Construction Laborer Salary in Richmond, VA
Construction Laborers in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median $42,410 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,632 take-home, or $2,886 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Richmond, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,909
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,629
- Medicare (1.45%)$615
- Virginia income tax$1,624
- Take-home pay$34,632
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Richmond, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,480 | $15.62 | $27,224 | $2,269 |
| 25th percentile | $37,880 | $18.21 | $31,253 | $2,604 |
| Median (50th) | $42,410 | $20.39 | $34,632 | $2,886 |
| 75th percentile | $47,020 | $22.61 | $38,071 | $3,173 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,190 | $25.57 | $42,674 | $3,556 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,410 buys in Richmond, VA
Prices in Richmond, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $34,632 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,390 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 Richmond, VA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Richmond, VA ranks #254 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 |
| 254 | Richmond, VA | $42,410 | $34,632 | $35,390 |
*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 Virginia
- Harrisonburg, VA — $43,520
- Charlottesville, VA — $45,080
- Lynchburg, VA — $38,400
- Roanoke, VA — $38,150
- Virginia Beach, VA — $38,490
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Richmond, VA?
The median construction laborer salary in the Richmond, VA metro area is $42,410 a year, or about $20.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,880 and $47,020.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Richmond, VA?
On the median $42,410 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $34,632 a year ($2,886 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,624 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Richmond, VA a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,390 would in a typical U.S. city. Richmond, VA ranks #254 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Richmond, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Richmond, VA is $1,505 a month ($1,653 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $76,630
- Construction and Building Inspector — $70,790
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $61,480
- Electrician — $61,350
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $55,280
- Carpenter — $51,870
- Sheet Metal Worker — $48,010
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $47,670
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $45,670