Contractor Labor Rates by Metro, 2025 BLS Wages for 12 Trades
Updated Nov 6, 2026 · Source: BLS OES May 2025 · 24 metros · By Takeoff Convert
What do construction trades earn, and what should an hour bill at?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics OES May 2025 table, the national mean hourly wage for the twelve residential construction trades below runs from $25.02 (construction laborers and painters sit at the bottom of the range) to $34.70 (electricians and plumbers at the top), and the same trade pays 30% to 60% more in San Francisco, New York or Boston than in Kansas City or Tampa. A contractor's cost for that hour is the wage plus about 35% payroll burden, and the hour sells for roughly 2.9× the bare wage once a 1.6× shop multiplier, 20% labor markup and 10% overhead and profit are applied. The tables below give all three numbers for every trade and metro, each with a link to the BLS series it comes from, and they are the same figures Takeoff Convert uses to price labor on every estimate.
National mean wage by trade
| Occupation (SOC) | Mean wage | Burdened | Billable / hr | By metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | $34.70 | $46.85 | $99 | jump ↓ |
| Electricians (47-2111) | $34.37 | $46.40 | $98 | jump ↓ |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | $32.83 | $44.32 | $94 | jump ↓ |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | $31.55 | $42.59 | $90 | jump ↓ |
| HVAC mechanics and installers (49-9021) | $31.14 | $42.04 | $89 | jump ↓ |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | $30.58 | $41.28 | $87 | jump ↓ |
| Glaziers (47-2121) | $28.71 | $38.76 | $82 | jump ↓ |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | $28.49 | $38.46 | $81 | jump ↓ |
| Roofers (47-2181) | $27.95 | $37.73 | $80 | jump ↓ |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | $26.64 | $35.96 | $76 | jump ↓ |
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) | $26.32 | $35.53 | $75 | jump ↓ |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | $25.02 | $33.78 | $71 | jump ↓ |
Billable = wage × 1.35 burden × 1.6 shop multiplier × 1.20 labor markup × 1.10 overhead and profit. Change any of the four in your own price book; these are the defaults Takeoff Convert starts a new account with.
Carpenters: hourly wage by metro
The labor half of every carpenters price above is anchored to the Bureau of Labor Statistics mean hourly wage for Carpenters (SOC 47-2031, OES May 2025) in the contractor's metro. Burdened cost adds 35% for payroll taxes, workers' comp and insurance. Billable is what one crew hour sells for after a 1.6× shop multiplier, 20% labor markup and 10% overhead and profit.
| Metro | Mean wage | Burdened cost | Billable / hr | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $43.09 | $58.17 | $123 | BLS series |
| Seattle, WA | $40.42 | $54.57 | $115 | BLS series |
| Chicago, IL | $39.96 | $53.95 | $114 | BLS series |
| Boston, MA | $39.07 | $52.74 | $111 | BLS series |
| New York, NY | $38.73 | $52.29 | $110 | BLS series |
| Los Angeles, CA | $37.79 | $51.02 | $108 | BLS series |
| Portland, OR | $37.47 | $50.58 | $107 | BLS series |
| San Diego, CA | $37.14 | $50.14 | $106 | BLS series |
| Minneapolis, MN | $35.85 | $48.40 | $102 | BLS series |
| Las Vegas, NV | $33.51 | $45.24 | $96 | BLS series |
| Denver, CO | $32.76 | $44.23 | $93 | BLS series |
| Kansas City, MO | $32.45 | $43.81 | $93 | BLS series |
| Washington, DC | $32.11 | $43.35 | $92 | BLS series |
| Detroit, MI | $32.10 | $43.34 | $92 | BLS series |
| Philadelphia, PA | $31.70 | $42.80 | $90 | BLS series |
| Phoenix, AZ | $29.03 | $39.19 | $83 | BLS series |
| Nashville, TN | $27.27 | $36.81 | $78 | BLS series |
| Tampa, FL | $26.09 | $35.22 | $74 | BLS series |
| Miami, FL | $25.97 | $35.06 | $74 | BLS series |
| Austin, TX | $25.89 | $34.95 | $74 | BLS series |
| Charlotte, NC | $25.70 | $34.70 | $73 | BLS series |
| Houston, TX | $25.48 | $34.40 | $73 | BLS series |
| Atlanta, GA | $24.81 | $33.49 | $71 | BLS series |
| Dallas, TX | $24.16 | $32.62 | $69 | BLS series |
| United States (mean) | $31.55 | $42.59 | $90 | BLS series |
Pricing guides built on this wage: What should I charge for flooring installation?, What should I charge for fence installation?, What should I charge for deck building?, What should I charge for siding installation?, What should I charge for a bathroom remodel?, What should I charge for a kitchen remodel?, What should I charge for window installation?
