Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in Washington

Median $27.75 an hour for 25,060 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$27.75/hrMedian hourly wageWashington, May data
$57,720/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$19.20 – $45.7310th to 90th percentilehourly range
25,060Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Construction laborer pay in Washington: the full range

Wage percentiles, WashingtonMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrWashington: 10th $19.20 · 25th $22.56 · median $27.75 · 75th $34.69 · 90th $45.73Washington$27.75$19.20$45.73United 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: Washington vs United States, May 2025.

Washington ranks 9th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 15th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.93). 25,060 construction laborers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.4× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$19.20 – $22.56$39,930 – $46,930roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.56 – $34.69$46,930 – $72,160the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$34.69 – $45.73$72,160 – $95,110the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in Washington

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrSeattle: $28.72Seattle$28.72Bellingham: $28.06Bellingham$28.06Mount Vernon: $27.99Mount Vernon$27.99Longview: $26.83Longview$26.83Kennewick: $26.32Kennewick$26.32Bremerton: $26.30Bremerton$26.30Portland: $26.08Portland$26.08Olympia: $25.52Olympia$25.52Spokane: $24.53Spokane$24.53Wenatchee: $23.76Wenatchee$23.76Yakima: $23.47Yakima$23.47Walla Walla: $23.25Walla Walla$23.25
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in Washington, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Seattle$20.99$28.72$25.85$47.3713,0403% above
Bellingham$19.10$28.06$27.16$45.081,0301% above
Mount Vernon$19.37$27.99$27.33$45.784001% above
Longview$18.90$26.83$27.52$43.993603% below
Kennewick$19.18$26.32$26.29$42.571,1105% below
Bremerton$19.14$26.30$24.91$39.506205% below
Portland$18.75$26.08$24.74$39.767,9506% below
Olympia$19.05$25.52$24.61$43.277308% below
Spokane$18.30$24.53$24.46$36.921,70012% below
Wenatchee$18.98$23.76$22.87$42.8552014% below
Yakima$18.16$23.47$24.58$33.8059015% below
Walla Walla$17.03$23.25$23.60$33.0013016% below
Lewiston$16.83$22.42$24.58$30.2821019% below

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

Construction laborer wages in Washington over time

Washington, 1999-2025WashingtonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$0$10$20$30200020052010201520202025$27.75Washington$22.66United States
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, Washington vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWashington $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$17.41$33.64$10.8516,060
2000$16.54$30.92$11.1514,930
2001$16.73$30.41$11.5714,920
2002$17.11$30.62$11.9015,100
2003$15.96$27.93$11.8615,420
2004$15.48$26.38$12.1016,680
2005$14.54$23.97$12.2219,330
2006$14.63$23.36$12.6621,940
2007$14.75$22.90$13.1324,470
2008$15.83$23.67$13.7121,480
2009$16.12$24.19$14.0116,250
2010$17.09$25.23$14.0812,300
2011$17.50$25.05$14.3011,950
2012$17.70$24.82$14.4214,430
2013$17.74$24.52$14.6415,510
2014$18.35$24.95$14.9519,310
2015$18.92$25.70$15.3420,250
2016$19.56$26.24$16.0721,910
2017$20.53$26.96$16.6025,680
2018$21.43$27.48$17.2128,980
2019$22.51$28.35$17.7231,510
2020$23.78$29.58$18.2228,200
2021$22.93$27.24$18.1628,660
2022$23.71$26.08$19.5929,890
2023$26.49$27.99$21.7827,720
2024$27.52$28.24$22.4727,410
2025$27.75$27.75$22.6625,060

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Washington changed by +8.0% over the last ten years of data and by -2.1% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in Washington?

-20.5%Jobs since 201931,510 then, 25,060 in 2025
+23.8%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
7.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.0× the US share, 27th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in Washington has changed by +56.0%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -20.5%.

Construction laborers in Washington vs United States, 1999 = 100WashingtonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200250200020052010201520202025156Washington144United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Washington vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearWashington jobsWashington indexUS index
199916,060100100
200014,93093108
200114,92093108
200215,10094109
200315,42096110
200416,680104112
200519,330120122
200621,940137133
200724,470152138
200821,480134134
200916,250101112
201012,30077102
201111,95074102
201214,43090107
201315,51097108
201419,310120112
201520,250126116
201621,910136120
201725,680160126
201828,980180131
201931,510196134
202028,200176127
202128,660178127
202229,890186133
202327,720173134
202427,410171138
202525,060156144

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 Washington

+7.7%Projected growth in Washington2024–2034, state agency
4,790Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
49,630Jobs in 202453,450 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Washington's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +7.7% between 2024 and 2034, from 49,630 to 53,450, with about 4,790 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 25,060 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in Washington

