Construction Laborer Salary in Charlotte, NC
Construction Laborers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $45,850 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,700 take-home, or $3,142 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,322
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,843
- Medicare (1.45%)$665
- North Carolina income tax$1,321
- Take-home pay$37,700
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Charlotte, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,730 | $14.29 | $25,391 | $2,116 |
| 25th percentile | $38,190 | $18.36 | $31,851 | $2,654 |
| Median (50th) | $45,850 | $22.04 | $37,700 | $3,142 |
| 75th percentile | $49,760 | $23.92 | $40,685 | $3,390 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,990 | $29.80 | $50,024 | $4,169 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,850 buys in Charlotte, NC
Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $37,700 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,727 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 Charlotte, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Charlotte, NC ranks #179 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 |
| 179 | Charlotte, NC | $45,850 | $37,700 | $38,727 |
*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 North Carolina
- Hickory, NC — $44,550
- Asheville, NC — $47,520
- Greenville, NC — $42,420
- Wilmington, NC — $46,090
- Fayetteville, NC — $43,740
- Durham, NC — $46,560
- Raleigh, NC — $45,650
- Winston, NC — $42,210
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Charlotte, NC?
The median construction laborer salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $45,850 a year, or about $22.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,190 and $49,760.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?
On the median $45,850 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $37,700 a year ($3,142 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,321 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,727 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #179 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Charlotte, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charlotte, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $77,300
- Construction and Building Inspector — $75,570
- Electrician — $59,080
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $58,690
- Brickmason and Blockmason — $52,500
- Carpenter — $50,960
- Sheet Metal Worker — $50,890
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $50,870
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $49,470
- Pipelayer — $48,980
- Roofer — $48,410
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $48,290