How much do construction workers in the United States earn?
Construction work is one of the jobs in high demand in the United States. Find out how much the people in this field earn per hour and per year.
Construction work is one of the jobs that is in high demand in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages report released in May of last year, there are more than one million construction workers in the country. What does this job entail and how much do these workers earn?
What does a construction worker do?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the duties of construction workers consist of performing tasks that involve physical labor on construction sites.
These workers may operate hand and power tools of all types, including jackhammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, measuring and surveying equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments.
They may also clear and prepare sites, dig trenches, place reinforcement to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clear debris. Helpers in the construction trades are also included in this category.
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How much do construction workers in the United States earn?
According to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage report, the median annual wage for a construction worker is about $46,350, while the median hourly wage is $22.29. According to bureau data, the bottom 10% earn about $14.28 an hour or $29,700 a year. On the other end of the scale, the top 10% earn $34.82 per hour or $72,430 per year.
As for helpers in the construction trades, they have a median annual wage of $39,320 and a median hourly wage of $18.90.
It is important to note that the hourly rate can vary widely depending on many important factors, including additional skills, the number of years spent in the profession, among others.
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Industries and states with the highest levels of construction employment
The industries with the highest levels of employment for construction workers or laborers are:
- Specialty Trade Contractors
- Construction of residential buildings
- Building public service systems
- Construction of non-residential buildings
- Building Exterior, Structural and Foundation Contractors
Meanwhile, the industries with the highest concentration of employment for construction workers are:
- Construction of roads, streets and bridges
- Civil and heavy engineering constructions
- Specialty Trade Contractors
- Building public service systems
- Construction of residential buildings
The best-paying industries for construction workers are the following:
- Transportation of natural gas through pipelines
- Generation, transmission and distribution of electrical energy
- Support Services
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
- Rail transport
The states with the highest level of employment for construction workers are:
- Texas
- California
- Florida
- New York
- Pennsylvania
The states where construction workers are paid the most are:
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- New Jersey
- Massachusetts
- New York