The median pay for Construction Laborers is $47,120 a year ($22.66/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 7.3% through 2035, with about 120,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 47-2061
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Construction Laborer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $47,120a year, or $22.66/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $35KTop 10% $78K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +7.3%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+7.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +7.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 120,0001,489,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.5M
- Projected 20351.6M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.5M Projected 2035 1.6M - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school32.5%
- High school34.9%
- Certificate28%
- Associate's4.6%
Highest education held by construction laborers Segment Value Less than high school 32.5% High school 34.9% Certificate 28% Associate's 4.6%
Also advertised as: Bituminous Asphalt Technician, Construction Laborer, Construction Worker, Drop Crew Laborer, Equipment Operator (EO), Form Setter.
Pay
How much do construction laborers make?
Construction Laborers earn a median of $47,120 a year ($22.66 an hour, or about $3,930 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $35,090 and the top 10% more than $78,090 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is Hawaii, with a median of $77,110. See Construction laborer salary in Hawaii and every other state. By city, pay is highest around Kahului ($78,600 average): salary in every city.
Every construction laborer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$47,120
Middle half earn $38,620 to $59,740
- 10th
- $35,090
- 25th
- $38,620
- 75th
- $59,740
- 90th
- $78,090
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $35,090 |
| 25th | $38,620 |
| Median | $47,120 |
| 75th | $59,740 |
| 90th | $78,090 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $47,120
- Median hourly wage
- $22.66/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $52,030
- People employed
- 1,096,780
Versus all US occupations
At $47,120, Construction Laborers earn 8% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $3,860 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020, this is 21% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $78,090 or more while the bottom 10% earn $35,090, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 15% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Hawaii pays the most at $77,110, and still leads at $70,131 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay construction laborers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Hawaii | $77,110 | $70,131 | 4,580 |
| 2New Jersey | $64,060 | $58,876 | 23,590 |
| 3Massachusetts | $63,390 | $59,939 | 16,210 |
| 4Illinois | $60,690 | $60,716 | 35,940 |
| 5California | $60,270 | $54,435 | 88,240 |
| 6Minnesota | $60,260 | $61,103 | 28,530 |
| 7Connecticut | $58,290 | $56,259 | 7,360 |
| 8Alaska | $58,060 | $56,722 | 3,690 |
| 9Washington | $57,720 | $53,937 | 25,060 |
| 10Rhode Island | $57,240 | $55,964 | 2,110 |
Job outlook
Is construction laborer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +7.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Construction Laborers | +7.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Construction Laborers to change 7.3% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.1× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 109,300 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 120,000 openings are projected each year, 8.1% of the 1,489,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of construction laborers and helpers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of construction laborers and helpers varies by occupation (see table).
Construction laborers work in all fields of construction, and demand for laborers should mirror the level of overall construction activity. Repairing and replacing the nation’s infrastructure, such as the power grid, roads, and water lines, is expected to result in steady demand for laborers.
AI exposure: low
BLS places this occupation in its low relative AI exposure category, among the occupations least exposed to current AI.
Getting in
How to become a construction laborer
Construction laborer is one of the few occupations with no formal educational credential and no licence of any kind. BLS records no typical educational requirement and lists only OSHA-compliant safety certification and possibly a driver's licence under licences and certifications. The real variable is local: New York City requires a 40-hour Site Safety Training card before you can set foot on a site that needs a site safety plan, while most of the country expects an OSHA 10-hour card and nothing more. Federal child labor rules also close off a large slice of the work until you are 18.
The credential path, step by step
- Get hired; the credential usually comes after
BLS states laborers and helpers typically do not need a formal educational credential, though employers may prefer a high school diploma, and that for some helper roles (electricians, pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters) an employer may require or prefer completed high school. Helpful high school classes include algebra, geometry, and career and technical education programmes such as construction technology or welding.
- Complete OSHA-compliant safety training
BLS says employers often require construction laborers and helpers to complete safety certification meeting OSHA guidelines, either before or after being hired. In practice that means the OSHA 10-hour construction course through OSHA's Outreach Training Program. Note that OSHA does not license workers; the card records completion of a voluntary outreach course that employers and some jurisdictions have made a condition of work.
