How Much Does a Construction Worker Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$47,120
Construction workers in the U.S. earn a median of $47,120 a year, or $22.66 an hour. Half of construction workers earn more than $47,120 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $78,090.
Pay percentiles for construction workers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $16.87 | $35,090 |
| 25th | $18.57 | $38,620 |
| 50th (median) | $22.66 | $47,120 |
| 75th | $28.72 | $59,740 |
| 90th | $37.54 | $78,090 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Construction Laborers (SOC 47-2061). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for construction workers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $77,110 | $37.07 | +64% |
| New Jersey | $64,060 | $30.80 | +36% |
| Massachusetts | $63,390 | $30.48 | +35% |
| Illinois | $60,690 | $29.18 | +29% |
| California | $60,270 | $28.98 | +28% |
| Minnesota | $60,260 | $28.97 | +28% |
| Connecticut | $58,290 | $28.03 | +24% |
| Alaska | $58,060 | $27.91 | +23% |
| Washington | $57,720 | $27.75 | +22% |
| Rhode Island | $57,240 | $27.52 | +21% |
| United States | $47,120 | $22.66 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many construction workers are there?
BLS counts about 1,096,780 construction workers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Construction Laborers”. The most jobs are in Texas (123,250), California (88,240) and Florida (87,040).
The mean (average) annual wage is $52,030, higher than the median of $47,120.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $3,927
- Biweekly
- $1,812
- Weekly
- $906
- Daily (8 hours)
- $181
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do construction workers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for construction workers is $22.66. The middle 50% earn between $18.57 and $28.72 an hour.
Which state pays construction workers the most?
Hawaii has the highest median wage for construction workers at $77,110, +64% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for construction workers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of construction workers earn less than $35,090 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.