Electricians: hourly wage by metro
The labor half of every electricians price above is anchored to the Bureau of Labor Statistics mean hourly wage for Electricians (SOC 47-2111, OES May 2025) in the contractor's metro. Burdened cost adds 35% for payroll taxes, workers' comp and insurance. Billable is what one crew hour sells for after a 1.6× shop multiplier, 20% labor markup and 10% overhead and profit.
| Metro | Mean wage | Burdened cost | Billable / hr | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $49.85 | $67.30 | $142 | BLS series |
| Portland, OR | $49.53 | $66.87 | $141 | BLS series |
| Seattle, WA | $47.94 | $64.72 | $137 | BLS series |
| Chicago, IL | $45.41 | $61.30 | $129 | BLS series |
| New York, NY | $42.63 | $57.55 | $122 | BLS series |
| Minneapolis, MN | $40.31 | $54.42 | $115 | BLS series |
| Boston, MA | $40.08 | $54.11 | $114 | BLS series |
| Los Angeles, CA | $39.57 | $53.42 | $113 | BLS series |
| San Diego, CA | $39.54 | $53.38 | $113 | BLS series |
| Philadelphia, PA | $39.29 | $53.04 | $112 | BLS series |
| Washington, DC | $38.29 | $51.69 | $109 | BLS series |
| Detroit, MI | $38.10 | $51.44 | $109 | BLS series |
| Kansas City, MO | $37.34 | $50.41 | $106 | BLS series |
| Las Vegas, NV | $36.16 | $48.82 | $103 | BLS series |
| Denver, CO | $32.50 | $43.88 | $93 | BLS series |
| Nashville, TN | $32.07 | $43.29 | $91 | BLS series |
| Phoenix, AZ | $30.95 | $41.78 | $88 | BLS series |
| Atlanta, GA | $29.82 | $40.26 | $85 | BLS series |
| Houston, TX | $29.55 | $39.89 | $84 | BLS series |
| Austin, TX | $29.25 | $39.49 | $83 | BLS series |
| Dallas, TX | $28.83 | $38.92 | $82 | BLS series |
| Miami, FL | $28.81 | $38.89 | $82 | BLS series |
| Charlotte, NC | $28.41 | $38.35 | $81 | BLS series |
| Tampa, FL | $27.89 | $37.65 | $80 | BLS series |
| United States (mean) | $34.37 | $46.40 | $98 | BLS series |
Pricing guides built on this wage: What should I charge for electrical work?
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters: hourly wage by metro
The labor half of every plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters price above is anchored to the Bureau of Labor Statistics mean hourly wage for Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (SOC 47-2152, OES May 2025) in the contractor's metro. Burdened cost adds 35% for payroll taxes, workers' comp and insurance. Billable is what one crew hour sells for after a 1.6× shop multiplier, 20% labor markup and 10% overhead and profit.
