Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Construction Coverage.
Wage growth is routinely touted as one positive aspect of the pandemic-era economy. However, high levels of inflation beginning in 2021 have, in many cases, more than offset increases in pay.
In the construction industry, for example, the average worker has less purchasing power today than in the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite persistent labor shortages and record levels of spending, the absolute changes in earnings for construction workers have failed to keep pace with rising costs.
Despite below-average wage growth nationally, construction workers in certain parts of the country have fared better. To find the locations with the fastest-growing wages for construction workers, researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed data from data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Following is a breakdown of the top U.S. metropolitan areas with the fastest-growing construction wages. For more information, see the methodology section at the end.
15. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Inflation-adjusted change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +3.1%
- Actual change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +25.2%
- Mean annual earnings (2023): $57,800
- Mean annual earnings (2018): $46,180
- Total construction employment: 116,950
- Concentration of construction workers (compared to average): +25.0%
14. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN
- Inflation-adjusted change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +3.3%
- Actual change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +25.3%
- Mean annual earnings (2023): $53,820
- Mean annual earnings (2018): $42,950
- Total construction employment: 41,500
- Concentration of construction workers (compared to average): -6.0%
13. Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
- Inflation-adjusted change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +3.4%
- Actual change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +25.5%
- Mean annual earnings (2023): $61,200
- Mean annual earnings (2018): $48,770
- Total construction employment: 36,460
- Concentration of construction workers (compared to average): -18.0%
12. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Inflation-adjusted change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +3.6%
- Actual change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +25.8%
- Mean annual earnings (2023): $50,910
- Mean annual earnings (2018): $40,480
- Total construction employment: 63,170
- Concentration of construction workers (compared to average): +9.0%
11. Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Inflation-adjusted change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +4.2%
- Actual change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +26.4%
- Mean annual earnings (2023): $58,340
- Mean annual earnings (2018): $46,160
- Total construction employment: 19,880
- Concentration of construction workers (compared to average): -10.0%
10. Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Inflation-adjusted change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +4.4%
- Actual change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +26.7%
- Mean annual earnings (2023): $51,760
- Mean annual earnings (2018): $40,860
- Total construction employment: 19,760
- Concentration of construction workers (compared to average): -23.0%
9. Fresno, CA
- Inflation-adjusted change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +4.4%
- Actual change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +26.7%
- Mean annual earnings (2023): $67,440
- Mean annual earnings (2018): $53,210
- Total construction employment: 15,590
- Concentration of construction workers (compared to average): -7.0%
8. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Inflation-adjusted change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +5.0%
- Actual change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +27.4%
- Mean annual earnings (2023): $82,670
- Mean annual earnings (2018): $64,890
- Total construction employment: 95,880
- Concentration of construction workers (compared to average): +12.0%
7. Tucson, AZ
- Inflation-adjusted change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +5.7%
- Actual change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +28.3%
- Mean annual earnings (2023): $52,680
- Mean annual earnings (2018): $41,070
- Total construction employment: 14,950
- Concentration of construction workers (compared to average): -5.0%
6. Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA
- Inflation-adjusted change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +5.9%
- Actual change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +28.5%
- Mean annual earnings (2023): $72,450
- Mean annual earnings (2018): $56,390
- Total construction employment: 53,350
- Concentration of construction workers (compared to average): +24.0%
5. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
- Inflation-adjusted change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +6.0%
- Actual change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +28.6%
- Mean annual earnings (2023): $74,770
- Mean annual earnings (2018): $58,150
- Total construction employment: 57,010
- Concentration of construction workers (compared to average): +15.0%
4. Columbus, OH
- Inflation-adjusted change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +7.1%
- Actual change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +30.0%
- Mean annual earnings (2023): $64,090
- Mean annual earnings (2018): $49,310
- Total construction employment: 34,800
- Concentration of construction workers (compared to average): -20.0%
3. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
- Inflation-adjusted change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +7.4%
- Actual change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +30.3%
- Mean annual earnings (2023): $64,890
- Mean annual earnings (2018): $49,810
- Total construction employment: 57,080
- Concentration of construction workers (compared to average): +29.0%
2. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Inflation-adjusted change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +7.5%
- Actual change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +30.5%
- Mean annual earnings (2023): $56,170
- Mean annual earnings (2018): $43,050
- Total construction employment: 103,120
- Concentration of construction workers (compared to average): -8.0%
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Inflation-adjusted change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +8.7%
- Actual change in mean earnings (2018-2023): +31.9%
- Mean annual earnings (2023): $88,620
- Mean annual earnings (2018): $67,180
- Total construction employment: 36,830
- Concentration of construction workers (compared to average): -21.0%
Methodology
To find the locations with the fastest-growing wages for construction workers, researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
The researchers ranked locations according to the inflation-adjusted change in mean construction worker earnings from 2018 to 2023.
Researchers also calculated the unadjusted change in mean earnings from 2018 to 2023, mean annual earnings for 2023 and 2018, and the concentration of construction workers compared to the national share.
