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Construction worker: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$47,120median pay per year, or $22.66 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $35,090lowest 10% earn less
  2. $38,62025th percentile
  3. $47,120median
  4. $59,74075th percentile
  5. $78,090top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Construction laborers had a median pay of $47,120 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow faster than all occupations from 2025 to 2035[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+7.3%[2]
Openings per year
120,000[6]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[7]

How much do construction workers make?

The official BLS category is Construction Laborers. The median pay was $47,120 a year, or $22.66 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $52,030 a year, or $25.02 an hour[8].

For all occupations in the US, the median annual wage was $50,980[5]. So the median for construction laborers sat below that line.

Pay varies a lot within the job. Here is how the wages spread out:

Point in the range Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][9] $35,090 $16.87
25th percentile[4][9] $38,620 $18.57
Median[1] $47,120 $22.66
75th percentile[4][9] $59,740 $28.72
90th percentile[4][9] $78,090 $37.54

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,090, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $78,090[4]. A percentile is a boundary line in the pay list. BLS reports these boundaries and does not publish a starting salary[10].

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11]. About 26.9% of construction laborers were self-employed in 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

Hawaii had the top state median at $77,110 a year, followed by New Jersey at $64,060 and Massachusetts at $63,390[13]. Alabama had the lowest listed median at $36,900[13].

Texas had the most jobs, at 123,250, followed by California at 88,240 and Florida at 87,040[14]. Texas had a median of $40,620[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Vineland, NJ had the top median at $83,680[15]. Kahului-Wailuku, HI came next at $79,760, then Urban Honolulu, HI at $77,960[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, at 50,870, with a median of $61,270[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Hawaii[13]$77,1104,580
New Jersey$64,06023,590
Massachusetts$63,39016,210
Illinois$60,69035,940
California$60,27088,240
Minnesota$60,26028,530
Connecticut$58,2907,360
Alaska$58,0603,690
Washington$57,72025,060
Rhode Island$57,2402,110
Missouri$56,73017,050
Wisconsin$56,10020,330
Ohio$56,08031,910
New York$55,93052,090
Oregon$50,86012,620
Indiana$50,07028,600
District of Columbia$50,0202,090
New Hampshire$49,9804,330
Montana$49,8304,590
Michigan$49,59028,490
Pennsylvania$49,40035,920
North Dakota$49,0705,050
Nevada$48,99011,890
Vermont$48,5801,430
Iowa$48,49013,780
Colorado$47,90018,680
Nebraska$47,2608,530
Maryland$46,96020,920
Idaho$46,94010,850
Arizona$46,59037,630
Utah$46,55020,950
Maine$46,4303,960
Wyoming$46,0303,350
Kentucky$45,71013,280
South Dakota$45,7101,780
Delaware$45,5503,240
Tennessee$45,00026,250
Kansas$44,8409,990
North Carolina$44,72035,620
Florida$44,03087,040
Virginia$43,56025,830
South Carolina$42,94019,620
West Virginia$42,6706,620
Texas$40,620123,250
Oklahoma$39,36013,710
Georgia$38,99027,800
New Mexico$38,40012,470
Louisiana$38,23022,100
Mississippi$37,7108,800
Arkansas$37,63010,650
Alabama$36,90018,400

How to become a construction worker

BLS lists no formal educational credential and no work experience in a related job for entry. The typical training is short-term on-the-job training[7]. The facts give no set length for that training.

Some laborers complete an apprenticeship. These programs combine on-the-job training with technical instruction and are usually sponsored by local unions or trade associations[22]. After gaining experience, laborers may move into supervising staff, overseeing jobsites or starting their own business[23].

The training details above come from a BLS profile that covers construction laborers together with helpers, so it describes a wider group than this page[24].

What construction workers do

O*NET describes the work as physical labor at construction sites, often with hand and power tools[25]. Tasks reported for the job include:

Workers in this field report job titles such as form setter, post framer and scaffolding operator[27].

Where they work

Specialty trade contractors were the largest employer group of laborers and helpers in 2025, at 32%[28]. The work is often outdoors in all kinds of weather. Some jobs are at great heights and others are in tight spaces, and travel to jobsites may be needed[29].

BLS says construction laborers are among the occupations with the highest rates of injury and illness. Slips, falls and contact with equipment are among the causes, and following safety procedures and wearing protective gear lowers the risk[30].

Full-time work is common and schedules may vary. Highway and bridge crews may work overnight, and in some regions cold weather can limit work in winter[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of construction laborers to grow 7.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,489,300 to 1,598,600 jobs[2]. That is a gain of 109,300 jobs[2]. For all occupations, the projected growth is 3.5%[3]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[2]. The OEWS count of wage and salary jobs in May 2025 was about 1,096,780[32].

BLS expects about 120,000 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[6]. Openings count new jobs and also spots left by people who retire or switch to another field[6]. Each year, 2.8% of workers leave the labor force and 4.2% move to a different occupation[33].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a job with a low barrier to entry: no formal credential and short-term on-the-job training[7]. Pay ranges widely, with a median below the all-occupations median and a 90th percentile of $78,090[1][5][4]. Pay also differs by place, from $36,900 in Alabama to $77,110 in Hawaii[13]. Projected growth is above the all-occupations rate[2][3]. The work is physical, often outdoors, and carries a high injury rate[25][29][30].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[34].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a construction worker make an hour?
The median hourly wage for construction laborers was $22.66 in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $16.87 and the 90th percentile was $37.54[9].
Do you need a degree to be a construction worker?
BLS lists no formal educational credential for entry, and the typical training is short-term on-the-job training[7]. Some employers prefer a high school diploma or the equivalent[18].
What is the highest paying state for construction workers?
Hawaii had the top median at $77,110 a year, followed by New Jersey at $64,060[13].
Is construction work in demand?
BLS projects 7.3% growth for construction laborers from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 120,000 openings a year are projected[6].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Construction Laborers in the US was $47,120 per year and $22.66 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Construction Laborers is projected to grow 7.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,489,300 to 1,598,600 jobs (a change of +109,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Construction Laborers: 10th percentile $35,090, 25th percentile $38,620, 75th percentile $59,740, 90th percentile $78,090. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 120,000 openings for Construction Laborers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Construction Laborers: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Construction Laborers was $52,030 per year and $25.02 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Construction Laborers: 10th percentile $16.87, 25th percentile $18.57, 75th percentile $28.72, 90th percentile $37.54. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 26.9% of Construction Laborers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Construction Laborers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Construction Laborers jobs: Texas 123,250; California 88,240; Florida 87,040; New York 52,090; Arizona 37,630. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Construction Laborers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Vineland, NJ $83,680; Kahului-Wailuku, HI $79,760; Urban Honolulu, HI $77,960; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $72,610; Trenton-Princeton, NJ $71,920; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $68,470; St. Louis, MO-IL $64,500; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $63,420. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Construction Laborers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 50,870 (median $61,270); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 34,080 (median $41,350); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 29,670 (median $43,960); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 29,230 (median $46,910); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 26,690 (median $60,890); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 21,730 (median $58,810). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Construction Laborers and Helpers" covers Construction Laborers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET description of Construction Laborers. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Construction Laborers. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET 47-2061.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Bituminous Asphalt Technician, Construction Laborer, Construction Worker, Drop Crew Laborer, Equipment Operator (EO), Form Setter, Post Framer, Scaffolding Operator. O*NET OnLine
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of construction laborers and helpers in 2025: Specialty trade contractors 32%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,096,780 people were employed as Construction Laborers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Construction Laborers: 2.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.