Construction Laborer Salary in Washington, DC
Construction Laborers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $47,430 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,610 take-home, or $3,218 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,512
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,941
- Medicare (1.45%)$688
- District of Columbia income tax$1,680
- Take-home pay$38,610
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,030 | $17.80 | $30,878 | $2,573 |
| 25th percentile | $41,740 | $20.07 | $34,380 | $2,865 |
| Median (50th) | $47,430 | $22.80 | $38,610 | $3,218 |
| 75th percentile | $56,260 | $27.05 | $45,175 | $3,765 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,800 | $30.19 | $50,004 | $4,167 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,430 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $38,610 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,460 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 less concentrated in Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #67 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 |
| 67 | Washington, DC | $47,430 | $38,610 | $35,460 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Washington, DC?
The median construction laborer salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $47,430 a year, or about $22.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $41,740 and $56,260.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $47,430 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $38,610 a year ($3,218 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,680 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,460 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #67 of 76 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $83,540
- Construction and Building Inspector — $80,150
- Electrician — $75,930
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $71,860
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $61,660
- Carpenter — $60,800
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $58,350
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $50,560