Construction laborers in the United States earn a median $22.66 per hour and $47,120 per year, based on May 2025 wage estimates. That equals approximately $906 per 40-hour week or $3,927 per month before taxes when converted into regular full-time pay periods.
Actual income can be higher or lower. The official wage data exclude overtime premiums and do not cover self-employed workers. Location, job classification, project type, benefits, seasonal downtime, and the number of paid hours available can all change what a worker earns in a year.
Last updated: July 2026
Construction Worker Salary at a Glance
| Pay period | Estimated gross pay | Basis |
| Hour | $22.66 | Official median |
| 8-hour day | $181.28 | Hourly median × 8 |
| 40-hour week | $906.40 | Hourly median × 40 |
| Biweekly pay period | $1,812.31 | Annual median ÷ 26 |
| Month | $3,926.67 | Annual median ÷ 12 |
| Year | $47,120 | Official median |
The hourly and annual amounts are official median wages. The daily, weekly, biweekly, and monthly figures are calculations. They assume regular paid hours and do not include overtime, bonuses, unpaid project gaps, taxes, or payroll deductions.
The hourly calculation produces a slightly different full-year total from the published annual figure because occupational wage figures are rounded. Use the hourly median when comparing hourly job offers and the annual median when estimating yearly earnings.
How the Salary Data Were Selected
“Construction worker” is not one official occupation. This guide uses Construction Laborers, SOC 47-2061, as the primary benchmark because it is the closest standardized occupation to the broad search term.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program measures wages for employees in nonfarm establishments. It does not include self-employed workers, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers, or unpaid family workers. Its wage figures represent straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime premiums, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, and employer-paid benefits.
That limitation is particularly important in construction. Someone who regularly works overtime may earn more than the wage benchmark suggests, while a self-employed contractor’s business revenue cannot be compared directly with an employee salary.
What Does Construction Worker Mean in Salary Data?
“Construction worker” is an informal umbrella term. It can describe a general laborer, a skilled tradesperson, an equipment operator, a crew supervisor, or a construction manager.
| Common label | What it usually describes | Treatment in this guide |
| Construction worker | Broad, informal search term | Used in reader-facing language |
| Construction laborer | General physical work at construction sites | Primary salary benchmark |
| Construction helper | Worker assisting a particular trade | Separate occupation |
| Skilled tradesperson | Electrician, plumber, ironworker, or similar role | Compared separately |
| Equipment operator | Worker operating construction machinery | Separate occupation |
| Construction supervisor | Worker directing crews and field operations | Leadership occupation |
| Construction manager | Professional managing budgets, schedules, and contracts | Management occupation |
Construction laborers commonly prepare and clean sites, load materials, dig trenches, assemble temporary structures, operate tools, and assist other construction workers. Most learn through short-term on-the-job training, although specific duties and requirements vary by employer and project.
A salary attached to a construction manager or licensed trade should not be presented as a typical entry-level construction-worker salary.
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Construction Worker Salary Range
The national median does not show how widely construction-laborer wages vary.
| Wage percentile | Hourly wage | Annual wage | What it means |
| 10th percentile | $16.87 | $35,090 | 10% earn this amount or less |
| 25th percentile | $18.57 | $38,620 | Lower part of the wage range |
| Median | $22.66 | $47,120 | Half earn less and half earn more |
| 75th percentile | $28.72 | $59,740 | Higher part of the wage range |
| 90th percentile | $37.54 | $78,090 | 10% earn this amount or more |
These percentiles are not automatic experience levels. A newer worker in a high-wage metro area may earn more than an experienced worker in a lower-wage market. Occupation, union agreement, project type, local demand, specialized responsibilities, and available hours can matter as much as years of experience.
The 90th-percentile figure is not a maximum. It means 10% of workers earn that amount or more.
Entry-Level Pay Versus Higher-Paid Work
General construction-laborer jobs typically do not require formal education and usually provide short-term on-the-job training. Some workers enter registered apprenticeships or later qualify for skilled trades, equipment work, or supervisory positions.
Pay growth usually depends on taking on more valuable or scarce responsibilities, not merely remaining in the same broad job title.
