For the past several years, the percentage of women in construction has been steadily increasing, with women now comprising 14.3% of all workers and 10.2% of full-time workers in the sector. However, according to a report from Construction Coverage—a website that compares the best construction software, insurance, and financial products—some states provide better opportunities for women than others. Pay in the industry varies significantly by state, with regional cost-of-living differences affecting the real value of wages. The state offering the best pay is Alaska, followed by Massachusetts, and then Washington.
Due to women’s relatively high concentrations in the sector’s top-paying jobs, the median wage for full-time women working in construction exceeds that for all full-time working women in 39 states. Additionally, the gender wage gap in the construction industry is 3.6%, compared to 18% across all full-time workers.
Outside of occupation, location is a critical determinant of construction industry pay. Nationally, full-time female workers earn $52,478 annually in the sector, but pay varies widely by state.