Research Summary. After thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the latest insights on construction worker salaries across the United States for 2026:
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New York offers the highest average salary for construction workers at $47,620.
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Alabama has the lowest average salary at $26,915.
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The national average salary for construction workers is $31,842.
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The national hourly wage for construction workers stands at $15.31.
For more detailed information, refer to our methodology.
Background
Surveys consistently show that salary remains the most critical factor for job seekers, particularly among construction workers. Understanding how much construction workers earn in your area is fundamental for making informed career decisions.
While local salaries may vary slightly from state averages, the data provides a comprehensive overview of what to expect in terms of earnings. As of 2026, New York continues to lead in terms of average salary for construction workers.
Here’s a glance at the top ten states for construction worker salaries:
Let’s explore the details behind these figures and review a complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Construction Workers By State
| Rank | State | Average Construction Worker Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $47,620 | $35,000 | $64,000 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $47,324 | $35,000 | $62,000 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $46,393 | $36,000 | $59,000 |
| 4 | Illinois | $44,353 | $34,000 | $57,000 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $44,092 | $32,000 | $59,000 |
| 6 | California | $44,023 | $33,000 | $58,000 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $42,025 | $31,000 | $55,000 |
| 8 | Washington | $41,072 | $32,000 | $51,000 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $41,024 | $30,000 | $56,000 |
| 10 | Missouri | $39,450 | $30,000 | $50,000 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $39,128 | $30,000 | $51,000 |
| 12 | Maine | $39,046 | $30,000 | $50,000 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $38,720 | $30,000 | $48,000 |
| 14 | Michigan | $38,532 | $29,000 | $50,000 |
| 15 | Ohio | $37,342 | $28,000 | $49,000 |
| 16 | Oregon | $36,952 | $28,000 | $47,000 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $36,891 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 18 | Vermont | $36,781 | $28,000 | $47,000 |
| 19 | Iowa | $36,041 | $27,000 | $46,000 |
| 20 | Indiana | $35,724 | $27,000 | $46,000 |
| 21 | Montana | $35,579 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 22 | Alaska | $34,840 | $29,000 | $40,000 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $34,185 | $26,000 | $43,000 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $34,005 | $26,000 | $43,000 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $33,819 | $25,000 | $45,000 |
| 26 | Kansas | $33,483 | $26,000 | $43,000 |
| 27 | Idaho | $33,237 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 28 | Colorado | $32,811 | $25,000 | $42,000 |
| 29 | Delaware | $32,318 | $23,000 | $44,000 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $32,125 | $23,000 | $43,000 |
| 31 | Nevada | $32,087 | $24,000 | $41,000 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $31,825 | $24,000 | $41,000 |
| 33 | Arizona | $31,602 | $23,000 | $41,000 |
| 34 | Maryland | $31,175 | $22,000 | $42,000 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $30,889 | $23,000 | $41,000 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $30,784 | $23,000 | $40,000 |
| 37 | Florida | $30,601 | $22,000 | $41,000 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $30,176 | $23,000 | $39,000 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $30,015 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $29,733 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 41 | Utah | $29,375 | $22,000 | $37,000 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $29,312 | $22,000 | $37,000 |
| 43 | Texas | $29,216 | $21,000 | $38,000 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $29,116 | $23,000 | $35,000 |
| 45 | Georgia | $28,300 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 46 | Virginia | $28,253 | $20,000 | $38,000 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $27,987 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $27,417 | $20,000 | $36,000 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $27,117 | $20,000 | $36,000 |
| 50 | Alabama | $26,915 | $20,000 | $35,000 |
Methodology: Construction Worker Salary By State
To analyze construction worker salaries by state, Zippia aggregates data from various authoritative sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This data is further enriched with actual salary information gathered from job postings. The data science team then compiles a weighted average to establish the average salary for construction workers in each state.
We ranked every state based on these average annual salary figures, with the state offering the highest salary receiving the top ranking.
Construction Worker Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for construction workers?
The highest-paid state for construction workers is New York with an average salary of $47,620 per year.
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What city pays construction workers the most?
New York, NY offers the highest salaries for construction workers, averaging $47,620 annually.
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What is the worst state for construction workers?
The worst state for construction workers is Alabama, with an average salary of $26,915 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
