Construction Laborers

According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the median hourly wage for construction laborers was $21.30 in May 2023. If a laborer making this wage was able to work a 40-hour week year round, his or her annual income would be approximately $44,310. The DOL also reported that the lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,200, and the top 10 percent earned more than $73,310. Apprentices or helpers usually make about 60 percent of the wage paid to fully qualified employees, although their pay increases as they gain more experience.

The seasonal nature of construction work and time lost because of other factors can significantly reduce the total income of construction workers. There is also a great difference in the wages paid to construction laborers in different parts of the country. For example, construction laborers in Illinois earned mean annual salaries of $66,670 in May 2023, while those in Texas earned only 38,990. Pay is higher for laborers with certain kinds of special experience or doing certain kinds of tasks.

Fringe benefits, such as health insurance and paid vacations, are available to most full-time workers in this field and vary with local union contracts. In general, benefits are more likely to be offered on jobs staffed by union workers.