Construction Laborer Salary in Portland, OR
Construction Laborers in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $54,240 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,845 take-home, or $3,487 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,329
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,363
- Medicare (1.45%)$786
- Oregon income tax$3,916
- Take-home pay$41,845
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,990 | $18.75 | $30,926 | $2,577 |
| 25th percentile | $44,620 | $21.45 | $34,958 | $2,913 |
| Median (50th) | $54,240 | $26.08 | $41,845 | $3,487 |
| 75th percentile | $65,830 | $31.65 | $50,144 | $4,179 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,700 | $39.76 | $60,603 | $5,050 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $54,240 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $41,845 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,694 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 Portland, OR as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #158 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 |
| 158 | Portland, OR | $54,240 | $41,845 | $39,694 |
*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 Oregon
- Salem, OR — $54,500
- Bend, OR — $52,760
- Medford, OR — $49,350
- Eugene, OR — $47,530
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Portland, OR?
The median construction laborer salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $54,240 a year, or about $26.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,620 and $65,830.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $54,240 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $41,845 a year ($3,487 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,916 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,694 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #158 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, OR
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $112,480
- Electrician — $105,090
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $101,010
- Construction and Building Inspector — $93,340
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $81,100
- Sheet Metal Worker — $79,570
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $79,040
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $75,090
- Carpenter — $73,710
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $65,300
- Roofer — $61,210
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall — $60,960