Factors that can support higher pay include:
- Completing a recognized apprenticeship
- Learning a licensed or specialized trade
- Qualifying to operate equipment
- Reading plans and technical measurements
- Handling more complex materials or processes
- Coordinating crews
- Moving into estimating or project support
- Taking responsibility for schedules, quality, or safety
A credential is most useful when it qualifies the worker for a different job classification or is specifically requested by employers in the local market.
Construction Worker Salary by State and Metro Area
Construction-laborer wages vary substantially by location. The table below combines several higher-paying states with several large construction markets. It is an illustrative comparison, not a complete ranking of all 50 states.
| State | Median annual wage | Why included |
| Illinois | $60,690 | Higher-wage example |
| California | $60,270 | Higher-wage, large market |
| Washington | $57,720 | Higher-wage example |
| Pennsylvania | $49,400 | Regional comparison |
| Florida | $44,030 | Large construction market |
| Texas | $40,620 | Large construction market |
The figures use 2025 construction-laborer wage data.
A higher state wage does not automatically create a better financial outcome. Housing, transportation, taxes, commuting distance, and the availability of dependable projects can absorb part or all of the difference.
Examples of Higher-Paying Metro Areas
Selected metro-area median wages include:
- San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont: $72,610
- New York–Newark–Jersey City: $61,270
- Chicago–Naperville–Elgin: $60,890
- Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue: approximately $59,740
These are examples of higher-paying markets, not a complete national ranking.
Metro data are more relevant than state averages when comparing a specific offer. Even then, the wage should be considered alongside travel time, housing costs, expected hours, benefits, and project duration.
What Affects Construction Worker Pay?
The largest pay differences usually come from the occupation being performed, where the work takes place, and how consistently paid hours are available.
| Factor | Likely importance | What to verify |
| Occupation or trade | High | Correct occupational classification |
| State and metro area | High | Local wage data and living costs |
| Project type | Medium to high | Residential, commercial, civil, or government |
| Paid hours | High | Expected weekly and annual schedule |
| Overtime | Variable | Eligibility and likely availability |
| Union agreement | Variable | Local contract and worker classification |
| Prevailing wage | Project-specific | Applicable wage determination |
| Training or licensing | Role-specific | Whether it opens access to another occupation |
| Benefits | Medium to high | Employer plan and worker contribution |
| Work-related costs | Medium | Tools, travel, clothing, and dues |
Occupation and Job Classification
A general laborer, equipment operator, electrician, foreperson, and construction manager do not perform equivalent work.
The move into a higher-paid category may require:
- A formal apprenticeship
- State or local licensing
- Equipment qualifications
- Technical instruction
- Documented leadership
- Experience with more complex projects
- A degree or management training
The most useful salary comparison is therefore between workers doing substantially similar work in the same geographic market.
Project Type and Employer
Residential, commercial, industrial, civil, and government-funded projects can have different schedules, requirements, and compensation structures.
Before accepting a construction job, ask:
- Is the position permanent, temporary, or tied to one project?
- How long is the current project expected to last?
- What happens when the project ends?
- Is travel required?
- Is travel time paid?
- Is per diem available?
- Are tools and protective equipment supplied?
- Is the project subject to a prevailing-wage determination?
The answers may matter more than a small difference in the advertised hourly rate.
Overtime, Weather, and Seasonal Work
Covered, nonexempt construction workers generally must receive at least one-and-a-half times their regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek under federal law. Each workweek stands alone; an employer cannot wait until a worker exceeds 80 hours across a two-week pay period before calculating federal overtime. State rules may provide additional protections.
The following examples use the $22.66 national median and are illustrations rather than predictions.
| Schedule | Assumption | Estimated annual gross pay |
| Stable schedule | 40 hours for 52 weeks | $47,133 |
| Busy period | 40 regular hours all year plus 10 overtime hours for 12 weeks | $51,212 |
| Shorter season | 40 hours for 44 weeks | $39,882 |
The busy-period example assumes the worker is entitled to time-and-a-half overtime.
