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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What separates a comfortable Construction Laborer salary from a tight one? Usually just a zip code. The national median salary for Construction Laborers in 2026 is $46,556, with entry-level positions averaging $33,520 and senior roles reaching $66,109. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $84,800, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Construction Laborer sits at the intersection of Construction and Construction & Trades. Most professionals enter with No formal requirement, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is job-site. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$51,600 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Construction Laborer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $84,800 — $51,600 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($33,200). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Construction Laborers average $33,520, the median sits at $46,556, and senior earners pull in $66,109. That $32,589 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $33,811 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
The city-level data complicates the national narrative. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $79,200 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $33,467. That $45,733 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
A Construction Laborer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $84,800 — $51,600 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($33,200). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $33,520 | $46,556 | $66,109 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £18,424 | £25,589 | £36,336 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$29,118 | CA$40,442 | CA$57,428 |
| Australia | 13 | A$36,107 | A$50,148 | A$71,211 |
| Sweden | 24 | 199,425 kr | 276,979 kr | 393,310 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $40,457 | $56,190 | $79,790 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $39,096 | $54,300 | $77,106 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $38,880 | $54,000 | $76,680 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $36,000 | $50,000 | $71,000 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $35,568 | $49,400 | $70,148 |
| Washington | 8 | $34,884 | $48,450 | $68,799 |
| New York | 5 | $32,832 | $45,600 | $64,752 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $32,832 | $45,600 | $64,752 |
| Florida | 22 | $32,583 | $45,255 | $64,261 |
| Colorado | 11 | $32,020 | $44,473 | $63,151 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $31,968 | $44,400 | $63,048 |
| Nevada | 5 | $31,910 | $44,320 | $62,934 |
| Arizona | 12 | $31,752 | $44,100 | $62,622 |
| Oregon | 5 | $31,680 | $44,000 | $62,480 |
| Idaho | 3 | $31,584 | $43,867 | $62,291 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $31,334 | $43,520 | $61,798 |
| Utah | 4 | $31,248 | $43,400 | $61,628 |
| Virginia | 7 | $30,734 | $42,686 | $60,614 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $30,336 | $42,133 | $59,829 |
| Alaska | 1 | $30,240 | $42,000 | $59,640 |
| Illinois | 5 | $29,894 | $41,520 | $58,958 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $29,152 | $40,489 | $57,494 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $28,800 | $40,000 | $56,800 |
| Montana | 1 | $28,800 | $40,000 | $56,800 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $28,704 | $39,867 | $56,611 |
| Texas | 40 | $28,562 | $39,670 | $56,331 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $28,512 | $39,600 | $56,232 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $28,368 | $39,400 | $55,948 |
| Georgia | 6 | $28,272 | $39,267 | $55,759 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $28,224 | $39,200 | $55,664 |
| Kansas | 4 | $28,080 | $39,000 | $55,380 |
| Michigan | 6 | $27,984 | $38,867 | $55,191 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $27,648 | $38,400 | $54,528 |
| Maryland | 1 | $27,648 | $38,400 | $54,528 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $27,360 | $38,000 | $53,960 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $27,360 | $38,000 | $53,960 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $26,640 | $37,000 | $52,540 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $26,496 | $36,800 | $52,256 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $26,136 | $36,300 | $51,546 |
| Missouri | 4 | $26,136 | $36,300 | $51,546 |
| Alabama | 5 | $26,035 | $36,160 | $51,347 |
| Indiana | 3 | $25,632 | $35,600 | $50,552 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $25,632 | $35,600 | $50,552 |
| Iowa | 2 | $25,344 | $35,200 | $49,984 |
| Ohio | 6 | $25,296 | $35,133 | $49,889 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $24,192 | $33,600 | $47,712 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Construction Laborer median of $56,190 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($54,300) and Hawaii ($54,000). But raw salary is only half the story. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $33,600 and $35,200. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($84,800 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $40,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $84,800 | 212 | $40,000 | $53,325 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $79,200 | 198 | $40,000 | $50,131 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $73,600 | 184 | $40,000 | $46,936 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $72,400 | 181 | $40,000 | $46,251 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $71,200 | 178 | $40,000 | $45,567 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $70,800 | 177 | $40,000 | $45,338 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $70,800 | 177 | $40,000 | $45,338 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $69,200 | 173 | $40,000 | $44,426 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $69,200 | 173 | $40,000 | $44,426 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $67,600 | 169 | $40,000 | $43,513 |
The $32,589 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Construction Laborer career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Construction & Trades sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Construction Laborers is $46,556 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $33,520, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $66,109.
The highest-paying city for Construction Laborers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $84,800. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($84,800), Santa Clara ($79,200), Irvine ($73,600). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Construction Laborer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $33,200. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Construction Laborers (10th percentile) average $33,520 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $61,056. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Construction Laborers average $66,109 nationally — $32,589 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Construction Laborers can earn up to $120,416.
The top-paying states for Construction Laborers are California ($56,190 median), Massachusetts ($54,300 median), Hawaii ($54,000 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Construction Laborer involves No formal requirement. The field is in the Construction & Trades sector (Construction), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically job-site.
With a national median of $46,556 and representation across 288 metro areas, Construction Laborer offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $32,589 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.