Construction laborers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Mean (average) | $52,030 | $25.02 |
| 90th percentile | $78,090 | $37.54 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Construction laborers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,900 | $23,980 | $49,740 | 18,400 | 1.23 |
| Alaska | $58,060 | $37,980 | $83,710 | 3,690 | 1.61 |
| Arizona | $46,590 | $36,770 | $60,930 | 37,630 | 1.65 |
| Arkansas | $37,630 | $30,850 | $48,410 | 10,650 | 1.16 |
| California | $60,270 | $40,950 | $93,620 | 88,240 | 0.69 |
| Colorado | $47,900 | $38,410 | $62,010 | 18,680 | 0.92 |
| Connecticut | $58,290 | $42,580 | $76,520 | 7,360 | 0.62 |
| Delaware | $45,550 | $33,240 | $63,730 | 3,240 | 0.95 |
| District of Columbia | $50,020 | $37,190 | $72,320 | 2,090 | 0.42 |
| Florida | $44,030 | $33,280 | $58,900 | 87,040 | 1.24 |
| Georgia | $38,990 | $27,880 | $56,450 | 27,800 | 0.81 |
| Guam | $29,410 | $22,340 | $42,210 | 800 | 1.7 |
| Hawaii | $77,110 | $43,990 | $96,490 | 4,580 | 1.03 |
| Idaho | $46,940 | $36,560 | $63,190 | 10,850 | 1.79 |
| Illinois | $60,690 | $38,880 | $105,040 | 35,940 | 0.84 |
| Indiana | $50,070 | $36,570 | $74,740 | 28,600 | 1.27 |
| Iowa | $48,490 | $38,180 | $68,900 | 13,780 | 1.25 |
| Kansas | $44,840 | $31,500 | $60,070 | 9,990 | 0.99 |
| Kentucky | $45,710 | $33,770 | $60,200 | 13,280 | 0.94 |
| Louisiana | $38,230 | $29,650 | $60,090 | 22,100 | 1.62 |
| Maine | $46,430 | $36,190 | $60,520 | 3,960 | 0.88 |
| Maryland | $46,960 | $36,430 | $61,670 | 20,920 | 1.07 |
| Massachusetts | $63,390 | $45,170 | $98,880 | 16,210 | 0.63 |
| Michigan | $49,590 | $37,220 | $69,890 | 28,490 | 0.92 |
| Minnesota | $60,260 | $42,950 | $96,150 | 28,530 | 1.37 |
| Mississippi | $37,710 | $29,370 | $52,640 | 8,800 | 1.07 |
| Missouri | $56,730 | $37,870 | $83,470 | 17,050 | 0.82 |
| Montana | $49,830 | $37,720 | $63,980 | 4,590 | 1.27 |
| Nebraska | $47,260 | $36,400 | $61,780 | 8,530 | 1.18 |
| Nevada | $48,990 | $36,400 | $76,660 | 11,890 | 1.09 |
| New Hampshire | $49,980 | $38,020 | $63,310 | 4,330 | 0.9 |
| New Jersey | $64,060 | $37,980 | $106,140 | 23,590 | 0.78 |
| New Mexico | $38,400 | $30,840 | $53,590 | 12,470 | 2.03 |
| New York | $55,930 | $34,320 | $96,590 | 52,090 | 0.76 |
| North Carolina | $44,720 | $31,850 | $59,970 | 35,620 | 1.02 |
| North Dakota | $49,070 | $38,990 | $71,210 | 5,050 | 1.67 |
| Ohio | $56,080 | $37,370 | $79,110 | 31,910 | 0.82 |
| Oklahoma | $39,360 | $33,490 | $58,070 | 13,710 | 1.14 |
| Oregon | $50,860 | $39,210 | $78,410 | 12,620 | 0.91 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,400 | $37,480 | $74,670 | 35,920 | 0.84 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,270 | $21,840 | $33,220 | 9,820 | 1.48 |
| Rhode Island | $57,240 | $39,480 | $88,620 | 2,110 | 0.6 |
| South Carolina | $42,940 | $31,200 | $63,370 | 19,620 | 1.21 |
| South Dakota | $45,710 | $35,180 | $52,350 | 1,780 | 0.55 |
| Tennessee | $45,000 | $34,910 | $59,990 | 26,250 | 1.14 |
| Texas | $40,620 | $32,560 | $56,930 | 123,250 | 1.24 |
| Utah | $46,550 | $34,890 | $63,310 | 20,950 | 1.71 |
| Vermont | $48,580 | $39,130 | $61,710 | 1,430 | 0.67 |
| Virgin Islands | $42,200 | $31,690 | $57,010 | 370 | 1.65 |
| Virginia | $43,560 | $32,900 | $57,110 | 25,830 | 0.89 |
| Washington | $57,720 | $39,930 | $95,110 | 25,060 | 1 |
| West Virginia | $42,670 | $30,770 | $60,550 | 6,620 | 1.34 |
| Wisconsin | $56,100 | $37,990 | $80,920 | 20,330 | 0.98 |
| Wyoming | $46,030 | $35,640 | $57,590 | 3,350 | 1.69 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for construction laborers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 120,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 26.9%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for construction laborers
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt.
- Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
- Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
- Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
- Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
- Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
- Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes.
- Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
Technology skills
- Autodesk Revit (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Equipment Selection.
Common job titles: Bituminous Asphalt Technician, Construction Laborer, Construction Worker, Drop Crew Laborer, Equipment Operator (EO), Form Setter, Post Framer, Scaffolding Operator, Site Work Laborer, Toolman.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do construction laborers make?
The national median annual wage for construction laborers was $47,120 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $35,090 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $78,090. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do construction laborers need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is construction laborers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of construction laborers to change +7.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 120,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay construction laborers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Hawaii ($77,110), New Jersey ($64,060), Massachusetts ($63,390). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.