: $13.37 (survey)Patrick: $10.89 (survey)Pittsylvania: $13.70 (survey)Powhatan: $12.52 (survey)Prince Edward: $14.15 (survey)Prince George: $12.52 (survey)Prince William: $14.31 (survey)Pulaski: $13.34 (survey)Rappahannock: $17.93 (survey)Richmond: $16.00 (survey)Roanoke: $16.73 (survey)Rockbridge: $13.37 (survey)Rockingham: $12.26 (survey)Russell: $10.89 (survey)Scott: $11.10 (survey)Shenandoah: $13.37 (survey)Smyth: $10.66 (survey)Southampton: $14.15 (survey)Spotsylvania: $17.93 (survey)Stafford: $17.93 (survey)Surry: $14.15 (survey)Sussex: $13.88 (survey)Tazewell: $10.89 (survey)Warren: $10.99 (survey)Washington: $11.10 (survey)Westmoreland: $16.00 (survey)Wise: $11.06 (survey)Wythe: $10.89 (survey)York: $13.27 (survey)Alexandria: $17.99 (survey)Bristol: $11.10 (survey)Buena Vista: $13.37 (survey)Charlottesville: $11.15 (survey)Chesapeake: $13.74 (survey)Colonial Heights: $13.60 (survey)Covington: n/aDanville: $13.70 (survey)Emporia: $14.15 (survey)Fairfax: $19.17 (survey)Falls Church: $19.17 (survey)Franklin: $14.15 (survey)Fredericksburg: $17.93 (survey)Galax: $10.89 (survey)Hampton: $13.74 (survey)Harrisonburg: $12.26 (survey)Hopewell: $12.52 (survey)Lexington: n/aLynchburg: $14.08 (survey)Manassas: $14.31 (survey)Manassas Park: $14.31 (survey)Martinsville: $10.89 (survey)Newport News: $13.61 (survey)Norfolk: $13.17 (survey)Norton: $11.06 (survey)Petersburg: $11.83 (survey)Poquoson: $13.27 (survey)Portsmouth: $14.55 (survey)Radford: $13.34 (survey)Richmond: $13.46 (survey)Roanoke: $16.73 (survey)Salem: $16.73 (survey)Staunton: $15.03 (survey)Suffolk: $13.74 (survey)Virginia Beach: $13.86 (survey)Waynesboro: $15.03 (survey)Williamsburg: $13.74 (survey)Winchester: $17.93 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$11.83$13.37$14.08$16.00n/asurvey 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)$10$15$20$25/hrBotetourt (Roanoke): market median $18.34, prevailing (survey) $16.73, gap −$1.61Botetourt (Roanoke)−$1.61Frederick (Winchester): market median $20.27, prevailing (survey) $17.93, gap −$2.34Frederick (Winchester)−$2.34Augusta (Staunton): market median $18.29, prevailing (survey) $15.03, gap −$3.26Augusta (Staunton)−$3.26Fairfax (Washington DC): market median $22.80, prevailing (survey) $19.17, gap −$3.63Fairfax (Washington DC)−$3.63Portsmouth (Virginia Beach): market median $18.51, prevailing (survey) $14.55, gap −$3.96Portsmouth (Virginia Beach)−$3.96Amherst (Lynchburg): market median $18.46, prevailing (survey) $14.08, gap −$4.38Amherst (Lynchburg)−$4.38King and Queen (Richmond): market median $20.39, prevailing (survey) $16.00, gap −$4.39King and Queen (Richmond)−$4.39Floyd (Blacksburg): market median $20.03, prevailing (survey) $13.34, gap −$6.69Floyd (Blacksburg)−$6.69Rockingham (Harrisonburg): market median $20.92, prevailing (survey) $12.26, gap −$8.66Rockingham (Harrisonburg)−$8.66Albemarle (Charlottesville): market median $21.67, prevailing (survey) $11.15, gap −$10.52Albemarle (Charlottesville)−$10.52Scott (Kingsport): market median $21.81, prevailing (survey) $11.10, gap −$10.71Scott (Kingsport)−$10.71
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in Virginia.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
FairfaxSurvey SUVA2013-034 2016-01-11$15.74$3.43$19.17VA20260178
FairfaxSurvey SUVA2013-034 2016-01-11$15.74$3.43$19.17VA20260178
Falls ChurchSurvey SUVA2013-034 2016-01-11$15.74$3.43$19.17VA20260178
ArlingtonSurvey SUVA2013-025 2016-01-11$15.55$2.44$17.99VA20260013
AlexandriaSurvey SUVA2013-025 2016-01-11$15.55$2.44$17.99VA20260013
ClarkeSurvey SUVA2013-032 2016-01-11$15.03$2.90$17.93VA20260018
CulpeperSurvey SUVA2013-062 2016-01-11$15.03$2.90$17.93VA20260174
FauquierSurvey SUVA2013-035 2016-01-11$15.03$2.90$17.93VA20260020
FrederickSurvey SUVA2013-036 2016-01-11$15.03$2.90$17.93VA20260021
RappahannockSurvey SUVA2013-062 2016-01-11$15.03$2.90$17.93VA20260174
SpotsylvaniaSurvey SUVA2013-050 2016-01-11$15.03$2.90$17.93VA20260165
StaffordSurvey SUVA2013-062 2016-01-11$15.03$2.90$17.93VA20260174
FredericksburgSurvey SUVA2013-050 2016-01-11$15.03$2.90$17.93VA20260165
WinchesterSurvey SUVA2013-036 2016-01-11$15.03$2.90$17.93VA20260021
LoudounSurvey SUVA2013-041 2016-01-11$14.46$3.44$17.90VA20260158

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

Is construction work growing in Virginia?

230.8kConstruction jobsVirginia, 2026-09
-1.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025231kSep 2026
Construction employment in Virginia (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 117 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 111,128 in 2015 to 136,979 in 2025, +23.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Goochland County76666$106,792$2,054
Arlington County82336$104,574$2,011
Lexington city34$104,428$2,008
Loudoun County52719,752$103,592$1,992
Northumberland County2997$101,173$1,946
New Kent County56276$92,843$1,785
Manassas city1601,620$91,326$1,756
Newport News city1683,274$89,428$1,720
Alexandria city1081,070$85,539$1,645
Henrico County4629,415$84,149$1,618
Fairfax County1,24312,936$83,139$1,599
Louisa County79596$83,083$1,598

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Virginia

More on Virginia

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in Virginia?

The median construction laborer in Virginia earned $20.94 an hour ($43,560 a year) in May 2025, 8% below the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $17.80–$22.86; the top 10% earn more than $27.46.

Where does Virginia rank for construction laborer pay?

Virginia ranks 41st of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $20.94 an hour, and 46th after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (BEA price parity 101.1, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in Virginia?

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

How many construction laborers work in Virginia?

BLS counted 25,830 construction laborers in Virginia in May 2025, 6.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.89; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is construction laborer work growing in Virginia?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in Virginia went from 20,710 in 2015 to 25,830 in 2025, +24.7%, and +12.5% since 2019. Virginia's labor market agency projects +9.4% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 37,180 to 40,660 jobs.

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

Virginia projects about 3,660 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, Virginia 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: Virginia labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.