Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Construction Laborers vs. Electricians: Who Earns More?

Electricianss out-earn Construction Laborerss by $16K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Construction Laborerss land at $47,120 and Electricianss at $63,190. The education gap is real: construction laborer programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while electrician programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Construction Laborerss is Hawaii ($77,110); for Electricianss it's Oregon ($101,310).

Construction Laborers
Electricians
Median salary
$47,120
$63,190
Hourly rate
$22.66/hr
$30.38/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$35,090
$42,640
Senior level (90th %)
$78,090
$108,510
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
1,096,780
757,220
Job growth (10-year)
7.3%
9.5%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
Hawaii
Oregon

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Construction Laborers median pay.

State
Construction Laborers
Electricians
Hawaii
$77,110
$96,460
New Jersey
$64,060
$77,250
Massachusetts
$63,390
$79,420
Illinois
$60,690
$99,560
California
$60,270
$76,160
Minnesota
$60,260
$78,160
Connecticut
$58,290
$77,540
Alaska
$58,060
$89,440
Washington
$57,720
$95,220
Wisconsin
$56,100
$76,540
New York
$55,930
$78,750
Oregon
$50,860
$101,310
District of Columbia
$50,020
$78,970
Montana
$49,830
$76,760
Michigan
$49,590
$76,270

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Construction Laborerss or Electricianss?

Electricianss earn more nationally. The median is $47,120 for Construction Laborerss versus $63,190 for Electricianss, a difference of $16K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Construction Laborers or Electricians?

Electricians has the better 10-year outlook at 9.5% projected growth, compared to 7.3% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Construction Laborers or Electricians?

Construction Laborers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Electricians requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Construction Laborerss get paid the most?

Hawaii is the top-paying state for Construction Laborerss at $77,110/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Construction Laborers vs. Electricians pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Hawaii, Construction Laborerss earn $77,110 vs. $96,460 for Electricianss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Construction Laborers salary breakdownView →Full Electricians salary breakdownView →Best cities for Construction Laborerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Electricianss by take-home payExplore →How to become a construction laborersGuide →How to become a electriciansGuide →