Construction Labor Rates by State (2026)
Look up the real hourly wage for 8 construction trades in any U.S. state, then add a labor burden to see your true loaded cost per hour. Built on the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data — not national averages that miss your market.
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Taxes, insurance, workers’ comp, overhead & profit added on top of the base wage. Most contractors run 30–60%.
Try OneEstimate freeSee the metro-by-metro breakdownLoaded cost at +45% burden
| Trade | Median wage | Loaded cost | vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers | $28.98 | $42.02 | +26% |
| Painters | $28.38 | $41.15 | +19% |
| Roofers | $30.58 | $44.34 | +24% |
| Concrete/cement masons | $30.15 | $43.72 | +8% |
| Carpenters | $36.50 | $52.93 | +28% |
| Plumbers/pipefitters | $35.01 | $50.76 | +14% |
| Electricians | $36.62 | $53.10 | +18% |
| First-line supervisors | $46.96 | $68.09 | +24% |
These are statewide hourly MEDIAN wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, May 2024) — the pay a worker earns, not what you bill. Your true cost adds a labor burden (payroll taxes, workers’ comp, liability insurance, overhead and profit) that typically runs 30–60% on top. Metro rates inside a state vary widely, and prevailing-wage or union work can be higher. Use this as a planning baseline, then price your actual crew and scope.
Why a national average gets your bid wrong
National cost databases average away exactly the local labor differences that decide whether your bid wins and still makes money.
Wages swing by state
An electrician’s median wage runs under $27/hr in some states and near $49/hr in others. A single national number is wrong almost everywhere.
Wage is not your cost
The number that matters for a bid is the loaded cost — wage plus burden. Two contractors with the same wage can have very different real costs depending on insurance, comp and overhead.
Metros differ from the state
Big-city rates often sit well above the statewide median. For 24 states we publish the metro-by-metro detail so you can price the exact market.
From a wage lookup to a winning estimate
This tool tells you what labor costs. OneEstimate turns that into a complete, line-item estimate: our AI reads your plans, builds the takeoff, and prices every line with local labor and material rates you control — so your bids are accurate and profitable.
- AI takeoff and line-item cost breakdowns from your plans
- Local labor and material rates you can adjust by state and metro
- Set your own burden and markup so the price protects your margin
- Export clean, professional proposals your clients approve faster
Popular state labor-rate guides
Frequently asked questions
Where does this labor-rate data come from?
Every wage comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program (OEWS, May 2024 release). We show the statewide hourly median for each trade — the midpoint of what workers actually earn — for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Nothing is estimated or invented.
What is a labor burden and why does the tool add it?
The BLS wage is what a worker is paid. Your real cost to put that worker on a job is higher because you also pay payroll taxes, workers’ compensation, liability insurance, benefits, and your own overhead and profit. That add-on is the labor burden, and it typically runs 30–60%. The slider lets you apply your own burden so the “loaded cost” reflects what you should actually charge per hour.
Why is the state number different from rates in my city?
A statewide median blends high-cost metros with lower-cost rural areas. In a big metro, trade wages often run well above the state median; in rural counties they can run below it. For 24 states we publish a metro-by-metro breakdown so you can price the exact market you work in — use the links in the tool.
Can I use these rates directly in a bid?
Use them as a starting baseline, not a final number. Apply your burden, then adjust for your actual crew’s productivity, prevailing-wage or union requirements on the job, and current local demand. OneEstimate lets you save your own adjusted rates and reuse them across every estimate.
Price every trade right — then win the bid
Start free and turn local labor rates into accurate, profitable line-item estimates built on costs you control.
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