Construction Laborer Salary in Houston, TX
Construction Laborers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $41,350 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,405 take-home, or $2,950 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,782
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,564
- Medicare (1.45%)$600
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$35,405
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,880 | $16.77 | $30,206 | $2,517 |
| 25th percentile | $37,070 | $17.82 | $31,966 | $2,664 |
| Median (50th) | $41,350 | $19.88 | $35,405 | $2,950 |
| 75th percentile | $47,590 | $22.88 | $40,419 | $3,368 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,310 | $28.03 | $49,032 | $4,086 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $41,350 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $35,405 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,897 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 1.5× the national concentration of construction laborer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #237 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 |
| 237 | Houston, TX | $41,350 | $35,405 | $35,897 |
*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 Texas
- Beaumont, TX — $44,240
- Sherman, TX — $43,500
- Corpus Christi, TX — $42,440
- Austin, TX — $44,000
- Texarkana, TX — $36,360
- Longview, TX — $37,840
- Dallas, TX — $43,960
- Abilene, TX — $38,160
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Houston, TX?
The median construction laborer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $41,350 a year, or about $19.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,070 and $47,590.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $41,350 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $35,405 a year ($2,950 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,897 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #237 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 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 Houston, TX
- Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer — $104,350
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas — $79,450
- Boilermaker — $77,090
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $76,020
- Construction and Building Inspector — $66,780
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas — $62,910
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $61,300
- Electrician — $59,180
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $58,030
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas — $57,970
- Brickmason and Blockmason — $56,410
- Sheet Metal Worker — $51,870