Construction Laborer Salary in Washington, DC
Construction Laborers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $47,430 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,610 take-home, or $3,218 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,512
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,941
- Medicare (1.45%)$688
- District of Columbia income tax$1,680
- Take-home pay$38,610
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,030 | $17.80 | $30,878 | $2,573 |
| 25th percentile | $41,740 | $20.07 | $34,380 | $2,865 |
| Median (50th) | $47,430 | $22.80 | $38,610 | $3,218 |
| 75th percentile | $56,260 | $27.05 | $45,175 | $3,765 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,800 | $30.19 | $50,004 | $4,167 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,430 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $38,610 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,460 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 Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #249 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 |
| 249 | Washington, DC | $47,430 | $38,610 | $35,460 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 286 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Washington, DC?
The median construction laborer salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $47,430 a year, or about $22.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $41,740 and $56,260.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $47,430 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $38,610 a year ($3,218 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,680 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,460 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #249 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $83,540
- Construction and Building Inspector — $80,150
- Electrician — $75,930
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $71,860
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $68,320
- Glazier — $63,310
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $61,660
- Sheet Metal Worker — $61,270
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining — $61,040
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $60,810
- Carpenter — $60,800
- Brickmason and Blockmason — $60,670