Construction Laborers Salary
Construction Laborers in Ohio make a median of $56,080 a year, or about $26.96 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $61,323 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,188/month, about 32.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $56K get you in Ohio?
About construction laborers
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What this looks like in Ohio
Ohio sits well above the national pay line for construction laborers, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $47K. Rent runs $1,188/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level construction laborers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Construction Laborers salary by metro in Ohio
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandusky | $61K | +8% | 300 |
| Columbus | $61K | +8% | 5,590 |
| Akron | $59K | +5% | 1,830 |
| Cleveland | $57K | +2% | 5,660 |
| Cincinnati | $55K | -2% | 5,700 |
| Canton-Massillon | $54K | -4% | 1,100 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $53K | -5% | 1,390 |
| Lima | $51K | -9% | 230 |
| Toledo | $51K | -10% | 1,520 |
| Springfield | $50K | -11% | 160 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $49K | -13% | 850 |
| Mansfield | $48K | -14% | 260 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track construction laborers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a construction laborer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 30.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for construction laborers in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new construction laborers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,242/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Ohio?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $56K here vs. $47K nationally.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for construction laborers?
Ohio pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do construction laborers make in Ohio?
The median is $56,080 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,370, and experienced construction laborers can clear $79,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,855/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 30.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a construction laborers salary go in Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $61,323 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.