Construction Laborers Salary
Construction Laborers in Tennessee make a median of $45,000 a year, or about $21.64 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $50,123 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 37.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Tennessee?
About construction laborers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Tennessee
Construction laborers pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $45K locally vs. $47K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 38.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level construction laborers (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Construction Laborers salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $46K | +3% | 9,170 |
| Knoxville | $46K | +3% | 3,640 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $45K | +1% | 1,430 |
| Memphis | $45K | -0% | 3,940 |
| Jackson | $45K | -1% | 580 |
| Cleveland | $44K | -2% | 310 |
| Chattanooga | $43K | -4% | 1,800 |
| Clarksville | $42K | -7% | 620 |
| Johnson City | $41K | -9% | 580 |
| Morristown | $38K | -15% | 520 |
Compare to other states
Track construction laborers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a construction laborer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 38.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for construction laborers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new construction laborers typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,095/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 58% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $45K locally vs. $47K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for construction laborers?
Tennessee pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do construction laborers make in Tennessee?
The median is $45,000 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,910, and experienced construction laborers can clear $59,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,183/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 38.2% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $50,123 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.