| Metro | Mean wage | Burdened cost | Billable / hr | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR | $48.42 | $65.37 | $138 | BLS series |
| Chicago, IL | $46.36 | $62.59 | $132 | BLS series |
| Seattle, WA | $46.27 | $62.46 | $132 | BLS series |
| Boston, MA | $44.62 | $60.24 | $127 | BLS series |
| San Francisco, CA | $44.41 | $59.95 | $127 | BLS series |
| Minneapolis, MN | $44.25 | $59.74 | $126 | BLS series |
| New York, NY | $43.66 | $58.94 | $124 | BLS series |
| Philadelphia, PA | $40.22 | $54.30 | $115 | BLS series |
| Detroit, MI | $39.28 | $53.03 | $112 | BLS series |
| Los Angeles, CA | $38.57 | $52.07 | $110 | BLS series |
| Kansas City, MO | $38.00 | $51.30 | $108 | BLS series |
| San Diego, CA | $37.78 | $51.00 | $108 | BLS series |
| Washington, DC | $36.10 | $48.74 | $103 | BLS series |
| Denver, CO | $34.57 | $46.67 | $99 | BLS series |
| Phoenix, AZ | $33.95 | $45.83 | $97 | BLS series |
| Las Vegas, NV | $33.76 | $45.58 | $96 | BLS series |
| Houston, TX | $30.70 | $41.45 | $88 | BLS series |
| Austin, TX | $30.65 | $41.38 | $87 | BLS series |
| Nashville, TN | $30.33 | $40.95 | $86 | BLS series |
| Dallas, TX | $29.94 | $40.42 | $85 | BLS series |
| Atlanta, GA | $28.85 | $38.95 | $82 | BLS series |
| Charlotte, NC | $27.95 | $37.73 | $80 | BLS series |
| Miami, FL | $27.80 | $37.53 | $79 | BLS series |
| Tampa, FL | $26.73 | $36.09 | $76 | BLS series |
| United States (mean) | $34.70 | $46.85 | $99 | BLS series |
Pricing guides built on this wage: What should I charge for plumbing work?
HVAC mechanics and installers: hourly wage by metro
The labor half of every hvac mechanics and installers price above is anchored to the Bureau of Labor Statistics mean hourly wage for HVAC mechanics and installers (SOC 49-9021, OES May 2025) in the contractor's metro. Burdened cost adds 35% for payroll taxes, workers' comp and insurance. Billable is what one crew hour sells for after a 1.6× shop multiplier, 20% labor markup and 10% overhead and profit.
| Metro | Mean wage | Burdened cost | Billable / hr | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $41.61 | $56.17 | $119 | BLS series |
| Seattle, WA | $41.07 | $55.44 | $117 | BLS series |
| Boston, MA | $38.41 | $51.85 | $110 | BLS series |
| New York, NY | $38.33 | $51.75 | $109 | BLS series |
| Chicago, IL | $38.14 | $51.49 | $109 | BLS series |
| Minneapolis, MN | $36.67 | $49.50 | $105 | BLS series |
| San Diego, CA | $36.52 | $49.30 | $104 | BLS series |
| Los Angeles, CA | $35.88 | $48.44 | $102 | BLS series |
| Denver, CO | $35.72 | $48.22 | $102 | BLS series |
| Washington, DC | $35.45 | $47.86 | $101 | BLS series |
| Portland, OR | $34.95 | $47.18 | $100 | BLS series |
| Philadelphia, PA | $33.38 | $45.06 | $95 | BLS series |
| Detroit, MI | $32.06 | $43.28 | $91 | BLS series |
| Kansas City, MO | $31.19 | $42.11 | $89 | BLS series |
| Austin, TX | $30.74 | $41.50 | $88 | BLS series |
| Las Vegas, NV | $30.04 | $40.55 | $86 | BLS series |
| Phoenix, AZ | $29.91 | $40.38 | $85 | BLS series |
| Dallas, TX | $29.69 | $40.08 | $85 | BLS series |
| Nashville, TN | $29.39 | $39.68 | $84 | BLS series |
| Atlanta, GA | $29.07 | $39.24 | $83 | BLS series |
| Houston, TX | $29.03 | $39.19 | $83 | BLS series |
| Miami, FL | $28.85 | $38.95 | $82 | BLS series |
| Charlotte, NC | $28.82 | $38.91 | $82 | BLS series |
| Tampa, FL | $26.89 | $36.30 | $77 | BLS series |
| United States (mean) | $31.14 | $42.04 | $89 | BLS series |
Pricing guides built on this wage: What should I charge for HVAC work?