Weather does not create one universal pay rule. Some employers may provide alternative work, while other workers may lose hours. Construction schedules can also vary because of project timing, overnight work, weather, and seasonal activity.
Union Contracts and Prevailing-Wage Projects
A union agreement may define base wages, classifications, scheduled increases, overtime, benefits, and work rules. The relevant figure is the local agreement covering the employer, occupation, and project—not a national “union construction salary.”
Prevailing-wage requirements are also project-specific. The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts require contractors on covered federal or federally assisted construction projects to pay locally prevailing wages, including applicable fringe benefits, for the worker classification and work performed.
Before beginning covered work, verify:
- The applicable wage determination
- Your correct worker classification
- The required basic hourly rate
- The listed fringe-benefit amount
- Overtime requirements
- Whether the determination is posted at the worksite
Union membership and prevailing-wage coverage should not be treated as universal guarantees of a specific salary.
Apprenticeships, Licenses, and Specialized Skills
Registered Apprenticeships combine paid work experience, mentorship, classroom instruction, progressive wage increases, and a portable recognized credential. Programs are validated by the Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency.
Not every construction worker needs an apprenticeship, and not every certificate increases earnings.
Before paying for training, check:
- Does the occupation legally require it?
- Do local employers request it?
- Does it qualify you for different duties?
- Is the provider recognized?
- Is the likely career value worth the time and cost?
Common Mistakes When Comparing Construction Salaries
Comparing Different Occupations
A general laborer, electrician, equipment operator, supervisor, and construction manager have different responsibilities and entry requirements. A six-figure salary attached to a specialist or manager is not evidence that entry-level general labor usually pays six figures.
Treating Annualized Pay as Guaranteed Income
Multiplying an hourly wage by 2,080 assumes 40 paid hours for all 52 weeks. Project gaps, weather delays, unpaid leave, and seasonal slowdowns can reduce annual earnings. Overtime can increase them.
Looking Only at the Hourly Rate
A higher hourly wage may come with weaker health coverage, more unpaid travel, fewer dependable hours, or higher tool expenses.
Compare:
- Expected annual paid hours
- Health-insurance cost
- Retirement contributions
- Paid leave
- Travel and parking
- Tool and clothing costs
- Overtime availability
- Project stability
Assuming Every Credential Produces a Raise
A course has limited value when it does not qualify the worker for a different role or meet a real employer requirement.
Relocating Based Only on a State Average
A higher state wage may not improve disposable income when rent, commuting, taxes, and project uncertainty are significantly higher.
From General Laborer to Higher-Paying Construction Roles
Construction does not have one universal promotion ladder. Workers can pursue several different paths.
| Starting point | Possible next role | Typical requirement | Main tradeoff |
| General laborer | Specialized laborer | Job-specific training | More complex duties |
| General laborer | Registered apprentice | Program acceptance | Multi-year training |
| Laborer or helper | Equipment operator | Training and competency | Greater safety responsibility |
| Experienced trade worker | Foreperson or supervisor | Leadership and field experience | Crew accountability |
| Field worker | Estimator or project support | Math, technical, and software skills | Less direct field work |
| Supervisor or experienced trade worker | Construction manager | Management training and often a degree | Budget and deadline pressure |
| Experienced worker | Self-employed contractor | Business, licensing, and financial capability | Income volatility and business risk |
Construction management is a separate occupation, not an automatic promotion. Construction managers typically need a bachelor’s degree and learn management techniques through on-the-job training, although employer expectations vary. The occupation had a May 2024 median annual wage of $106,980.
A practical career plan starts by choosing a destination role and then working backward to its training, licensing, and experience requirements.
What Is the Highest-Paying Construction Job?
Within the BLS construction and extraction occupational group, elevator and escalator installers and repairers had the highest annual mean wage in May 2025 at $109,820.
