Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Construction laborers (SOC 47-2061) employed 1,096,780 people in May 2025. The median pay is $47,120 a year ($22.66 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,090 and the highest-paid 10% more than $78,090. BLS projects its employment to change by +7.3% between 2025 and 2035 (about 120,000 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: No formal educational credential.
Highest median pay: Hawaii ($77,110), New Jersey ($64,060), Massachusetts ($63,390). Most jobs: Texas (123,250), California (88,240), Florida (87,040).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| 25th percentile | $38,620 | $18.57 |
| Median | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Mean | $52,030 | $25.01 |
| 75th percentile | $59,740 | $28.72 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $78,090 | $37.54 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 1,489,300 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 1,598,600 |
| Change in jobs | 109,300 |
| Percent change | +7.3% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 120,000 |
| Self-employed share | 26.9% |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 18,400 | 1.23 | $36,900 | $23,980 | $49,740 | -22% | 35% |
| Alaska | 3,690 | 1.61 | $58,060 | $37,980 | $83,710 | +23% | 30% |
| Arizona | 37,630 | 1.65 | $46,590 | $36,770 | $60,930 | -1% | 43% |
| Arkansas | 10,650 | 1.16 | $37,630 | $30,850 | $48,410 | -20% | 31% |
| California | 88,240 | 0.69 | $60,270 | $40,950 | $93,620 | +28% | 42% |
| Colorado | 18,680 | 0.92 | $47,900 | $38,410 | $62,010 | +2% | 46% |
| Connecticut | 7,360 | 0.62 | $58,290 | $42,580 | $76,520 | +24% | 32% |
| Delaware | 3,240 | 0.95 | $45,550 | $33,240 | $63,730 | -3% | 40% |
| District of Columbia | 2,090 | 0.42 | $50,020 | $37,190 | $72,320 | +6% | 46% |
| Florida | 87,040 | 1.24 | $44,030 | $33,280 | $58,900 | -7% | 49% |
| Georgia | 27,800 | 0.81 | $38,990 | $27,880 | $56,450 | -17% | 46% |
| Hawaii | 4,580 | 1.03 | $77,110 | $43,990 | $96,490 | +64% | 30% |
| Idaho | 10,850 | 1.79 | $46,940 | $36,560 | $63,190 | -0% | 35% |
| Illinois | 35,940 | 0.84 | $60,690 | $38,880 | $105,040 | +29% | 26% |
| Indiana | 28,600 | 1.27 | $50,070 | $36,570 | $74,740 | +6% | 26% |
| Iowa | 13,780 | 1.25 | $48,490 | $38,180 | $68,900 | +3% | 24% |
| Kansas | 9,990 | 0.99 | $44,840 | $31,500 | $60,070 | -5% | 29% |
| Kentucky | 13,280 | 0.94 | $45,710 | $33,770 | $60,200 | -3% | 26% |
| Louisiana | 22,100 | 1.62 | $38,230 | $29,650 | $60,090 | -19% | 33% |
| Maine | 3,960 | 0.88 | $46,430 | $36,190 | $60,520 | -1% | 31% |
| Maryland | 20,920 | 1.07 | $46,960 | $36,430 | $61,670 | -0% | 44% |
| Massachusetts | 16,210 | 0.63 | $63,390 | $45,170 | $98,880 | +35% | 35% |
| Michigan | 28,490 | 0.92 | $49,590 | $37,220 | $69,890 | +5% | 28% |
| Minnesota | 28,530 | 1.37 | $60,260 | $42,950 | $96,150 | +28% | 26% |
| Mississippi | 8,800 | 1.07 | $37,710 | $29,370 | $52,640 | -20% | 32% |
| Missouri | 17,050 | 0.82 | $56,730 | $37,870 | $83,470 | +20% | 23% |
| Montana | 4,590 | 1.27 | $49,830 | $37,720 | $63,980 | +6% | 28% |
| Nebraska | 8,530 | 1.18 | $47,260 | $36,400 | $61,780 | +0% | 28% |
| Nevada | 11,890 | 1.09 | $48,990 | $36,400 | $76,660 | +4% | 42% |
| New Hampshire | 4,330 | 0.90 | $49,980 | $38,020 | $63,310 | +6% | 37% |
| New Jersey | 23,590 | 0.78 | $64,060 | $37,980 | $106,140 | +36% | 34% |
