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Salary comparison

Helpers--Carpenters vs. Construction Laborers: Who Earns More?

Construction Laborerss out-earn Helpers--Carpenterss by $3K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Helpers--Carpenterss land at $43,780 and Construction Laborerss at $47,120. The education gap is real: helpers--carpenter programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while construction laborer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Helpers--Carpenterss is New Hampshire ($58,090); for Construction Laborerss it's Hawaii ($77,110).

Helpers--Carpenters
Construction Laborers
Median salary
$43,780
$47,120
Hourly rate
$21.05/hr
$22.66/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$31,660
$35,090
Senior level (90th %)
$57,670
$78,090
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
21,680
1,096,780
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
7.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
New Hampshire
Hawaii

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Helpers--Carpenters median pay.

State
Helpers--Carpenters
Construction Laborers
Connecticut
$50,460
$58,290
Rhode Island
$50,300
$57,240
California
$49,890
$60,270
Massachusetts
$48,130
$63,390
New York
$47,740
$55,930
Washington
$46,060
$57,720
Illinois
$45,660
$60,690
Ohio
$44,760
$56,080
Hawaii
$44,550
$77,110
New Jersey
$44,040
$64,060
Oregon
$43,260
$50,860
Indiana
$42,940
$50,070
Wisconsin
$39,480
$56,100
Alaska
$39,210
$58,060
Missouri
$32,420
$56,730

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Helpers--Carpenterss or Construction Laborerss?

Construction Laborerss earn more nationally. The median is $43,780 for Helpers--Carpenterss versus $47,120 for Construction Laborerss, a difference of $3K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Helpers--Carpenters or Construction Laborers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Helpers--Carpenters or Construction Laborers?

Helpers--Carpenters 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 Helpers--Carpenterss get paid the most?

New Hampshire is the top-paying state for Helpers--Carpenterss at $58,090/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Helpers--Carpenters vs. Construction Laborers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Connecticut, Helpers--Carpenterss earn $50,460 vs. $58,290 for Construction Laborerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Helpers--Carpenters salary breakdownView →Full Construction Laborers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Helpers--Carpenterss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Construction Laborerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a helpers--carpentersGuide →How to become a construction laborersGuide →