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.
Construction Laborer Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
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 2034, with about 129,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
SOC 47-2061Construction and ExtractionLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $47,120
- Projected growth
- +7.3%
- Openings a year
- 129,400
- Typical education
- No formal credential
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Bituminous Asphalt Technician, Construction Laborer, Construction Worker, Drop Crew Laborer, Equipment Operator (EO), Form Setter.
How much do Construction Laborers make?
10th percentile$35,090
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$38,620
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$47,120
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$59,740
Upper quartile
90th percentile$78,090
Top-paid tenth
| 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 $57,430, this is 18% 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 21% of the 923 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.
Which states pay Construction Laborers the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $77,110 | $70,131 | 4,580 |
| New Jersey | $64,060 | $58,876 | 23,590 |
| Massachusetts | $63,390 | $59,939 | 16,210 |
| Illinois | $60,690 | $60,716 | 35,940 |
| California | $60,270 | $54,435 | 88,240 |
| Minnesota | $60,260 | $61,103 | 28,530 |
| Connecticut | $58,290 | $56,259 | 7,360 |
| Alaska | $58,060 | $56,722 | 3,690 |
| Washington | $57,720 | $53,937 | 25,060 |
| Rhode Island | $57,240 | $55,964 | 2,110 |
Is Construction Laborer a growing career?
Construction Laborers7.3%
All US occupations3.1%
+7.3% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Construction Laborers to change 7.3% over 2024–2034, roughly 2.4× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 106,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 129,400 openings are projected each year, 8.9% of the 1,457,000 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of construction laborers and helpers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2024 to 2034, much 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.
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.
| Typical entry-level education | No formal educational credential |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Little or no preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
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 Diploma34.9%
- Less than a High School Diploma32.5%
- Post-Secondary Certificate28.0%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)4.6%
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
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
- Rarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space
- Outdoors in all weather at least weekly
Physical demands
- On their feet more than half the working day
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
Pressure and stakes
- Meeting strict deadlines at least weekly
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Core skills
- Speaking3.3/5
- Active Listening3.1/5
- Reading Comprehension2.8/5
- Critical Thinking2.8/5
- Monitoring2.6/5
- Writing2.3/5
- Active Learning2.1/5
- Learning Strategies2.1/5
Transferable skills
- Coordination3.1/5
- Operation and Control3.1/5
- Operations Monitoring3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.8/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.6/5
- Equipment Selection2.6/5
- Equipment Maintenance2.5/5
- Time Management2.5/5
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.
What personality type suits a Construction Laborer?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary7.0
Investigative2.7
Artistic1.4
Social1.2
Enterprising1.4
Conventionalprimary3.6
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.
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.
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.
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 little or no 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.
Is Construction Laborer a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 7.3% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 129,400 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.
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 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 923 occupations 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.