Construction Laborer salary in Iowa City, IA
Construction Laborers in the Iowa City, IA metro area earn a median of $47,940 a year ($23.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 800 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,570 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $47,120. Pay here is 1% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $48,490. There are 8.6 construction laborers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $52,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for construction laborers in Iowa City, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| 25th percentile | $45,490 | $21.87 |
| Median | $47,940 | $23.05 |
| 75th percentile | $59,780 | $28.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,570 | $35.85 |
| Average (mean) | $52,070 | $25.04 |
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 | $3,995 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,997.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,843.85 |
| Weekly | $921.92 |
| Hourly | $23.05 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Construction Laborer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $54,380 | 1,320 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $49,980 | 3,510 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $49,950 | 710 |
| Ames, IA | $49,810 | 600 |
| Dubuque, IA | $48,800 | 500 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $48,670 | 990 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $48,630 | 560 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $48,300 | 3,990 |
Highest-paying states for construction laborers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $77,110 |
| New Jersey | $64,060 |
| Massachusetts | $63,390 |
| Illinois | $60,690 |
| California | $60,270 |
| Minnesota | $60,260 |
| Connecticut | $58,290 |
| Alaska | $58,060 |
| Washington | $57,720 |
| Rhode Island | $57,240 |
See Construction Laborer pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Iowa City, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $59,510 | $28.61 |
| Carpenter | $49,680 | $23.89 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $60,530 | $29.10 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $61,350 | $29.49 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $44,960 | $21.62 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $58,130 | $27.95 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $78,800 | $37.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,380 | $36.24 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $60,110 | $28.90 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $78,030 | $37.51 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Iowa City, IA
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 Iowa City, IA?
The median salary for construction laborers in the Iowa City, IA metro area is $47,940 a year, or $23.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid construction laborers make in Iowa City, IA?
The top 10% of construction laborers in the Iowa City, IA metro area earn at least $74,570 a year. The top 25% earn $59,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for construction laborers in Iowa City, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,500 a year, and a quarter of construction laborers earn $45,490 or less.
How many construction laborers work in Iowa City, IA?
About 800 construction laborers are employed in the Iowa City, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.