Construction Laborer Salary in Reading, PA
Construction Laborers in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median $48,800 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,893 take-home, or $3,324 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Reading, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,676
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,026
- Medicare (1.45%)$708
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,498
- Take-home pay$39,893
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Reading, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,810 | $18.18 | $31,400 | $2,617 |
| 25th percentile | $45,300 | $21.78 | $37,188 | $3,099 |
| Median (50th) | $48,800 | $23.46 | $39,893 | $3,324 |
| 75th percentile | $60,590 | $29.13 | $49,004 | $4,084 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,300 | $34.28 | $56,801 | $4,733 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,800 buys in Reading, PA
Prices in Reading, PA are 2.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 15% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $39,893 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,101 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 Reading, PA than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Reading, PA ranks #136 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 |
| 136 | Reading, PA | $48,800 | $39,893 | $41,101 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- State College, PA — $53,420
- Philadelphia, PA — $55,120
- Pittsburgh, PA — $50,600
- Scranton, PA — $48,290
- York, PA — $49,350
- Erie, PA — $46,480
- Harrisburg, PA — $49,670
- Chambersburg, PA — $46,860
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Reading, PA?
The median construction laborer salary in the Reading, PA metro area is $48,800 a year, or about $23.46 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,300 and $60,590.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Reading, PA?
On the median $48,800 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $39,893 a year ($3,324 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,498 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Reading, PA a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 2.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,101 would in a typical U.S. city. Reading, PA ranks #136 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Reading, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Reading, PA is $1,237 a month ($1,575 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Reading, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $78,770
- Electrician — $75,070
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $62,290
- Carpenter — $54,930