New Analysis of Construction Wages by Region and Occupation

Construction wages vary by occupation and metro area. New analysis of Census survey data shows where wages are highest and lowest, and the range of median incomes for each occupation.

The analysis found that there is a relationship between the pay grade and the level of skill required for a given job. “Occupations that require more training or technical expertise consistently pay higher than those with lower barriers to entry,” says BuildZoom’s chief economist, Dr. Issi Romem. The highest-paying jobs often require specializations such as licenses and certifications. Specializations can also function as a control, reducing the supply of such tradesmen, and increasing wages.

Within any given city, supervisors are paid the most and painters the least, with an overall downward slope. This demonstrates that certain construction occupations are consistently better paid than others across the different cities. Chicago, denoted by the upper blue line, catches the eye as having higher wages across the board. Boston, Philadelphia, San Jose and New York also generally pay higher salaries. Towards the bottom of the graph are the cities that pay less for all six construction jobs, including Dallas and Miami.

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