Report Shows Regional Construction Wage Divide

U.S. construction employment surpassed 8.34 million workers by mid-2026, an all-time record, after plateauing around 8.25 million throughout 2025. The median annual construction wage is $59,540, about 17% above the $50,980 median for all U.S. occupations. After cost-of-living adjustment, Illinois leads at $80,604, with other strong Midwestern figures including Minnesota at $73,605, North Dakota at $68,773, Missouri at $67,972, and Iowa at $67,751 (10th nationally). Alaska ranks third at $73,877 cost-adjusted, on an actual wage of $75,620, with 21,690 construction workers and living costs 2.4% above average. Florida is lowest at $47,740, with Texas at $50,661 and Georgia third-lowest at $51,707. Outlets across the spectrum carried the same underlying rankings while leading with their own states. Left-rated coverage highlighted New Hampshire’s $57,678 adjusted figure. Right-rated coverage led with North Carolina as fourth-lowest, Georgia as third-lowest, and Indiana’s $66,282 ranking 14th. Center-rated outlets similarly localized figures for states such as Iowa, Nebraska, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.