Data note: The following ranking uses annual mean wages. The $47,120 construction-laborer figure used elsewhere in this guide is a median. The figures can be used to compare occupations within the table, but the difference between a mean and a median is not a precise salary gap.
| Occupation | May 2025 annual mean wage | Main barrier or tradeoff |
| Elevator and escalator installers and repairers | $109,820 | Apprenticeship and licensing requirements |
| First-line supervisors of construction trades | $86,450 | Field experience and crew responsibility |
| Terrazzo workers and finishers | $84,920 | Specialized craft skills |
| Pile-driver operators | $80,710 | Equipment competency and safety responsibility |
| Boilermakers | $80,090 | Apprenticeship, travel, and physical demands |
These wages should not be interpreted as typical general-labor pay. The occupations require different skills, training, working conditions, and levels of responsibility.
The highest salary is also not automatically the best career choice. Consider:
- Training time
- Licensing requirements
- Local job availability
- Physical demands
- Travel
- Work schedule
- Long-term advancement
- The type of responsibility you want
Gross Pay, Benefits, and Take-Home Pay
The $47,120 national median is gross pay. It is not the amount deposited into a worker’s bank account.
Four compensation figures should be kept separate:
- Base wage: The regular hourly rate
- Gross pay: Earnings before taxes and deductions
- Total compensation: Gross pay plus employer-paid benefits
- Take-home pay: Money remaining after withholding and deductions
Take-home pay varies based on:
- Federal withholding
- State and local taxes
- Social Security and Medicare
- Filing status
- Dependents and tax credits
- Health-insurance premiums
- Retirement contributions
- Union dues
- Garnishments
- Overtime and bonuses
The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator helps W-2 workers estimate federal withholding using their actual household and payroll information. It should be used instead of assuming that every worker keeps the same percentage of gross salary.
Compare the Whole Job Offer
A job paying $1 more per hour is worth approximately $2,080 more over 2,080 regular paid hours. That advantage can disappear when the higher-paying job has:
- More unpaid travel
- Higher health-insurance costs
- Fewer dependable hours
- Larger tool expenses
- No paid leave
- Weak retirement benefits
- Long unpaid project gaps
The financially stronger offer is the one that produces better reliable compensation after work-related costs—not necessarily the one with the highest advertised hourly rate.
Do Construction Workers Get Paid Well?
Construction laborers earned a May 2025 median of $22.66 per hour, compared with $24.51 per hour across all US occupations. Construction-laborer pay is therefore slightly below the economy-wide median, but that comparison does not account for education requirements, overtime, benefits, or career progression.
Construction can still offer a competitive entry point because general laborer positions typically do not require formal education and usually provide on-the-job training. The tradeoff is physically demanding work, changing worksites, variable schedules, weather exposure, and a comparatively high risk of occupational injury or illness.
Construction may suit you when:
- You prefer active, practical work
- You want a career that does not initially require a four-year degree
- You are willing to learn a trade or specialty
- You can tolerate changing locations and schedules
- You want a path toward equipment, supervision, or management
It may be a poor fit when:
- You need remote or desk-based work
- Physical demands are a serious limitation
- You require guaranteed hours
- Travel between jobsites is difficult
- You do not want further training
- You expect high pay immediately without specialization
The better question is not whether construction pays well in general. It is whether a specific offer provides competitive local pay, dependable hours, reasonable costs, useful benefits, and a credible advancement path.
How to Increase Your Construction Income
For workers seeking a material pay increase, remaining under a broad “construction worker” title is often less effective than qualifying for a more specialized role.
1. Compare the Correct Occupation
Use local wage data for the work you actually perform. Do not compare a laborer offer with electrician, manager, or equipment-operator data.
2. Document Your Responsibilities
Keep a record of:
- Equipment operated
- Tools used
- Materials handled
- Plans or measurements interpreted
- Safety training completed
- Tasks performed independently
- Workers trained or supervised
- Project types completed
Specific responsibilities create a stronger basis for a raise or new classification than years of experience alone.
3. Ask How Pay Progression Works
Ask the employer:
- When are wage reviews held?
- What qualifies someone for the next classification?
- Is training provided?
- Is there an apprenticeship or equipment path?
- What separates a laborer from a lead worker?
- Are raises based on time, skill, or responsibility?
A vague promise of “room to grow” is not a career plan.