- Check whether your city goes further
New York City is the significant exception and it is a hard legal requirement, not a preference. Under Local Law 196 of 2017, to work on a site requiring a site safety plan and a designated construction superintendent, site safety coordinator or site safety manager, workers must hold a Site Safety Training card proving at least 40 hours of safety training defined by the Department of Buildings. Supervisors need 62 hours. Cards are valid for five years from issuance and are obtained through a DOB-registered course provider.
- Know the age rule before you apply
Federal child labor rules bar 16 and 17 year olds in non-agricultural employment from operating, tending, riding upon, working from, repairing, servicing or disassembling a crane, hoist, elevator, manlift or high-lift truck. The regulation defines high-lift truck to include forklifts, backhoes, front-end loaders, skid loaders, skid-steer loaders and Bobcat loaders, and defines manlift to include scissor lifts, boom-type mobile elevating work platforms, cherry pickers and bucket trucks. That is a substantial share of a laborer's equipment.
- Add task certifications, or move into an apprenticeship
BLS notes some workers earn optional certifications related to their tasks, such as rigging or scaffolding, to demonstrate they can perform more complex work. Some construction laborers complete apprenticeship programmes, usually sponsored by local unions or trade associations, combining on-the-job training with technical instruction. Registered apprenticeships are paid from the start and end with a nationally recognized Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship. BLS also describes the common progression of helpers into a trade: an electrician's helper might earn a high school equivalency to enter an electrician apprenticeship.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
No state licenses construction laborers. What varies is mandated safety training, and it varies by city as much as by state. New York City requires a 40-hour Site Safety Training card under Local Law 196 of 2017 for workers on sites needing a site safety plan, valid five years and renewable through DOB-registered providers; supervisors need 62 hours. Elsewhere the OSHA 10-hour card is generally an employer or general-contractor requirement rather than a legal one, though several states mandate it on public works. Blasting, hazardous waste and confined-space work carry their own separate credentials wherever you are.
Who governs the credential
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Sets the construction safety standards and runs the Outreach Training Program that issues the 10-hour and 30-hour construction cards employers ask for. OSHA does not license or certify individual construction workers.
- New York City Department of Buildings (NYC DOB)
Administers the Site Safety Training card required by Local Law 196 of 2017, defines the qualifying curriculum, registers the course providers authorised to issue cards, and sets the five-year validity and renewal options.
- US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
Administers Hazardous Occupations Order 7, which bars minors aged 16 and 17 in non-agricultural employment from operating cranes, hoists, manlifts and high-lift trucks, a category the regulation defines to include forklifts, backhoes, front-end loaders, skid-steer loaders, scissor lifts and bucket trucks.
- NCCER
Issues portable construction craft credentials through accredited training sponsors and its Registry System. Completing NCCER Core, which covers safety, hand and power tools and employability skills, is required before any Level 1 craft credential.
Credential detail for construction laborers is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Construction Laborers and Helpers, How to Become One · checked August 23, 2026
- New York City Department of Buildings — SST Information (Local Law 196 of 2017: 40 hours for workers, 62 for supervisors, cards valid five years) · checked August 23, 2026
- eCFR, 29 CFR 570.58 — Occupations involved in the operation of power-driven hoisting apparatus (Order 7) · checked August 23, 2026
- Apprenticeship.gov — What will I receive after I complete a Registered Apprenticeship Program? · checked August 23, 2026
- NCCER — Credentials and Certifications · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Construction laborers and helpers learn on the job. Formal education is not typically required, but some employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a high school diploma or the equivalent.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as construction laborers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)34.9%
- Less than a High School Diploma32.5%
- Post-Secondary Certificate28%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree4.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 34.9% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 32.5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 28% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 4.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a construction laborer do?
Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.
Construction laborers and helpers perform tasks, such as using, supplying, or holding materials or tools and cleaning work areas and equipment, on construction sites.
Day-to-day tasks
- Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
- Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
- Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
- Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt.
- Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
- Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
- Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
- Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Fatal injury rate: 15.8 per 100,000 workers (4.8x the 3.3 average)
BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2024: 334 deaths that year.
Most construction laborers and helpers work full time, and work schedules may vary. Laborers and helpers on highway and bridge projects may need to work overnight to avoid causing traffic disruptions. In some parts of the country, construction laborers and helpers may work only during certain seasons. For example, in northern climates, cold weather frequently limits construction activity in the winter.
