Construction Laborer Salary in Scranton, PA
Construction Laborers in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area earn a median $48,290 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,499 take-home, or $3,292 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Scranton, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,615
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,994
- Medicare (1.45%)$700
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,483
- Take-home pay$39,499
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Scranton, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,330 | $17.95 | $31,029 | $2,586 |
| 25th percentile | $40,620 | $19.53 | $33,571 | $2,798 |
| Median (50th) | $48,290 | $23.22 | $39,499 | $3,292 |
| 75th percentile | $60,080 | $28.88 | $48,610 | $4,051 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,170 | $35.18 | $58,059 | $4,838 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,290 buys in Scranton, PA
Prices in Scranton, PA are 6.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 33% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $39,499 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,219 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 Scranton, PA than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Scranton, PA ranks #117 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 |
| 117 | Scranton, PA | $48,290 | $39,499 | $42,219 |
*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
- York, PA — $49,350
- Erie, PA — $46,480
- Harrisburg, PA — $49,670
- Reading, PA — $48,800
- Chambersburg, PA — $46,860
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Scranton, PA?
The median construction laborer salary in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area is $48,290 a year, or about $23.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,620 and $60,080.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Scranton, PA?
On the median $48,290 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $39,499 a year ($3,292 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,483 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Scranton, PA a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 6.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,219 would in a typical U.S. city. Scranton, PA ranks #117 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Scranton, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Scranton, PA is $1,028 a month ($1,252 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Scranton, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $78,660
- Electrician — $69,540
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $61,160
- Carpenter — $60,240
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $59,330
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $48,860