4. Choose a Destination Role
Research the exact requirements for roles such as:
- Electrician
- Plumber
- Equipment operator
- Ironworker
- Elevator installer
- Foreperson
- Estimator
- Construction manager
Registered Apprenticeship programs can provide a structured route into many skilled occupations, but openings and entry requirements vary by employer, occupation, and location.
5. Compare Total Compensation
A $24-per-hour job with dependable hours, health coverage, retirement contributions, paid training, and supplied tools may be more valuable than a $26-per-hour job with irregular work and significant worker-paid costs.
6. Treat Self-Employment as a Business Decision
Self-employed contractors may have higher revenue potential, but revenue is not salary. Business owners may need to pay for:
- Insurance
- Licensing
- Tools
- Vehicles and fuel
- Estimates and sales work
- Bookkeeping
- Taxes
- Unpaid administrative time
- Project delays
- Uncollected invoices
Employee wage data should not be used as a profit forecast for a construction business because OEWS excludes self-employed workers.
Construction Worker Job Outlook
Employment of construction laborers and helpers is projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the 3% average for all occupations.
BLS projects approximately 149,400 openings per year for construction laborers and helpers over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from workers transferring to other occupations or leaving the labor force, rather than from newly created positions alone.
O*NET separately reports approximately 129,400 projected annual openings for the narrower construction-laborer occupation.
National projections do not guarantee equal demand in every city. Local construction activity, public infrastructure spending, population growth, financing conditions, and project timing can affect nearby opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Do Construction Workers Get Paid in the UK?
The UK National Careers Service lists construction-labourer salaries of approximately £23,000 for starters to £35,000 for experienced workers. UK figures should not be compared directly with US salaries without considering currency, taxes, living costs, and occupational definitions.
How Much Do Construction Workers Get Paid in Canada?
Canada’s Job Bank reports national wages for construction labourers and helpers ranging from approximately C$18.25 to C$40 per hour, with a median of C$25 per hour. Provincial and local wages vary.
Can Construction Workers Make $100,000 a Year?
Yes, but $100,000 is not typical for a general construction laborer. The national 90th-percentile wage for construction laborers is $78,090.
Six-figure earnings are more common in specialized occupations, management roles, unusually high-wage markets, extensive overtime situations, or successful business ownership. Elevator and escalator installers had a May 2025 annual mean wage of $109,820, while construction managers had a May 2024 median of $106,980.
Are Construction Workers Paid Weekly or Biweekly?
There is no single national payroll schedule for construction workers. Employers may pay weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, or according to another schedule permitted under applicable state law.
Before accepting a job, confirm:
- Pay frequency
- Payroll cutoff date
- First expected payday
- Overtime reporting
- Travel-time treatment
- Per diem
- Any deductions
Pay frequency changes when wages are received, not the total annual amount when hours and rates remain the same.
Do Construction Workers Get Paid During Bad Weather?
Sometimes, but not always. Weather-delay pay can depend on employer policy, the employment agreement, union terms, reporting-time rules, available alternative work, and state law.
Ask what happens when a shift is canceled:
- Before the worker leaves home
- After the worker reaches the site
- Partway through a shift
- For several consecutive days
Do not assume an advertised hourly rate guarantees payment for weather-related downtime.
Is Construction Work Worth It for You?
Construction can make financial sense when the job provides:
- A competitive wage for the exact occupation and location
- Dependable paid hours
- Reasonable travel requirements
- Useful benefits
- Employer-provided tools or allowances
- A clear route into more specialized work
It is less attractive when the advertised rate hides unpaid downtime, expensive commuting, worker-funded equipment, weak benefits, or no credible advancement path.
Before accepting a construction job, answer five questions:
- Is the wage competitive for this exact occupation in my area?
- How many paid hours can I realistically expect?
- What benefits and work-related costs apply?
- What would qualify me for the next pay level?
- Can I sustainably handle the schedule and physical conditions?
For a general US benchmark, construction laborers earn a median $22.66 per hour and $47,120 per year. Workers who earn substantially more usually move into a skilled trade, equipment role, supervisory position, management track, or carefully planned business—not simply remain longer under the same broad title.
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