Construction Laborer salary in the U.S.
Construction Laborers in the U.S. earn a median of $47,120 a year ($22.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,096,780 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,090 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $52,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for construction laborers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| 25th percentile | $38,620 | $18.57 |
| Median | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| 75th percentile | $59,740 | $28.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,090 | $37.54 |
| Average (mean) | $52,030 | $25.02 |
Half of construction laborers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,926.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,963.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,812.31 |
| Weekly | $906.15 |
| Hourly | $22.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Construction Laborer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $77,110 | 4,580 |
| New Jersey | $64,060 | 23,590 |
| Massachusetts | $63,390 | 16,210 |
| Illinois | $60,690 | 35,940 |
| California | $60,270 | 88,240 |
| Minnesota | $60,260 | 28,530 |
| Connecticut | $58,290 | 7,360 |
| Alaska | $58,060 | 3,690 |
| Washington | $57,720 | 25,060 |
| Rhode Island | $57,240 | 2,110 |
| Missouri | $56,730 | 17,050 |
| Wisconsin | $56,100 | 20,330 |
| Ohio | $56,080 | 31,910 |
| New York | $55,930 | 52,090 |
| Oregon | $50,860 | 12,620 |
| Indiana | $50,070 | 28,600 |
| District of Columbia | $50,020 | 2,090 |
| New Hampshire | $49,980 | 4,330 |
| Montana | $49,830 | 4,590 |
| Michigan | $49,590 | 28,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,400 | 35,920 |
| North Dakota | $49,070 | 5,050 |
| Nevada | $48,990 | 11,890 |
| Vermont | $48,580 | 1,430 |
| Iowa | $48,490 | 13,780 |
| Colorado | $47,900 | 18,680 |
| Nebraska | $47,260 | 8,530 |
| Maryland | $46,960 | 20,920 |
| Idaho | $46,940 | 10,850 |
| Arizona | $46,590 | 37,630 |
| Utah | $46,550 | 20,950 |
| Maine | $46,430 | 3,960 |
| Wyoming | $46,030 | 3,350 |
| Kentucky | $45,710 | 13,280 |
| South Dakota | $45,710 | 1,780 |
| Delaware | $45,550 | 3,240 |
| Tennessee | $45,000 | 26,250 |
| Kansas | $44,840 | 9,990 |
| North Carolina | $44,720 | 35,620 |
| Florida | $44,030 | 87,040 |
| Virginia | $43,560 | 25,830 |
| South Carolina | $42,940 | 19,620 |
| West Virginia | $42,670 | 6,620 |
| Virgin Islands | $42,200 | 370 |
| Texas | $40,620 | 123,250 |
| Oklahoma | $39,360 | 13,710 |
| Georgia | $38,990 | 27,800 |
| New Mexico | $38,400 | 12,470 |
| Louisiana | $38,230 | 22,100 |
| Mississippi | $37,710 | 8,800 |
| Arkansas | $37,630 | 10,650 |
| Alabama | $36,900 | 18,400 |
| Guam | $29,410 | 800 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,270 | 9,820 |
Best-paying metro areas for construction laborers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Vineland, NJ | $83,680 | 440 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $79,760 | 630 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $77,960 | 3,040 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $72,610 | 11,620 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $71,920 | 960 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $68,470 | 4,420 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $64,500 | 8,670 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $63,420 | 11,580 |
| Peoria, IL | $62,960 | 1,020 |
| Springfield, MA | $62,660 | 880 |
| Vallejo, CA | $62,500 | 1,080 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $61,970 | 17,330 |
| Salinas, CA | $61,680 | 950 |
| Worcester, MA | $61,410 | 1,650 |
| Springfield, IL | $61,400 | 510 |
Metro areas with the most construction laborers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 50,870 | $61,270 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 34,080 | $41,350 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 29,670 | $43,960 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 29,230 | $46,910 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 26,690 | $60,890 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 21,730 | $58,810 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 18,280 | $45,520 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 17,710 | $47,430 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 17,330 | $61,970 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 16,460 | $42,010 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 14,580 | $55,120 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 13,040 | $59,740 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 12,860 | $43,750 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 12,290 | $40,880 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 12,120 | $59,500 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Roofer | $55,440 | $26.65 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 | $29.71 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $58,930 | $28.33 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| Glazier | $57,080 | $27.44 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $62,120 | $29.87 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $49,120 | $23.62 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $53,340 | $25.64 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2061. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for construction laborers in the U.S. is $47,120 a year, or $22.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid construction laborers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of construction laborers in the U.S. earn at least $78,090 a year. The top 25% earn $59,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for construction laborers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,090 a year, and a quarter of construction laborers earn $38,620 or less.
How many construction laborers work in the U.S.?
About 1,096,780 construction laborers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.