Helpers, Construction Trades, All Other Salary
In Virginia, helpers, construction trades, all others earn $42,310 at the median, or about $20.34 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $44,636 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 57% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $42K get you in Virginia?
About helpers, construction trades, all others
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What this looks like in Virginia
Helpers, construction trades, all other pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $42K locally vs. $43K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 57.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Virginia
Entry-level helpers, construction trades, all others (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers, Construction Trades, All Other salary by metro in Virginia
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $43K | +3% | 140 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $38K | -10% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track helpers, construction trades, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers, construction trades, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 57.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for helpers, construction trades, all others in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers, construction trades, all others typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,153/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 76% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is helpers, construction trades, all other a high-paying job in Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $42K locally vs. $43K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for helpers, construction trades, all others?
Virginia pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $43K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers, construction trades, all others make in Virginia?
The median is $42,310 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,880, and experienced helpers, construction trades, all others can clear $50,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,843/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 57.9% 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 helpers, construction trades, all other salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 helpers, construction trades, all other salary is worth about $44,636 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do helpers, construction trades, all others 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.