47
Construction Laborers is a notable career in the 47 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Construction Laborers against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 47-2061 |
| title | Construction Laborers |
| onet code | 47-2061.00 |
| description | Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers. |
| job zone | 2 |
| major group | 47 |
| tot emp | 1,057,660 |
| a mean | 51,260 |
| a median | 46,730 |
| a pct10 | 34,200 |
| a pct25 | 38,100 |
| a pct75 | 58,910 |
| a pct90 | 77,530 |
| h mean | 24 |
| h median | 22 |
The day-to-day work of a construction laborers typically centers on tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Speaking, Coordination, and Active Listening. Across the top 5 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.12 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working construction laborers, the most common entry qualification is a High School Diploma (34.9%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 0% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in Hawaii at $66,100 and lowest in Alabama at $36,300 — a 1.8× spread. The top five states (Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts, California) average $63,430. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $66,100 | $69,000 | $37,440 | $96,450 | 4,140 |
| Illinois | $64,890 | $69,570 | $38,800 | $104,720 | 31,960 |
| New Jersey | $63,190 | $71,280 | $42,560 | $105,420 | 20,720 |
| Massachusetts | $62,430 | $69,950 | $44,920 | $97,730 | 16,800 |
| California | $60,540 | $66,140 | $42,410 | $94,200 | 85,370 |
| Minnesota | $58,720 | $60,530 | $40,090 | $84,820 | 27,510 |
| Rhode Island | $58,290 | $62,670 | $40,040 | $81,260 | 2,080 |
| Alaska | $57,970 | $62,150 | $41,600 | $85,480 | 3,110 |
| New York | $57,680 | $65,220 | $37,750 | $99,530 | 49,890 |
| Washington | $57,240 | $60,380 | $39,910 | $93,330 | 27,410 |
| Missouri | $53,840 | $58,350 | $36,680 | $80,220 | 18,180 |
| Wisconsin | $51,980 | $56,020 | $37,240 | $78,420 | 19,220 |
| Connecticut | $51,720 | $56,630 | $39,530 | $75,000 | 8,380 |
| Oregon | $49,970 | $54,650 | $38,050 | $77,380 | 12,050 |
| Ohio | $49,640 | $55,390 | $36,560 | $78,770 | 30,820 |
| District of Columbia | $49,520 | $52,170 | $36,250 | $74,370 | 2,260 |
| Indiana | $49,520 | $53,000 | $36,710 | $73,070 | 26,910 |
| Montana | $49,230 | $50,830 | $37,560 | $62,860 | 4,720 |
| Michigan | $48,670 | $51,500 | $36,180 | $65,780 | 26,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,480 | $53,140 | $36,940 | $74,130 | 38,350 |
| North Dakota | $48,340 | $50,760 | $39,170 | $62,560 | 4,600 |
| New Hampshire | $47,950 | $49,470 | $36,860 | $61,220 | 3,650 |
| Nevada | $47,780 | $52,890 | $37,350 | $75,440 | 11,420 |
| Iowa | $47,700 | $49,150 | $36,900 | $61,480 | 13,420 |
| Nebraska | $46,750 | $47,340 | $35,880 | $61,650 | 7,460 |
| Vermont | $46,700 | $47,650 | $36,050 | $60,150 | 1,560 |
| Colorado | $46,620 | $47,860 | $37,360 | $59,820 | 19,230 |
| Maryland | $46,320 | $47,080 | $35,890 | $60,520 | 20,280 |
| Arizona | $46,200 | $47,220 | $36,470 | $60,660 | 30,310 |
| Utah | $46,100 | $47,750 | $32,610 | $63,840 | 22,230 |
| Wyoming | $45,860 | $44,590 | $34,780 | $56,020 | 3,300 |
| Delaware | $45,590 | $47,520 | $31,720 | $63,120 | 2,760 |
| Maine | $45,540 | $46,860 | $36,330 | $59,410 | 3,180 |
| Idaho | $45,380 | $46,620 | $36,140 | $60,620 | 12,310 |
| Kentucky | $45,340 | $45,310 | $33,330 | $59,560 | 14,200 |
| Kansas | $44,810 | $44,530 | $31,030 | $59,660 | 8,630 |
| Tennessee | $44,150 | $44,910 | $33,730 | $59,780 | 25,390 |
| South Dakota | $43,470 | $42,560 | $31,010 | $50,340 | 1,690 |
| North Carolina | $42,250 | $44,210 | $29,460 | $61,630 | 38,530 |
| South Carolina | $41,310 | $44,630 | $30,560 | $62,910 | 17,430 |
| Florida | $40,820 | $43,840 | $31,440 | $58,510 | 75,770 |
| Louisiana | $40,240 | $44,310 | $29,690 | $63,380 | 25,350 |
| Virginia | $40,210 | $42,520 | $31,760 | $55,590 | 26,860 |
| Oklahoma | $40,020 | $42,810 | $30,690 | $56,580 | 12,830 |
| West Virginia | $38,770 | $42,770 | $29,220 | $59,570 | 7,580 |
| New Mexico | $38,520 | $41,770 | $30,830 | $54,170 | 10,530 |
| Texas | $38,180 | $40,640 | $30,670 | $50,430 | 117,580 |
| Georgia | $37,970 | $40,410 | $27,170 | $57,020 | 28,680 |
| Mississippi | $37,180 | $39,290 | $29,020 | $50,810 | 8,260 |
| Arkansas | $37,020 | $38,600 | $29,080 | $48,010 | 8,910 |
| Alabama | $36,300 | $36,600 | $23,380 | $48,200 | 17,260 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for construction laborers. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Air Breaker Operator or Air Drill Operator frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Construction Laborers compares to others in the 47 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Construction Laborers
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.
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