Salary Outlook
Construction workers perform the important task of building our infrastructure. So their median salary—one that’s below $30,000—may seem surprising. In 2011, they made an average salary of $29,730. The highest-paid earned approximately $58,250, while the lowest-paid didn’t eclipse $20,000. Jobs on the East Coast tend to pay the best—the five top-paying cities for construction workers dot the Eastern Seaboard.
| Job Salary | Year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | $30,610.00 |
| 2004 | $29,640.00 |
| 2006 | $30,530.00 |
| 2008 | $32,990.00 |
| 2010 | $34,040.00 |
Average Construction Worker Pay vs. All Construction Jobs
Those working in general construction labor make less than those who specialize in a specific trade. Carpenters earn approximately $10,000 more per year, and electricians earn approximately $19,000 more per year. Those in construction who handle the logistics of a project—the cost estimator and construction manager, namely—make handsome salaries compared with a general laborer’s take-home pay.
| Job Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Construction Manager | $84,240.00 |
| Cost Estimator | $58,460.00 |
| Electrician | $49,320.00 |
| Carpenter | $40,010.00 |
| Construction Worker | $29,730.00 |
See Complete List of Best Construction Jobs
Best Paying Cities for Construction Workers
The highest paid in the construction worker profession work in the metropolitan areas of Framingham, MA, New York City, NY, and Leominster, MA. The Boston, MA area also pays well, as does the city of Trenton, NJ.
Framingham, MA
Average Salary: $57,370 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a construction worker working in Framingham, MA is $57,370, which is $27,640 more than the average pay in the profession.
New York City, NY
Average Salary: $56,930 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a construction worker working in New York City, NY is $56,930, which is $27,200 more than the average pay in the profession.
Leominster, MA
Average Salary: $56,030 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a construction worker working in Leominster, MA is $56,030, which is $26,300 more than the average pay in the profession.
Boston, MA
Average Salary: $53,440 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a construction worker working in Boston, MA is $53,440, which is $23,710 more than the average pay in the profession.
Trenton, NJ
Average Salary: $53,120 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a construction worker working in Trenton, NJ is $53,120, which is $23,390 more than the average pay in the profession.