| New Mexico | 12,470 | 2.03 | $38,400 | $30,840 | $53,590 | -19% | 35% |
| New York | 52,090 | 0.76 | $55,930 | $34,320 | $96,590 | +19% | 35% |
| North Carolina | 35,620 | 1.02 | $44,720 | $31,850 | $59,970 | -5% | 36% |
| North Dakota | 5,050 | 1.67 | $49,070 | $38,990 | $71,210 | +4% | 24% |
| Ohio | 31,910 | 0.82 | $56,080 | $37,370 | $79,110 | +19% | 23% |
| Oklahoma | 13,710 | 1.14 | $39,360 | $33,490 | $58,070 | -16% | 32% |
| Oregon | 12,620 | 0.91 | $50,860 | $39,210 | $78,410 | +8% | 38% |
| Pennsylvania | 35,920 | 0.84 | $49,400 | $37,480 | $74,670 | +5% | 30% |
| Rhode Island | 2,110 | 0.60 | $57,240 | $39,480 | $88,620 | +21% | 30% |
| South Carolina | 19,620 | 1.21 | $42,940 | $31,200 | $63,370 | -9% | 36% |
| South Dakota | 1,780 | 0.55 | $45,710 | $35,180 | $52,350 | -3% | 26% |
| Tennessee | 26,250 | 1.14 | $45,000 | $34,910 | $59,990 | -4% | 34% |
| Texas | 123,250 | 1.24 | $40,620 | $32,560 | $56,930 | -14% | 44% |
| Utah | 20,950 | 1.71 | $46,550 | $34,890 | $63,310 | -1% | 41% |
| Vermont | 1,430 | 0.67 | $48,580 | $39,130 | $61,710 | +3% | 33% |
| Virginia | 25,830 | 0.89 | $43,560 | $32,900 | $57,110 | -8% | 45% |
| Washington | 25,060 | 1.00 | $57,720 | $39,930 | $95,110 | +22% | 38% |
| West Virginia | 6,620 | 1.34 | $42,670 | $30,770 | $60,550 | -9% | 25% |
| Wisconsin | 20,330 | 0.98 | $56,100 | $37,990 | $80,920 | +19% | 24% |
| Wyoming | 3,350 | 1.69 | $46,030 | $35,640 | $57,590 | -2% | 26% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vineland, NJ | 440 | $83,680 | $36,400 | $97,100 | 1.00 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 630 | $79,760 | $49,660 | $101,680 | 1.22 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 3,040 | $77,960 | $40,100 | $93,560 | 0.97 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 11,620 | $72,610 | $48,440 | $102,450 | 0.69 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 960 | $71,920 | $38,200 | $106,370 | 0.57 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 4,420 | $68,470 | $46,470 | $94,370 | 0.55 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 8,670 | $64,500 | $40,100 | $96,280 | 0.92 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 11,580 | $63,420 | $46,460 | $99,410 | 0.61 |
| Peoria, IL | 1,020 | $62,960 | $39,130 | $97,740 | 0.87 |
| Springfield, MA | 880 | $62,660 | $43,490 | $93,510 | 0.62 |
| Vallejo, CA | 1,080 | $62,500 | $45,160 | $92,160 | 1.07 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 17,330 | $61,970 | $43,860 | $96,670 | 1.26 |
| Salinas, CA | 950 | $61,680 | $45,620 | $99,030 | 0.72 |
| Worcester, MA | 1,650 | $61,410 | $43,440 | $96,160 | 0.67 |
| Springfield, IL | 510 | $61,400 | $37,750 | $97,130 | 0.72 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 1,390 | $61,340 | $43,620 | $89,430 | 1.58 |
| Decatur, IL | 940 | $61,270 | $46,800 | $97,540 | 2.91 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 50,870 | $61,270 | $34,320 | $104,280 | 0.76 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | 330 | $60,990 | $44,570 | $86,890 | 1.30 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 26,690 | $60,890 | $39,100 | $105,500 | 0.84 |
| Bloomington, IL | 380 | $60,650 | $36,360 | $93,780 | 0.62 |
| Modesto, CA | 1,070 | $60,630 | $39,380 | $81,840 | 0.78 |
| Sandusky, OH | 300 | $60,600 | $36,700 | $76,870 | 0.84 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 7,390 | $60,560 | $40,240 | $91,530 | 0.97 |
