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Salary comparison

Electricians vs. Construction Laborers: Who Earns More?

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

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

Pay by state

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

State
Electricians
Construction Laborers
Oregon
$101,310
$50,860
Illinois
$99,560
$60,690
Hawaii
$96,460
$77,110
Washington
$95,220
$57,720
Alaska
$89,440
$58,060
Massachusetts
$79,420
$63,390
New York
$78,750
$55,930
Minnesota
$78,160
$60,260
Connecticut
$77,540
$58,290
New Jersey
$77,250
$64,060
Wisconsin
$76,540
$56,100
California
$76,160
$60,270
Rhode Island
$74,090
$57,240
Missouri
$65,410
$56,730
Ohio
$64,700
$56,080

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Electricianss or Construction Laborerss?

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

Which has better job growth, Electricians or Construction Laborers?

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, Electricians or Construction Laborers?

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

Where do Electricianss get paid the most?

Oregon is the top-paying state for Electricianss at $101,310/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In Oregon, Electricianss earn $101,310 vs. $50,860 for Construction Laborerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

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