On federally funded construction in Washington, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 20 of the 39 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $59.66 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $37.01). 5 of the 39 counties still use a survey rate dated 2009 or earlier (for example Ferry County at $16.91). The market median for the state is $27.75.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WAAdams: $57.03 (union)Asotin: $54.03 (union)Benton: $36.02 (survey)Chelan: $37.24 (survey)Clallam: $68.51 (union)Clark: $40.48 (survey)Columbia: $36.34 (survey)Cowlitz: $59.66 (union)Douglas: $37.25 (survey)Ferry: $16.91 (survey)Franklin: $37.01 (survey)Garfield: $16.91 (survey)Grant: $57.03 (union)Grays Harbor: $68.51 (union)Island: $21.98 (survey)Jefferson: $68.51 (union)King: $67.34 (union)Kitsap: $47.13 (survey)Kittitas: $55.94 (union)Klickitat: $59.66 (union)Lewis: $68.51 (union)Lincoln: $16.91 (survey)Mason: $68.51 (union)Okanogan: $57.03 (union)Pacific: $59.66 (union)Pend Oreille: $54.03 (union)Pierce: $46.47 (survey)San Juan: $67.34 (union)Skagit: $67.34 (union)Skamania: $40.48 (survey)Snohomish: $46.62 (survey)Spokane: $54.03 (union)Stevens: $54.03 (union)Thurston: $45.05 (survey)Wahkiakum: $59.66 (union)Walla Walla: $29.36 (survey)Whatcom: $40.32 (survey)Whitman: $17.27 (survey)Yakima: $35.83 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$36.21$45.33$55.56$62.73survey 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/hrSkagit (Mount Vernon): market median $27.99, prevailing (union) $67.34, gap +$39.35Skagit (Mount Vernon)+$39.35King (Seattle): market median $28.72, prevailing (union) $67.34, gap +$38.62King (Seattle)+$38.62Cowlitz (Longview): market median $26.83, prevailing (union) $59.66, gap +$32.83Cowlitz (Longview)+$32.83Asotin (Lewiston): market median $22.42, prevailing (union) $54.03, gap +$31.61Asotin (Lewiston)+$31.61Spokane (Spokane): market median $24.53, prevailing (union) $54.03, gap +$29.50Spokane (Spokane)+$29.50Kitsap (Bremerton): market median $26.30, prevailing (survey) $47.13, gap +$20.83Kitsap (Bremerton)+$20.83Thurston (Olympia): market median $25.52, prevailing (survey) $45.05, gap +$19.53Thurston (Olympia)+$19.53Clark (Portland): market median $26.08, prevailing (survey) $40.48, gap +$14.40Clark (Portland)+$14.40Douglas (Wenatchee): market median $23.76, prevailing (survey) $37.25, gap +$13.49Douglas (Wenatchee)+$13.49Yakima (Yakima): market median $23.47, prevailing (survey) $35.83, gap +$12.36Yakima (Yakima)+$12.36Whatcom (Bellingham): market median $28.06, prevailing (survey) $40.32, gap +$12.26Whatcom (Bellingham)+$12.26Franklin (Kennewick): market median $26.32, prevailing (survey) $37.01, gap +$10.69Franklin (Kennewick)+$10.69Walla Walla (Walla Walla): market median $23.25, prevailing (survey) $29.36, gap +$6.11Walla Walla (Walla Walla)+$6.11
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in Washington.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ClallamUnion LABO0252-008 2025-06-01$51.52$16.99$68.51WA20260022
Grays HarborUnion LABO0252-008 2025-06-01$51.52$16.99$68.51WA20260027
JeffersonUnion LABO0252-008 2025-06-01$51.52$16.99$68.51WA20260029
LewisUnion LABO0252-008 2025-06-01$51.52$16.99$68.51WA20260032
MasonUnion LABO0252-008 2025-06-01$51.52$16.99$68.51WA20260034
KingUnion LABO0242-013 2025-06-01$50.38$16.96$67.34WA20260108
San JuanUnion LABO0292-005 2025-06-01$50.38$16.96$67.34WA20260038
SkagitUnion LABO0242-013 2025-06-01$50.38$16.96$67.34WA20260112
CowlitzUnion LABO0335-006 2025-06-01$44.06$15.60$59.66WA20260105
KlickitatUnion LABO0335-025 2025-06-01$44.06$15.60$59.66WA20260031
PacificUnion LABO0335-026 2025-06-01$44.06$15.60$59.66WA20260036
WahkiakumUnion LABO0335-025 2025-06-01$44.06$15.60$59.66WA20260040
AdamsUnion LABO0238-025 2025-06-01$40.13$16.90$57.03WA20260021
GrantUnion LABO0238-025 2025-06-01$40.13$16.90$57.03WA20260026
OkanoganUnion LABO0238-025 2025-06-01$40.13$16.90$57.03WA20260035

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

Is construction work growing in Washington?

223.9kConstruction jobsWashington, 2026-09
+0.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025224kSep 2026
Construction employment in Washington (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 34 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 103,575 in 2015 to 131,891 in 2025, +27.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
King County3,68643,001$99,762$1,919
Cowlitz County2672,630$97,790$1,881
Skagit County3522,570$91,962$1,769
Whatcom County4924,315$87,963$1,692
Chelan County2881,502$84,463$1,624
Thurston County6123,935$82,188$1,581
Asotin County44308$80,442$1,547
Pierce County1,91815,353$79,740$1,533
Snohomish County2,31217,374$79,367$1,526
Benton County5034,809$78,506$1,510
Clark County1,36210,966$76,418$1,470
Kittitas County142868$76,417$1,470

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Washington

More on Washington

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in Washington?

The median construction laborer in Washington earned $27.75 an hour ($57,720 a year) in May 2025, 22% above the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $22.56–$34.69; the top 10% earn more than $45.73.

Where does Washington rank for construction laborer pay?

Washington ranks 9th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $27.75 an hour, and 15th after adjusting for Washington's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.0, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in Washington?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for construction laborers in 20 counties, with a typical package of $59.66 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many construction laborers work in Washington?

BLS counted 25,060 construction laborers in Washington in May 2025, 7.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.00; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is construction laborer work growing in Washington?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in Washington went from 20,250 in 2015 to 25,060 in 2025, +23.8%, and -20.5% since 2019. Washington's labor market agency projects +7.7% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 49,630 to 53,450 jobs.

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

Washington projects about 4,790 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, Washington 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: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.