| Columbus, OH | 5,590 | $60,540 | $38,490 | $81,250 | 0.72 |
| New Haven, CT | 1,220 | $60,350 | $42,990 | $76,210 | 0.62 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 1,550 | $60,270 | $45,430 | $91,380 | 1.07 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 1,030 | $60,140 | $44,200 | $92,190 | 1.20 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 750 | $60,040 | $44,550 | $93,170 | 1.13 |
| Napa, CA | 540 | $59,800 | $40,230 | $90,780 | 0.98 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 13,040 | $59,740 | $43,660 | $98,520 | 0.89 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 12,120 | $59,500 | $38,690 | $96,080 | 1.00 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 570 | $59,460 | $37,990 | $97,820 | 0.77 |
| Rochester, MN | 990 | $59,390 | $37,690 | $93,970 | 1.14 |
| Mankato, MN | 340 | $59,350 | $43,930 | $78,580 | 0.86 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 3,240 | $59,280 | $39,760 | $90,790 | 0.64 |
| Appleton, WI | 1,030 | $59,260 | $38,590 | $82,900 | 1.18 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 1,930 | $59,030 | $44,720 | $78,420 | 0.68 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,790 | $58,950 | $41,000 | $94,140 | 0.79 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 610 | $58,900 | $38,900 | $75,880 | 1.03 |
| Akron, OH | 1,830 | $58,830 | $37,110 | $79,110 | 0.81 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 21,730 | $58,810 | $39,680 | $91,490 | 0.49 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 520 | $58,500 | $45,160 | $81,750 | 0.74 |
| Rockford, IL | 830 | $58,390 | $38,950 | $97,350 | 0.85 |
| Bellingham, WA | 1,030 | $58,360 | $39,720 | $93,760 | 1.60 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 640 | $58,240 | $38,380 | $79,380 | 1.06 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | 430 | $58,240 | $36,350 | $78,260 | 1.48 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 580 | $58,220 | $36,830 | $99,420 | 1.03 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 400 | $58,220 | $40,300 | $95,230 | 1.08 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 1,470 | $57,820 | $44,490 | $91,110 | 2.01 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 1,450 | $57,570 | $37,430 | $69,040 | 0.94 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 1,470 | $57,450 | $38,520 | $88,050 | 0.72 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 11,610 | $57,430 | $38,590 | $72,520 | 0.86 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 4,740 | $57,430 | $38,280 | $83,510 | 0.82 |
| Cleveland, OH | 5,660 | $57,180 | $37,670 | $79,790 | 0.78 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 8,850 | $57,180 | $39,600 | $86,000 | 0.82 |
| Flint, MI | 980 | $57,170 | $37,760 | $80,970 | 1.02 |
| Madison, WI | 2,370 | $57,000 | $36,610 | $80,460 | 0.82 |
| Columbia, MO | 470 | $56,810 | $37,570 | $84,540 | 0.63 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 840 | $56,710 | $39,920 | $75,720 | 0.74 |
The median is $47,120 a year ($22.66 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $35,090 and the highest-paid tenth over $78,090 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
1,096,780 in May 2025, and BLS projects +7.3% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: No formal educational credential (BLS).
Hawaii, with a median of $77,110 (among states with published figures).