Construction Employment and Wages in 2024

In 2024, the Construction industry employed over 8.1 million people in the United States, reflecting an increase of 2.6% from 2023. The annual mean wage in 2024 was $70,100, and the median wage was $60,320. Compared to the national average, the wages in this industry group were higher by 3.2%.

Industry Sub-Groups

Among the industry sub-groups, Building Equipment Contractors held the largest number of jobs within the Construction industry, employing over 2.5 million people in 2024. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $70,790, with a median wage of $61,430. There was a decrease in wage variance to the national average compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from 4.4% to 4.2%, indicating industry wages lagged national wage trends.

Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors accounted for a substantial employment share, with 1 million people employed in 2024. The annual mean wage for this sub-group was $64,550, and the median wage was $57,430. In terms of wage variance to the national average, there was an increase compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from -5% to -5%.

The sub-group of Residential Building Construction also had considerable industry employment, with approximately 940 thousand people employed in 2024. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $68,620 and the median wage was $58,770. The wage variance to the national average experienced a decrease compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from 1.2% to 1%.

Highest Employment Occupations

When we examine the top occupations in terms of employment within the Construction industry, we find that General and Operations Managers had the highest annual mean wage in 2024, at $126,740, and a median wage of $105,260. The industry variance to the national average was -4.8%. Construction Managers had an annual mean wage of $116,240 and a median wage of $104,530. The industry variance to the national average was -2.9%. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers had an annual mean wage of $84,750 and a median wage of $78,900. The industry variance to the national average was 0.3%.

Conversely, notable occupations with lower wages within the Construction industry included Office Clerks, General, with an annual mean wage of $48,330 and a median wage of $45,840. The industry variance to the national average was 6.3%. Construction Laborers had an annual mean wage of $52,130 and a median wage of $47,070. The industry variance to the national average was 1.7%. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers had an annual mean wage of $61,480 and a median wage of $58,770. The industry variance to the national average was -1.9%.

Summary

In 2024, the Construction industry employed over 8.1 million people in the United States, marking a 2.6% increase from 2023. With an annual mean wage of $70,100 and a median wage of $60,320, the industry paid 3.2% more than the national average. The largest sub-group, Building Equipment Contractors, accounted for over 2.5 million jobs, followed by Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors and Residential Building Construction. While higher-level roles such as General and Operations Managers and Construction Managers earned six-figure salaries, many other positions—including Construction Laborers and Office Clerks—earned significantly less. Although wages varied across roles and sub-groups, overall earnings in construction continued to modestly outperform the national average, driven by high demand for specialized trade and supervisory skills.