How much do construction jobs pay?

For general construction workers, the average hourly pay as of 2011 was $16.43, with an average annual income of around $34,170. The highest paid general laborers are those in Hawaii, where the pay averages around $51,320 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

For paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators, the BLS reports an average hourly wage of $18.99 and $39,500 a year.

Carpenters earned about $10,000 more than their general laborer counterparts, while structural iron and steel works earned about $16,000 more.

The highest paying construction jobs are found in metropolitan areas such as Leominster, Massachusetts, and Gary, Indiana.