Construction Laborers Salary
Construction Laborers in Missouri make a median of $56,730 a year, or about $27.28 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $63,763 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 29.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in Missouri?
About construction laborers
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What this looks like in Missouri
Missouri sits well above the national pay line for construction laborers, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $47K. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level construction laborers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Construction Laborers salary by metro in Missouri
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $65K | +14% | 8,670 |
| Jefferson City | $58K | +3% | 580 |
| Cape Girardeau | $58K | +2% | 220 |
| Columbia | $57K | +0% | 470 |
| St. Joseph | $52K | -9% | 280 |
| Kansas City | $51K | -11% | 6,580 |
| Joplin | $50K | -12% | 510 |
| Springfield | $48K | -16% | 1,020 |
Compare to other states
Track construction laborers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a construction laborer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 28.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for construction laborers in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new construction laborers typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,272/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is construction laborer a high-paying job in Missouri?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $57K here vs. $47K nationally.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for construction laborers?
Missouri pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do construction laborers make in Missouri?
The median is $56,730 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,870, and experienced construction laborers can clear $83,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,809/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 28.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a construction laborers salary go in Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median construction laborers salary is worth about $63,763 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do construction laborers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.