Construction Laborers salary
Skilled trades · OCC code 47-2061 · gross annual wage · BLS OEWS May 2024
Construction Laborers in the US earn a median of $46,730 per year (mean $51,260) as of the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey — that is -5.6% versus the $49,500 median for all US jobs, close to the US median wage for all jobs. The middle half earn between $38,100 and $58,910; the top 10% earn $77,530 or more. The median hourly wage is $22.47. About 1,057,660 are employed nationally. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($66,100). Wages are gross (pre-tax) and vary by employer, experience and location.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Construction Laborers pay range (national percentiles)
What construction laborers earn across the pay distribution, nationally (BLS OEWS, May 2024):
| Pay level | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (lowest-paid 10%) | $34,200 |
| 25th percentile | $38,100 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $46,730 |
| Mean (average) | $51,260 |
| 75th percentile | $58,910 |
| 90th percentile (highest-paid 10%) | $77,530 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
A dash (—) means BLS did not release that figure; a plus (+) means the wage is at or above the BLS top code of $239,200/yr. See what wage percentiles mean or check where your salary ranks.
Construction Laborers salary by state
Median and mean wage for construction laborers in each of the 51 states with published data, highest median first. The national median is $46,730.
| # | State | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $66,100 | $69,000 | 4,140 |
| 2 | Illinois | $64,890 | $69,570 | 31,960 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $63,190 | $71,280 | 20,720 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $62,430 | $69,950 | 16,800 |
| 5 | California | $60,540 | $66,140 | 85,370 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $58,720 | $60,530 | 27,510 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $58,290 | $62,670 | 2,080 |
| 8 | Alaska | $57,970 | $62,150 | 3,110 |
| 9 | New York | $57,680 | $65,220 | 49,890 |
| 10 | Washington | $57,240 | $60,380 | 27,410 |
| 11 | Missouri | $53,840 | $58,350 | 18,180 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $51,980 | $56,020 | 19,220 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $51,720 | $56,630 | 8,380 |
| 14 | Oregon | $49,970 | $54,650 | 12,050 |
| 15 | Ohio | $49,640 | $55,390 | 30,820 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $49,520 | $52,170 | 2,260 |
| 17 | Indiana | $49,520 | $53,000 | 26,910 |
| 18 | Montana | $49,230 | $50,830 | 4,720 |
| 19 | Michigan | $48,670 | $51,500 | 26,570 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $48,480 | $53,140 | 38,350 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $48,340 | $50,760 | 4,600 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $47,950 | $49,470 | 3,650 |
| 23 | Nevada | $47,780 | $52,890 | 11,420 |
| 24 | Iowa | $47,700 | $49,150 | 13,420 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $46,750 | $47,340 | 7,460 |
| 26 | Vermont | $46,700 | $47,650 | 1,560 |
| 27 | Colorado | $46,620 | $47,860 | 19,230 |
| 28 | Maryland | $46,320 | $47,080 | 20,280 |
| 29 | Arizona | $46,200 | $47,220 | 30,310 |
| 30 | Utah | $46,100 | $47,750 | 22,230 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $45,860 | $44,590 | 3,300 |
| 32 | Delaware | $45,590 | $47,520 | 2,760 |
| 33 | Maine | $45,540 | $46,860 | 3,180 |
| 34 | Idaho | $45,380 | $46,620 | 12,310 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $45,340 | $45,310 | 14,200 |
| 36 | Kansas | $44,810 | $44,530 | 8,630 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $44,150 | $44,910 | 25,390 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $43,470 | $42,560 | 1,690 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $42,250 | $44,210 | 38,530 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $41,310 | $44,630 | 17,430 |
| 41 | Florida | $40,820 | $43,840 | 75,770 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $40,240 | $44,310 | 25,350 |
| 43 | Virginia | $40,210 | $42,520 | 26,860 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $40,020 | $42,810 | 12,830 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $38,770 | $42,770 | 7,580 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $38,520 | $41,770 | 10,530 |
| 47 | Texas | $38,180 | $40,640 | 117,580 |
| 48 | Georgia | $37,970 | $40,410 | 28,680 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $37,180 | $39,290 | 8,260 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $37,020 | $38,600 | 8,910 |
| 51 | Alabama | $36,300 | $36,600 | 17,260 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Highest median: Hawaii ($66,100). Lowest: Alabama ($36,300).
Similar-paying jobs
| Occupation | Median wage | Mean wage | vs US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborers (this job) | $46,730 | $51,260 | -5.6% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $46,290 | $47,640 | -6.5% |
| Dental Assistants | $47,300 | $48,860 | -4.4% |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $46,020 | $47,460 | -7.0% |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $45,980 | $46,280 | -7.1% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | $48,620 | $52,430 | -1.8% |
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive · Dental Assistants · Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters · Veterinary Technologists and Technicians · Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
Frequently asked questions
How much do construction laborers make?
Construction Laborers earn a national median of $46,730 per year (mean $51,260) as of the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey. The middle half earn between $38,100 (25th percentile) and $58,910 (75th percentile); the top 10% earn $77,530 or more and the bottom 10% earn under $34,200. These are gross, pre-tax wages.
What is the hourly wage for construction laborers?
The median hourly wage is $22.47 and the mean is $24.64 (BLS OEWS, May 2024). BLS reports some occupations only as annual wages, in which case hourly figures are shown as a dash.
Which state pays construction laborers the most?
Hawaii has the highest median wage for construction laborers at $66,100, versus a national median of $46,730. State pay reflects local cost of living, demand and industry mix. See the full state table on this page.
How many construction laborers are there in the US?
BLS estimates about 1,057,660 construction laborers are employed in the US (OEWS, May 2024). Among the 124 occupations tracked here, this job ranks #101 of 124 by median pay.
Keep exploring
Sources & accuracy
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 (OCC 47-2061), gross annual wages, U.S. public domain, retrieved June 2026. OEWS figures are survey estimates and reflect pay before tax. Your actual pay depends on employer, experience, certifications, industry and location. This is information, not financial or career advice — see our methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-20