Construction Laborers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Construction and Extraction · SOC 47-2061 · O*NET 47-2061.00
Construction Laborers fall under the Construction and Extraction category in the U.S. occupational classification. Construction Laborers earn a median salary of $47,120 per year, ranking in the top 75% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +7.3% job growth through 2035, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do construction laborers earn?
The median annual wage for construction laborers is $47,120. That puts construction laborers at #619 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is construction laborers a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for construction laborers is +7.3%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 1.5M positions in 2024 to 1.6M in 2034, a net change of 109K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What education does my child need to become construction laborer?
Construction Laborers typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about construction laborers
What is the median salary for construction laborers?
The median annual salary for construction laborers is $47,120 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is construction laborers a growing career?
BLS projects +7.3% growth for construction laborers from 2025 through 2035, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become construction laborer?
The typical entry path requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to construction laborers?
Related occupations within the Construction and Extraction category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 release.