Construction Laborer Salary in Boston, MA
Construction Laborers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $63,420 a year — 35% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,187 take-home, or $4,182 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,430
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,932
- Medicare (1.45%)$920
- Massachusetts income tax$2,951
- Take-home pay$50,187
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,460 | $22.34 | $37,408 | $3,117 |
| 25th percentile | $54,540 | $26.22 | $43,496 | $3,625 |
| Median (50th) | $63,420 | $30.49 | $50,187 | $4,182 |
| 75th percentile | $93,830 | $45.11 | $70,368 | $5,864 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,410 | $47.79 | $74,014 | $6,168 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,420 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $50,187 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,355 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 Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.61), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #48 of 286 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vineland, NJ | $83,680 | $64,558 | $67,271 |
| 2 | Trenton, NJ | $71,920 | $57,000 | $55,243 |
| 3 | Kahului, HI | $79,760 | $60,410 | $55,222 |
| 4 | Duluth, MN | $61,340 | $48,819 | $54,996 |
| 5 | Decatur, IL | $61,270 | $48,522 | $54,876 |
| 6 | St. Louis, MO | $64,500 | $51,912 | $54,593 |
| 7 | Peoria, IL | $62,960 | $49,797 | $54,583 |
| 8 | Jefferson City, MO | $58,220 | $47,161 | $53,607 |
| 48 | Boston, MA | $63,420 | $50,187 | $46,355 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 286 metros →
Construction Laborer salaries elsewhere in Massachusetts
- Springfield, MA — $62,660
- Barnstable Town, MA — $60,040
- Worcester, MA — $61,410
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Boston, MA?
The median construction laborer salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $63,420 a year, or about $30.49 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $54,540 and $93,830.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $63,420 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $50,187 a year ($4,182 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,951 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 35% above the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,355 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #48 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $120,840
- Glazier — $107,610
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $99,890
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles — $98,290
- Brickmason and Blockmason — $96,960
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $96,760
- Construction and Building Inspector — $84,620
- Sheet Metal Worker — $82,550
- Electrician — $79,910
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $76,940
- Carpenter — $75,210
- Miscellaneous Construction and Related Worker — $74,880