Construction Laborer Salary in Durham, NC
Construction Laborers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $46,560 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,242 take-home, or $3,187 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,407
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,887
- Medicare (1.45%)$675
- North Carolina income tax$1,349
- Take-home pay$38,242
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,710 | $17.65 | $30,720 | $2,560 |
| 25th percentile | $39,570 | $19.02 | $32,904 | $2,742 |
| Median (50th) | $46,560 | $22.38 | $38,242 | $3,187 |
| 75th percentile | $52,310 | $25.15 | $42,633 | $3,553 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,560 | $28.63 | $48,169 | $4,014 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,560 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $38,242 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,194 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 Durham, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.46), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #169 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 |
| 169 | Durham, NC | $46,560 | $38,242 | $39,194 |
*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
- Charlotte, NC — $45,850
- Raleigh, NC — $45,650
- Winston, NC — $42,210
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Durham, NC?
The median construction laborer salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $46,560 a year, or about $22.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,570 and $52,310.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $46,560 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $38,242 a year ($3,187 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,349 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,194 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #169 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $75,430
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $60,110
- Electrician — $59,220
- Carpenter — $51,540
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $50,820