Construction Laborer Salary in Nashville, TN
Construction Laborers in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median $46,190 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,294 take-home, or $3,274 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Nashville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,363
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,864
- Medicare (1.45%)$670
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$39,294
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Nashville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,640 | $17.62 | $31,620 | $2,635 |
| 25th percentile | $38,840 | $18.67 | $33,388 | $2,782 |
| Median (50th) | $46,190 | $22.21 | $39,294 | $3,274 |
| 75th percentile | $50,480 | $24.27 | $42,741 | $3,562 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,270 | $28.50 | $49,803 | $4,150 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,190 buys in Nashville, TN
Prices in Nashville, TN are 3.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $39,294 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,787 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Construction Laborer jobs are about as common in Nashville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.18).
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Nashville, TN ranks #38 of 76 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis, MO | $64,500 | $51,912 | $54,593 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $77,960 | $59,280 | $53,424 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $60,540 | $49,941 | $52,312 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $57,180 | $47,334 | $50,397 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $68,470 | $53,843 | $48,761 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $72,610 | $56,371 | $48,758 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $57,430 | $46,579 | $48,051 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $54,930 | $45,588 | $47,801 |
| 38 | Nashville, TN | $46,190 | $39,294 | $40,787 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 76 metros →
About the job: construction laborers
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. Construction laborers who primarily assist a particular craft worker are classified under "Helpers, Construction Trades" (47-3010).
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +7.3% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Construction Laborer salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Knoxville, TN — $46,130
- Memphis, TN — $44,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Nashville, TN?
The median construction laborer salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $46,190 a year, or about $22.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,840 and $50,480.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Nashville, TN?
On the median $46,190 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $39,294 a year ($3,274 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,787 would in a typical U.S. city. Nashville, TN ranks #38 of 76 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Nashville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Nashville, TN is $1,530 a month ($1,685 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Nashville, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $78,830
- Electrician — $63,340
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $60,100
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $56,030
- Carpenter — $55,770