Painters, construction and maintenance: hourly wage by metro
The labor half of every painters, construction and maintenance price above is anchored to the Bureau of Labor Statistics mean hourly wage for Painters, construction and maintenance (SOC 47-2141, OES May 2025) in the contractor's metro. Burdened cost adds 35% for payroll taxes, workers' comp and insurance. Billable is what one crew hour sells for after a 1.6× shop multiplier, 20% labor markup and 10% overhead and profit.
| Metro | Mean wage | Burdened cost | Billable / hr | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $34.00 | $45.90 | $97 | BLS series |
| San Francisco, CA | $33.91 | $45.78 | $97 | BLS series |
| New York, NY | $33.62 | $45.39 | $96 | BLS series |
| Boston, MA | $31.21 | $42.13 | $89 | BLS series |
| Seattle, WA | $30.00 | $40.50 | $86 | BLS series |
| Los Angeles, CA | $29.71 | $40.11 | $85 | BLS series |
| Las Vegas, NV | $29.38 | $39.66 | $84 | BLS series |
| Minneapolis, MN | $29.01 | $39.16 | $83 | BLS series |
| San Diego, CA | $28.76 | $38.83 | $82 | BLS series |
| Denver, CO | $28.70 | $38.75 | $82 | BLS series |
| Detroit, MI | $28.48 | $38.45 | $81 | BLS series |
| Philadelphia, PA | $27.79 | $37.52 | $79 | BLS series |
| Portland, OR | $27.08 | $36.56 | $77 | BLS series |
| Kansas City, MO | $26.88 | $36.29 | $77 | BLS series |
| Washington, DC | $26.73 | $36.09 | $76 | BLS series |
| Phoenix, AZ | $25.98 | $35.07 | $74 | BLS series |
| Miami, FL | $24.33 | $32.85 | $69 | BLS series |
| Atlanta, GA | $24.26 | $32.75 | $69 | BLS series |
| Tampa, FL | $23.16 | $31.27 | $66 | BLS series |
| Houston, TX | $22.63 | $30.55 | $65 | BLS series |
| Austin, TX | $22.59 | $30.50 | $64 | BLS series |
| Dallas, TX | $22.47 | $30.33 | $64 | BLS series |
| Nashville, TN | $22.30 | $30.11 | $64 | BLS series |
| Charlotte, NC | $21.83 | $29.47 | $62 | BLS series |
| United States (mean) | $26.64 | $35.96 | $76 | BLS series |
Pricing guides built on this wage: What should I charge for interior and exterior painting?
Roofers: hourly wage by metro
The labor half of every roofers price above is anchored to the Bureau of Labor Statistics mean hourly wage for Roofers (SOC 47-2181, OES May 2025) in the contractor's metro. Burdened cost adds 35% for payroll taxes, workers' comp and insurance. Billable is what one crew hour sells for after a 1.6× shop multiplier, 20% labor markup and 10% overhead and profit.
| Metro | Mean wage | Burdened cost | Billable / hr | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $38.95 | $52.58 | $111 | BLS series |
| New York, NY | $37.10 | $50.09 | $106 | BLS series |
| Minneapolis, MN | $36.50 | $49.28 | $104 | BLS series |
| San Francisco, CA | $35.68 | $48.17 | $102 | BLS series |
| Seattle, WA | $35.21 | $47.53 | $100 | BLS series |
| Boston, MA | $33.82 | $45.66 | $96 | BLS series |
| Los Angeles, CA | $32.16 | $43.42 | $92 | BLS series |
| Portland, OR | $32.13 | $43.38 | $92 | BLS series |
| Detroit, MI | $31.78 | $42.90 | $91 | BLS series |
| San Diego, CA | $31.38 | $42.36 | $89 | BLS series |
| Washington, DC | $29.76 | $40.18 | $85 | BLS series |
| Philadelphia, PA | $29.29 | $39.54 | $84 | BLS series |
| Kansas City, MO | $28.32 | $38.23 | $81 | BLS series |
| Denver, CO | $27.84 | $37.58 | $79 | BLS series |
| Las Vegas, NV | $26.88 | $36.29 | $77 | BLS series |
| Nashville, TN | $24.90 | $33.62 | $71 | BLS series |
| Phoenix, AZ | $24.86 | $33.56 | $71 | BLS series |
| Charlotte, NC | $24.57 | $33.17 | $70 | BLS series |
| Austin, TX | $24.08 | $32.51 | $69 | BLS series |
| Atlanta, GA | $23.94 | $32.32 | $68 | BLS series |
| Dallas, TX | $23.84 | $32.18 | $68 | BLS series |
| Tampa, FL | $23.37 | $31.55 | $67 | BLS series |
| Miami, FL | $23.25 | $31.39 | $66 | BLS series |
| Houston, TX | $22.18 | $29.94 | $63 | BLS series |
| United States (mean) | $27.95 | $37.73 | $80 | BLS series |
Pricing guides built on this wage: What should I charge for a roof replacement?, What should I charge for gutter installation?