Some construction laborers are self-employed. In contrast, few helpers are self-employed.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking3.3
- Active Listening3.1
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Critical Thinking2.8
- Monitoring2.6
- Writing2.3
- Active Learning2.1
- Learning Strategies2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 3.3 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.8 |
| Monitoring | 2.6 |
| Writing | 2.3 |
| Active Learning | 2.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.1
- Operation and Control3.1
- Operations Monitoring3.0
- Complex Problem Solving2.8
- Social Perceptiveness2.6
- Equipment Selection2.6
- Equipment Maintenance2.5
- Time Management2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Operation and Control | 3.1 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.8 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.6 |
| Equipment Selection | 2.6 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 2.5 |
| Time Management | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a construction laborer?
Women make up 4.7% of construction laborers, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation.
Only 18.2% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce.
The median worker is 40.0 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 4.7%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 40.0All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 18.2%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 2,382,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of construction laborers | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 4.7% | 47.1% |
| White | 86.4% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 7.3% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 2.0% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 55.2% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 18.2% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 15.2% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a construction laborer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Construction Laborer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional3.6
- Investigative2.7
- Artistic1.4
- Enterprising1.4
- Social1.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Construction Laborer
O*NET related occupations
- Construction and Extraction
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator
$53,340median a year
Most earn $38K to $92K
−0.9%High school - Construction and Extraction
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator, Surface Mining
$57,430median a year
Most earn $42K to $82K
+1.0%High school - Construction and Extraction
Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher
$57,020median a year
Most earn $39K to $85K
+1.6%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with construction laborers highlighted
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$62,780
- Sheet Metal Worker$61,800
- Carpenter$60,580
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$59,850
- Roofer$55,440
- Construction Laborer$47,120
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $62,780 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Questions
Construction Laborer: frequently asked questions
How much do construction laborers make?
Construction Laborers earn a median of $47,120 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 8% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $22.66/hr. The middle half earn between $38,620 and $59,740. The top 10% earn $78,090 or more.
How much do construction laborers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for construction laborers is $22.66 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $47,120 annual median works out to about $3,930 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a construction laborer?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of construction laborers earn less than $35,090 a year and the bottom quarter less than $38,620 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do construction laborers make $100k?
Rarely. Even the 90th percentile is $78,090, so fewer than 10% of construction laborers earn $100,000 or more (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No state's median reaches $100,000; the highest is Hawaii at $77,110.
Which states pay construction laborers the most?
The highest state medians for Construction Laborers are Hawaii ($77,110), New Jersey ($64,060), Massachusetts ($63,390) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of construction laborer earns the most?
BLS does not split construction laborers' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $78,090, against a median of $47,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are Hawaii ($77,110), New Jersey ($64,060), Massachusetts ($63,390).
Do you need a degree to become a construction laborer?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Construction Laborers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 34.9% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
How long does it take to become a construction laborer?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for construction laborers is no formal educational credential. Once hired, BLS lists short-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing some preparation.
Is construction laborer a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 7.3% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 120,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a construction laborer do?
Construction laborers and helpers perform tasks, such as using, supplying, or holding materials or tools and cleaning work areas and equipment, on construction sites. A core O*NET task: read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Do construction laborers work 40 hours a week?
Yes, for most. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 18% of construction laborers usually work more than 40 hours a week, 66% work exactly 40 and 16% work fewer. 16% say their schedule is regular and 53% irregular, and 31% work seasonally. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a construction laborer?
O*NET scores Construction Laborers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
Do you need a license to work as a construction laborer?
Not a state license. No state licenses construction laborers. What varies is mandated safety training, and it varies by city as much as by state. New York City requires a 40-hour Site Safety Training card under Local Law 196 of 2017 for workers on sites needing a site safety plan, valid five years and renewable through DOB-registered providers; supervisors need 62 hours. Elsewhere the OSHA 10-hour card is generally an employer or general-contractor requirement rather than a legal one, though several states mandate it on public works. Blasting, hazardous waste and confined-space work carry their own separate credentials wherever you are.
What percentage of construction laborers are women?
Women make up 4.7% of construction laborers, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation. Only 18.2% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce. The median worker is 40.0 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.