Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in West Virginia

Median $20.51 an hour for 6,620 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$20.51/hrMedian hourly wageWest Virginia, May data
$42,670/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$14.79 – $29.1110th to 90th percentilehourly range
6,620Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Construction laborer pay in West Virginia: the full range

Wage percentiles, West VirginiaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrWest Virginia: 10th $14.79 · 25th $17.12 · median $20.51 · 75th $26.34 · 90th $29.11West Virginia$20.51$14.79$29.11United 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: West Virginia vs United States, May 2025.

West Virginia ranks 43rd of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 33rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $22.92). 6,620 construction laborers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$14.79 – $17.12$30,770 – $35,620roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$17.12 – $26.34$35,620 – $54,780the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$26.34 – $29.11$54,780 – $60,550the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in West Virginia

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrCharleston: $22.97Charleston$22.97Washington DC: $22.80Washington DC$22.80Wheeling: $22.02Wheeling$22.02Huntington: $21.72Huntington$21.72Weirton: $21.56Weirton$21.56Morgantown: $21.32Morgantown$21.32Hagerstown: $20.59Hagerstown$20.59Winchester: $20.27Winchester$20.27Parkersburg: $20.03Parkersburg$20.03Beckley: $17.46Beckley$17.46
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in West Virginia, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Charleston$15.00$22.97$25.90$31.5466012% above
Washington DC$17.80$22.80$20.94$30.1917,71011% above
Wheeling$16.13$22.02$24.94$34.144507% above
Huntington$14.76$21.72$24.57$32.211,5806% above
Weirton$16.00$21.56$24.22$34.353005% above
Morgantown$14.50$21.32$22.85$28.476604% above
Hagerstown$16.08$20.59$21.86$27.90560about the same as
Winchester$16.72$20.27$21.01$24.903501% below
Parkersburg$15.05$20.03$23.00$28.403402% below
Beckley$14.11$17.46$19.75$29.3932015% below

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

Construction laborer wages in West Virginia over time

West Virginia, 1999-2025West VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25200020052010201520202025$22.66United States$20.51West Virginia
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, West Virginia vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWest Virginia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$10.75$20.77$10.855,620
2000$10.44$19.52$11.154,310
2001$10.48$19.05$11.575,070
2002$10.87$19.45$11.904,680
2003$10.99$19.23$11.864,240
2004$11.26$19.19$12.104,440
2005$10.57$17.42$12.225,540
2006$10.71$17.10$12.667,030
2007$11.45$17.78$13.137,850
2008$12.42$18.57$13.717,360
2009$13.21$19.82$14.016,290
2010$13.61$20.09$14.085,860
2011$13.51$19.34$14.306,490
2012$13.77$19.31$14.428,210
2013$13.43$18.56$14.648,410
2014$13.24$18.01$14.958,600
2015$13.88$18.85$15.348,560
2016$14.78$19.83$16.077,400
2017$15.14$19.89$16.607,410
2018$15.82$20.28$17.219,080
2019$15.88$20.00$17.729,750
2020$15.99$19.89$18.227,130
2021$17.48$20.77$18.166,950
2022$17.90$19.69$19.596,740
2023$18.34$19.38$21.787,580
2024$18.64$19.13$22.477,580
2025$20.51$20.51$22.666,620

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in West Virginia changed by +8.8% over the last ten years of data and by +2.6% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in West Virginia?

-32.1%Jobs since 20199,750 then, 6,620 in 2025
-22.7%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
9.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.3× the US share, 10th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in West Virginia has changed by +17.8%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -32.1%.

Construction laborers in West Virginia vs United States, 1999 = 100West VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200200020052010201520202025144United States118West Virginia
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, West Virginia vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearWest Virginia jobsWest Virginia indexUS index
19995,620100100
20004,31077108
20015,07090108
20024,68083109
20034,24075110
20044,44079112
20055,54099122
20067,030125133
20077,850140138
20087,360131134
20096,290112112
20105,860104102
20116,490116102
20128,210146107
20138,410150108
20148,600153112
20158,560152116
20167,400132120
20177,410132126
20189,080162131
20199,750174134
20207,130127127
20216,950124127
20226,740120133
20237,580135134
20247,580135138
20256,620118144

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 West Virginia

+18.1%Projected growth in West Virginia2024–2034, state agency
900Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
8,670Jobs in 202410,240 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

West Virginia's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +18.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 8,670 to 10,240, with about 900 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 6,620 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: West Virginia labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections.

Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in West Virginia

On federally funded construction in West Virginia, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 36 of the 55 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $41.14 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $29.44). 17 of the 55 counties still use a survey rate dated 2012 or earlier (for example Barbour County at $29.44). The market median for the state is $20.51.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WVBarbour: $29.44 (survey)Berkeley: $41.14 (union)Boone: $42.87 (union)Braxton: $40.18 (union)Brooke: $41.14 (union)Cabell: $39.85 (survey)Calhoun: $29.44 (survey)Clay: $42.87 (union)Doddridge: $40.18 (union)Fayette: $41.41 (union)Gilmer: $29.44 (survey)Grant: $29.44 (survey)Greenbrier: $28.27 (survey)Hampshire: $27.51 (survey)Hancock: $41.14 (union)Hardy: $40.18 (union)Harrison: $40.18 (union)Jackson: $40.71 (union)Jefferson: $21.25 (survey)Kanawha: $42.87 (union)Lewis: $40.18 (union)Lincoln: $42.87 (union)Logan: $57.33 (union)McDowell: $39.51 (union)Marion: $41.14 (union)Marshall: $41.14 (union)Mason: $57.33 (union)Mercer: $39.51 (union)Mineral: $24.79 (survey)Mingo: $29.44 (survey)Monongalia: $41.14 (union)Monroe: $39.51 (union)Morgan: $27.51 (survey)Nicholas: $29.44 (survey)Ohio: $41.14 (union)Pendleton: $29.44 (survey)Pleasants: $44.82 (union)Pocahontas: $29.84 (survey)Preston: $41.14 (union)Putnam: $42.03 (union)Raleigh: $39.51 (union)Randolph: $40.18 (union)Ritchie: $40.71 (union)Roane: $29.44 (survey)Summers: $28.27 (survey)Taylor: $40.18 (union)Tucker: $40.18 (union)Tyler: $40.18 (union)Upshur: $40.18 (union)Wayne: $39.85 (survey)Webster: $29.44 (survey)Wetzel: $42.80 (union)Wirt: $44.82 (union)Wood: $44.82 (union)Wyoming: $29.44 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$29.44$39.85$40.39$41.53survey 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)$10$20$30$40$50/hrWirt (Parkersburg): market median $20.03, prevailing (union) $44.82, gap +$24.79Wirt (Parkersburg)+$24.79Fayette (Beckley): market median $17.46, prevailing (union) $41.41, gap +$23.95Fayette (Beckley)+$23.95Berkeley (Hagerstown): market median $20.59, prevailing (union) $41.14, gap +$20.55Berkeley (Hagerstown)+$20.55Putnam (Huntington): market median $21.72, prevailing (union) $42.03, gap +$20.31Putnam (Huntington)+$20.31Boone (Charleston): market median $22.97, prevailing (union) $42.87, gap +$19.90Boone (Charleston)+$19.90Monongalia (Morgantown): market median $21.32, prevailing (union) $41.14, gap +$19.82Monongalia (Morgantown)+$19.82Brooke (Weirton): market median $21.56, prevailing (union) $41.14, gap +$19.58Brooke (Weirton)+$19.58Marshall (Wheeling): market median $22.02, prevailing (union) $41.14, gap +$19.12Marshall (Wheeling)+$19.12Hampshire (Winchester): market median $20.27, prevailing (survey) $27.51, gap +$7.24Hampshire (Winchester)+$7.24Jefferson (Washington DC): market median $22.80, prevailing (survey) $21.25, gap −$1.55Jefferson (Washington DC)−$1.55
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in West Virginia.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
LoganUnion PLAS0926-008 2024-06-01$31.97$25.36$57.33WV20260014
MasonUnion PLAS0926-008 2024-06-01$31.97$25.36$57.33WV20260016
PleasantsUnion LABO0379-019 2023-12-01$28.02$16.80$44.82WV20260045
WirtUnion LABO0379-019 2023-12-01$28.02$16.80$44.82WV20260051
WoodUnion LABO0379-019 2023-12-01$28.02$16.80$44.82WV20260051
BooneUnion LABO1353-005 2020-12-01$25.62$17.25$42.87WV20260049
ClayUnion LABO1353-005 2020-12-01$25.62$17.25$42.87WV20260049
KanawhaUnion LABO1353-005 2020-12-01$25.62$17.25$42.87WV20260038
LincolnUnion LABO1353-005 2020-12-01$25.62$17.25$42.87WV20260039
WetzelUnion LABO1149-005 2024-12-01$25.92$16.88$42.80WV20260032
PutnamUnion LABO1353-006 2020-12-01$24.78$17.25$42.03WV20260047
FayetteUnion LABO1353-004 2020-12-01$24.16$17.25$41.41WV20260006
BerkeleyUnion LABO0379-009 2024-12-01$24.94$16.20$41.14WV20260034
BrookeUnion LABO0379-015 2024-12-01$24.94$16.20$41.14WV20260050
HancockUnion LABO0379-015 2024-12-01$24.94$16.20$41.14WV20260050

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

Is construction work growing in West Virginia?

35.2kConstruction jobsWest Virginia, 2026-09
-5.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k30k40k50k60k1990199520002005201020152020202535kSep 2026
Construction employment in West 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 38 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 14,371 in 2015 to 15,870 in 2025, +10.4%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
McDowell County512$83,385$1,604
Brooke County18143$82,021$1,577
Putnam County1061,081$81,436$1,566
Cabell County1351,328$76,653$1,474
Marshall County27328$76,068$1,463
Kanawha County2542,097$75,814$1,458
Mineral County28205$72,925$1,402
Harrison County1021,125$72,447$1,393
Lewis County20291$72,256$1,390
Wood County1021,098$72,016$1,385
Wetzel County19182$71,927$1,383
Monongalia County1741,370$71,329$1,372

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in West Virginia

More on West Virginia

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in West Virginia?

The median construction laborer in West Virginia earned $20.51 an hour ($42,670 a year) in May 2025, 9% below the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $17.12–$26.34; the top 10% earn more than $29.11.

Where does West Virginia rank for construction laborer pay?

West Virginia ranks 43rd of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $20.51 an hour, and 33rd after adjusting for West Virginia's cost of living (BEA price parity 89.5, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in West Virginia?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for construction laborers in 36 counties, with a typical package of $41.14 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many construction laborers work in West Virginia?

BLS counted 6,620 construction laborers in West Virginia in May 2025, 9.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.34; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is construction laborer work growing in West Virginia?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in West Virginia went from 8,560 in 2015 to 6,620 in 2025, -22.7%, and -32.1% since 2019. West Virginia's labor market agency projects +18.1% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 8,670 to 10,240 jobs.

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

West Virginia projects about 900 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, West 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: West Virginia labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.