Drywall and ceiling tile installers: hourly wage by metro
The labor half of every drywall and ceiling tile installers price above is anchored to the Bureau of Labor Statistics mean hourly wage for Drywall and ceiling tile installers (SOC 47-2081, OES May 2025) in the contractor's metro. Burdened cost adds 35% for payroll taxes, workers' comp and insurance. Billable is what one crew hour sells for after a 1.6× shop multiplier, 20% labor markup and 10% overhead and profit.
| Metro | Mean wage | Burdened cost | Billable / hr | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $43.79 | $59.12 | $125 | BLS series |
| Seattle, WA | $40.75 | $55.01 | $116 | BLS series |
| Portland, OR | $39.59 | $53.45 | $113 | BLS series |
| New York, NY | $37.81 | $51.04 | $108 | BLS series |
| San Diego, CA | $37.03 | $49.99 | $106 | BLS series |
| Chicago, IL | $35.94 | $48.52 | $102 | BLS series |
| Los Angeles, CA | $34.64 | $46.76 | $99 | BLS series |
| Minneapolis, MN | $33.14 | $44.74 | $94 | BLS series |
| Boston, MA(state row) | $32.80 | $44.28 | $94 | BLS series |
| Denver, CO | $30.78 | $41.55 | $88 | BLS series |
| Philadelphia, PA | $29.64 | $40.01 | $85 | BLS series |
| Detroit, MI | $28.91 | $39.03 | $82 | BLS series |
| Washington, DC | $28.65 | $38.68 | $82 | BLS series |
| Atlanta, GA | $28.64 | $38.66 | $82 | BLS series |
| Las Vegas, NV | $28.61 | $38.62 | $82 | BLS series |
| Kansas City, MO | $26.15 | $35.30 | $75 | BLS series |
| Austin, TX | $25.63 | $34.60 | $73 | BLS series |
| Phoenix, AZ | $25.60 | $34.56 | $73 | BLS series |
| Nashville, TN | $24.68 | $33.32 | $70 | BLS series |
| Miami, FL | $24.68 | $33.32 | $70 | BLS series |
| Dallas, TX | $24.47 | $33.03 | $70 | BLS series |
| Tampa, FL | $24.04 | $32.45 | $69 | BLS series |
| Houston, TX | $22.80 | $30.78 | $65 | BLS series |
| Charlotte, NC | $21.52 | $29.05 | $61 | BLS series |
| United States (mean) | $30.58 | $41.28 | $87 | BLS series |
Pricing guides built on this wage: What should I charge for drywall work?
Tile and stone setters: hourly wage by metro
The labor half of every tile and stone setters price above is anchored to the Bureau of Labor Statistics mean hourly wage for Tile and stone setters (SOC 47-2044, OES May 2025) in the contractor's metro. Burdened cost adds 35% for payroll taxes, workers' comp and insurance. Billable is what one crew hour sells for after a 1.6× shop multiplier, 20% labor markup and 10% overhead and profit.
| Metro | Mean wage | Burdened cost | Billable / hr | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $40.25 | $54.34 | $115 | BLS series |
| Seattle, WA | $39.65 | $53.53 | $113 | BLS series |
| Chicago, IL | $36.65 | $49.48 | $104 | BLS series |
| Las Vegas, NV | $35.01 | $47.26 | $100 | BLS series |
| San Francisco, CA | $34.67 | $46.80 | $99 | BLS series |
| Philadelphia, PA | $33.40 | $45.09 | $95 | BLS series |
| Minneapolis, MN | $33.18 | $44.79 | $95 | BLS series |
| New York, NY | $32.83 | $44.32 | $94 | BLS series |
| Portland, OR | $31.05 | $41.92 | $89 | BLS series |
| Los Angeles, CA | $30.72 | $41.47 | $88 | BLS series |
| San Diego, CA | $29.65 | $40.03 | $85 | BLS series |
| Kansas City, MO | $28.20 | $38.07 | $80 | BLS series |
| Denver, CO(state row) | $27.01 | $36.46 | $77 | BLS series |
| Dallas, TX | $26.89 | $36.30 | $77 | BLS series |
| Phoenix, AZ | $25.89 | $34.95 | $74 | BLS series |
| Washington, DC | $25.66 | $34.64 | $73 | BLS series |
| Detroit, MI | $25.19 | $34.01 | $72 | BLS series |
| Miami, FL | $25.07 | $33.84 | $71 | BLS series |
| Austin, TX(state row) | $24.53 | $33.12 | $70 | BLS series |
| Houston, TX(state row) | $24.53 | $33.12 | $70 | BLS series |
| Atlanta, GA(state row) | $24.32 | $32.83 | $69 | BLS series |
| Tampa, FL | $23.27 | $31.41 | $66 | BLS series |
| Nashville, TN | $22.12 | $29.86 | $63 | BLS series |
| Charlotte, NC(state row) | $22.11 | $29.85 | $63 | BLS series |
| United States (mean) | $28.49 | $38.46 | $81 | BLS series |
Pricing guides built on this wage: What should I charge for tile installation?
