Construction and extraction occupation profiles

Overview:

Employment: 5,585,420

Mean Hourly Wage: $23.51

Mean Annual Wage: $48,900

Largest Employment Category—Carpenters—676,980

Smallest Employment Category—Segmental Pavers—1,720

Wage Estimates for the entire group can be found here.

The Construction and Extraction occupation profiles compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (released in May 2016 and modified in March 2017) include specific information about 59 distinct occupational job types.

Explore the qualifications and nature of each job type through links on this page and throughout the site.

Fast Facts: The Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”) estimates that 5,585,420 are employed in this occupational group earning the “mean annual wage” (as defined below) of $48,900.

If you are interested in assessing long-term trends and comparing the Bureau’s annual surveys beginning in 1988.

In general, the “mean” is the sum of the total values (e.g., wages) in the data set or survey divided by number of values (while the “median” is the middle value in same the sequence. The term “mean annual wage” (or “MAW”) is calculated by multiplying the mean hourly wage as determined by the BLS by a “year-round, full-time” hours figure of 2,080 hours. So, for example, the Construction and Extraction group’s mean hourly wage of $23.509, multiplied by 2,080, results in the mean annual wage of $48,900.

Did you know? Texas metropolitan areas lead highest job concentration in this occupation with three of the top six spots: Odessa, TX (121.67/1st); Longview, TX (106.03/3rd) and Midland, TX (101.63 per 1,000/6th). Top paying cities are another story with financial stalwarts San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA ($71,960) and Metropolitan Division Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division ($69,610) at the top, but more low profile Anchorage, AK ($66,580) and Urban Honolulu, HI ($66,330) Fairbanks, AK ($65,870) coming in at 6, 7 and 9, respectively.

Highest Paid (mean annual wage)

  • Elevators Installers and Repairers ($76,860)
  • First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers ($68,040)
  • Boilermakers ($62,200)
  • Pile-Driver Operators ($61,740)
  • Construction and Building Inspectors ($61,250)

Lowest Paid (from lowest)

  • Helpers – Painters, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons ($28,760)
  • Helpers – Roofers ($28,890)
  • Helpers – Carpenters ($30,200)
  • Helpers – Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters ($30,640)
  • Electricians Helpers ($30,980)

For the entire list of mean annual wages for this occupation (from highest to lowest),

Sources: In addition to specific citations noted, supplementary source materials include the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.