Construction Laborer Salary in Memphis, TN
Construction Laborers in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $44,810 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,185 take-home, or $3,182 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,197
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,778
- Medicare (1.45%)$650
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$38,185
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,970 | $16.81 | $30,278 | $2,523 |
| 25th percentile | $38,090 | $18.31 | $32,785 | $2,732 |
| Median (50th) | $44,810 | $21.54 | $38,185 | $3,182 |
| 75th percentile | $50,760 | $24.40 | $42,966 | $3,580 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,750 | $31.13 | $54,207 | $4,517 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,810 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $38,185 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,425 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 Memphis, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Memphis, TN ranks #132 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 |
| 132 | Memphis, TN | $44,810 | $38,185 | $41,425 |
*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 Tennessee
- Kingsport, TN — $45,370
- Jackson, TN — $44,610
- Knoxville, TN — $46,130
- Nashville, TN — $46,190
- Chattanooga, TN — $43,260
- Johnson City, TN — $41,150
- Clarksville, TN — $41,950
- Morristown, TN — $38,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Memphis, TN?
The median construction laborer salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $44,810 a year, or about $21.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,090 and $50,760.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $44,810 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $38,185 a year ($3,182 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,425 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #132 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $75,850
- Electrician — $60,890
- Construction and Building Inspector — $59,750
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $58,690
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $53,870
- Carpenter — $50,620
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $50,030
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $44,620
- Helpers--Electrician — $38,420