Brickmasons and blockmasons: hourly wage by metro
The labor half of every brickmasons and blockmasons price above is anchored to the Bureau of Labor Statistics mean hourly wage for Brickmasons and blockmasons (SOC 47-2021, OES May 2025) in the contractor's metro. Burdened cost adds 35% for payroll taxes, workers' comp and insurance. Billable is what one crew hour sells for after a 1.6× shop multiplier, 20% labor markup and 10% overhead and profit.
| Metro | Mean wage | Burdened cost | Billable / hr | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $49.67 | $67.05 | $142 | BLS series |
| New York, NY | $45.58 | $61.53 | $130 | BLS series |
| Minneapolis, MN | $44.62 | $60.24 | $127 | BLS series |
| Seattle, WA | $43.53 | $58.77 | $124 | BLS series |
| San Francisco, CA | $41.66 | $56.24 | $119 | BLS series |
| Portland, OR | $41.06 | $55.43 | $117 | BLS series |
| Chicago, IL | $40.39 | $54.53 | $115 | BLS series |
| Philadelphia, PA | $37.72 | $50.92 | $108 | BLS series |
| Los Angeles, CA | $34.30 | $46.30 | $98 | BLS series |
| Denver, CO | $33.35 | $45.02 | $95 | BLS series |
| Kansas City, MO | $33.19 | $44.81 | $95 | BLS series |
| Detroit, MI | $32.97 | $44.51 | $94 | BLS series |
| San Diego, CA | $32.05 | $43.27 | $91 | BLS series |
| Nashville, TN | $31.73 | $42.84 | $90 | BLS series |
| Phoenix, AZ | $29.90 | $40.37 | $85 | BLS series |
| Washington, DC | $29.39 | $39.68 | $84 | BLS series |
| Miami, FL | $28.40 | $38.34 | $81 | BLS series |
| Las Vegas, NV | $28.02 | $37.83 | $80 | BLS series |
| Atlanta, GA | $27.53 | $37.17 | $78 | BLS series |
| Austin, TX | $27.09 | $36.57 | $77 | BLS series |
| Dallas, TX | $26.94 | $36.37 | $77 | BLS series |
| Tampa, FL | $26.75 | $36.11 | $76 | BLS series |
| Houston, TX | $26.02 | $35.13 | $74 | BLS series |
| Charlotte, NC | $25.31 | $34.17 | $72 | BLS series |
| United States (mean) | $32.83 | $44.32 | $94 | BLS series |
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall: hourly wage by metro
The labor half of every insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall price above is anchored to the Bureau of Labor Statistics mean hourly wage for Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (SOC 47-2131, OES May 2025) in the contractor's metro. Burdened cost adds 35% for payroll taxes, workers' comp and insurance. Billable is what one crew hour sells for after a 1.6× shop multiplier, 20% labor markup and 10% overhead and profit.
