Construction Laborers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Construction Laborers in the United States earn a median salary of $47,120 per year — about $23 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 1.6M people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +7%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core duties of this occupation are almost entirely physical, involving manual labor, tool operation, and site preparation in unpredictable outdoor environments. While AI might assist with peripheral tasks like scheduling or specialized robotic equipment control, the vast majority of the work requires human presence, physical strength, and real-time adaptation to physical obstacles.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vineland, NJBEST VALUE | $83,680 | Below avg (96.0) | $87,196 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $79,760 | Above avg (109.4) | $72,911 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $77,960 | Above avg (111.0) | $70,259 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $71,920 | Above avg (103.2) | $69,703 |
| Decatur, IL | $61,270 | Below avg (88.4) | $69,293 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $61,340 | Below avg (88.8) | $69,101 |
| Peoria, IL | $62,960 | Below avg (91.2) | $69,012 |
| Sandusky, OH | $60,600 | Below avg (89.3) | $67,876 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $64,500 | Below avg (95.1) | $67,832 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $58,140 | Below avg (86.1) | $67,543 |
| Springfield, IL | $61,400 | Below avg (92.7) | $66,203 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $58,220 | Below avg (88.0) | $66,178 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $57,820 | Below avg (87.6) | $65,980 |
| Rochester, MN | $59,390 | Below avg (90.8) | $65,392 |
| Mankato, MN | $59,350 | Below avg (91.0) | $65,252 |