But Only 21st in Wages
By Hank Russell
A recent report from Construction Coverage showed that the median wage for construction workers in New York State is $66,700 a year. That is 7.6% above the national median, which is $58,360 annually. Construction workers also were paid better than New Yorkers in other jobs, whose median salary is $58,560 — just over the national median by a mere $200.
Further, that is higher than it was in 2023, when the median salary was $63,270, and in 2020, when workers were making $58,460 annually.
Nationwide, construction workers saw a 15% increase in their pay over the past two years.
However, not all the news was good. When adjusted for cost-of-living expenses, wages were at $62,309 a year. In 2023, adjusted median wages were at $57,779 and $50,223 in 2020. In addition, New York construction workers are only the 21st highest-paid in the nation. The top five are Illinois ($79,328), Hawaii ($73,060), Alaska ($72,841), Minnesota ($70,923) and Massachusetts ($70,832). (All salaries are adjusted for cost-of-living expenses.)
“In contrast, the Southern states consistently rank at the bottom of the list,” said the report’s author, Jonathan Jones. “All 10 of the lowest-ranked states for cost-adjusted construction wages are located in the South, where lower nominal pay outweighs the benefit of lower living costs. Among the lowest are Florida ($46,843), Texas ($49,817), and Georgia ($50,683), where construction workers earn roughly 40% less—after adjusting for cost of living—than their counterparts in Illinois.”
The report also noted that the construction industry has “navigat[ed] a period of heightened uncertainty” this year. Said Jones. Among the challenges facing the industry include the Trump administration’s trade policies, federal law enforcement cracking down on illegal immigration at construction sites and high interest rates.
“New tariffs on imported steel and aluminum have driven up the cost of materials, delaying projects and prompting redesigns, while a tight labor market and evolving immigration rules have strained the industry’s ability to find skilled workers,” Jones said. “At the same time, high borrowing costs continue to limit new development, especially in residential construction. For many construction workers, these economic headwinds are compounded by chronic inflationary pressures that continue to erode the purchasing power of their wages.”