| Metro | Mean wage | Burdened cost | Billable / hr | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $39.17 | $52.88 | $112 | BLS series |
| San Francisco, CA | $38.84 | $52.43 | $111 | BLS series |
| New York, NY | $33.23 | $44.86 | $95 | BLS series |
| Portland, OR | $31.37 | $42.35 | $89 | BLS series |
| Minneapolis, MN | $30.87 | $41.67 | $88 | BLS series |
| Chicago, IL | $30.10 | $40.64 | $86 | BLS series |
| San Diego, CA(state row) | $29.73 | $40.14 | $85 | BLS series |
| Kansas City, MO | $29.67 | $40.05 | $85 | BLS series |
| Los Angeles, CA | $28.93 | $39.06 | $82 | BLS series |
| Atlanta, GA | $27.63 | $37.30 | $79 | BLS series |
| Philadelphia, PA | $27.02 | $36.48 | $77 | BLS series |
| Denver, CO | $26.85 | $36.25 | $77 | BLS series |
| Washington, DC | $26.10 | $35.24 | $74 | BLS series |
| Nashville, TN | $26.08 | $35.21 | $74 | BLS series |
| Boston, MA(state row) | $25.20 | $34.02 | $72 | BLS series |
| Detroit, MI | $24.77 | $33.44 | $71 | BLS series |
| Miami, FL | $24.66 | $33.29 | $70 | BLS series |
| Dallas, TX | $24.50 | $33.08 | $70 | BLS series |
| Austin, TX(state row) | $23.97 | $32.36 | $68 | BLS series |
| Tampa, FL(state row) | $23.91 | $32.28 | $68 | BLS series |
| Houston, TX | $23.78 | $32.10 | $68 | BLS series |
| Las Vegas, NV | $23.58 | $31.83 | $67 | BLS series |
| Phoenix, AZ | $22.59 | $30.50 | $64 | BLS series |
| Charlotte, NC | $21.92 | $29.59 | $62 | BLS series |
| United States (mean) | $26.32 | $35.53 | $75 | BLS series |
Pricing guides built on this wage: What should I charge for insulation?
Glaziers: hourly wage by metro
The labor half of every glaziers price above is anchored to the Bureau of Labor Statistics mean hourly wage for Glaziers (SOC 47-2121, OES May 2025) in the contractor's metro. Burdened cost adds 35% for payroll taxes, workers' comp and insurance. Billable is what one crew hour sells for after a 1.6× shop multiplier, 20% labor markup and 10% overhead and profit.
| Metro | Mean wage | Burdened cost | Billable / hr | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $46.17 | $62.33 | $132 | BLS series |
| Seattle, WA | $41.45 | $55.96 | $118 | BLS series |
| San Francisco, CA | $40.52 | $54.70 | $116 | BLS series |
| Minneapolis, MN | $36.97 | $49.91 | $105 | BLS series |
| San Diego, CA | $36.74 | $49.60 | $105 | BLS series |
| Portland, OR | $36.59 | $49.40 | $104 | BLS series |
| Los Angeles, CA | $36.17 | $48.83 | $103 | BLS series |
| Chicago, IL | $35.62 | $48.09 | $102 | BLS series |
| New York, NY | $35.43 | $47.83 | $101 | BLS series |
| Philadelphia, PA | $33.71 | $45.51 | $96 | BLS series |
| Denver, CO | $32.18 | $43.44 | $92 | BLS series |
| Washington, DC | $32.10 | $43.34 | $92 | BLS series |
| Kansas City, MO | $28.93 | $39.06 | $82 | BLS series |
| Detroit, MI | $28.81 | $38.89 | $82 | BLS series |
| Phoenix, AZ | $27.12 | $36.61 | $77 | BLS series |
| Las Vegas, NV | $26.73 | $36.09 | $76 | BLS series |
| Nashville, TN | $26.60 | $35.91 | $76 | BLS series |
| Charlotte, NC | $25.06 | $33.83 | $71 | BLS series |
| Tampa, FL | $24.35 | $32.87 | $69 | BLS series |
| Austin, TX | $24.18 | $32.64 | $69 | BLS series |
| Dallas, TX | $24.05 | $32.47 | $69 | BLS series |
| Houston, TX | $23.55 | $31.79 | $67 | BLS series |
| Atlanta, GA(state row) | $22.81 | $30.79 | $65 | BLS series |
| Miami, FL | $21.97 | $29.66 | $63 | BLS series |
| United States (mean) | $28.71 | $38.76 | $82 | BLS series |
Construction laborers: hourly wage by metro
The labor half of every construction laborers price above is anchored to the Bureau of Labor Statistics mean hourly wage for Construction laborers (SOC 47-2061, OES May 2025) in the contractor's metro. Burdened cost adds 35% for payroll taxes, workers' comp and insurance. Billable is what one crew hour sells for after a 1.6× shop multiplier, 20% labor markup and 10% overhead and profit.
| Metro | Mean wage | Burdened cost | Billable / hr | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $35.40 | $47.79 | $101 | BLS series |
| Boston, MA | $34.30 | $46.30 | $98 | BLS series |
| Chicago, IL | $33.26 | $44.90 | $95 | BLS series |
| Minneapolis, MN | $32.59 | $44.00 | $93 | BLS series |
| New York, NY | $32.42 | $43.77 | $92 | BLS series |
| Seattle, WA | $31.24 | $42.17 | $89 | BLS series |
| Los Angeles, CA | $30.39 | $41.03 | $87 | BLS series |
| San Diego, CA | $29.08 | $39.26 | $83 | BLS series |
| Philadelphia, PA | $28.34 | $38.26 | $81 | BLS series |
| Portland, OR | $27.92 | $37.69 | $80 | BLS series |
| Kansas City, MO | $27.14 | $36.64 | $77 | BLS series |
| Detroit, MI | $26.91 | $36.33 | $77 | BLS series |
| Las Vegas, NV | $25.52 | $34.45 | $73 | BLS series |
| Denver, CO | $24.49 | $33.06 | $70 | BLS series |
| Washington, DC | $23.88 | $32.24 | $68 | BLS series |
| Phoenix, AZ | $23.40 | $31.59 | $67 | BLS series |
| Nashville, TN | $22.45 | $30.31 | $64 | BLS series |
| Charlotte, NC | $22.19 | $29.96 | $63 | BLS series |
| Miami, FL | $22.17 | $29.93 | $63 | BLS series |
| Tampa, FL | $21.41 | $28.90 | $61 | BLS series |
| Austin, TX | $21.33 | $28.80 | $61 | BLS series |
| Houston, TX | $21.08 | $28.46 | $60 | BLS series |
| Dallas, TX | $21.05 | $28.42 | $60 | BLS series |
| Atlanta, GA | $20.74 | $28.00 | $59 | BLS series |
| United States (mean) | $25.02 | $33.78 | $71 | BLS series |
Pricing guides built on this wage: What should I charge for flatwork and concrete?, What should I charge for landscaping?, What should I charge for caulking and sealant work?
How to read these tables
- 1Mean wage is the BLS OES May 2025 mean hourly wage for the occupation in the metropolitan statistical area that contains the ZIP code shown. Where a metro publishes no row for a trade the table falls back to the state row and says so.
- 2Burdened cost multiplies the wage by 1.35: payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation and liability. Roofing and other high-comp trades often run 1.45 to 1.60.
- 3Billable applies a 1.6× shop multiplier (owner time, supervision, tools, trucks, non-billable hours), then 20% labor markup and 10% overhead and profit. A shop that bills less than about 2.5× the bare wage is usually losing money on labor.
- 4Every row links to the BLS time series it came from, so a client or a competitor can check the number.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average hourly wage for a construction worker in the US in 2026?
It depends on the trade. On the Bureau of Labor Statistics OES May 2025 table the national mean hourly wage runs from the mid-$20s for construction laborers and painters to the mid-$30s for electricians and plumbers, with carpenters, HVAC mechanics and drywall installers in between. The tables on this page list the exact figure for each of 12 trades nationally and in 24 metros, with a link to the BLS series behind every number.
What is a burdened labor rate?
The wage plus the employer's payroll costs on top of it: FICA, federal and state unemployment, workers' compensation and liability insurance, and paid non-productive time. This page uses 35% as the default burden, the same figure Takeoff Convert prices with; union shops and high-comp trades like roofing run higher.
How do I turn a wage into a billable hourly rate?
Burden the wage, then multiply by a shop multiplier that covers the owner's time, supervision, tools, trucks, insurance beyond payroll and the hours in every week nobody bills, then add your labor markup and overhead and profit. The Billable column here uses 1.6× shop, 20% labor markup and 10% overhead and profit, which works out to about 2.85× the bare wage. A painter at a $27 mean wage therefore bills near $77 an hour.
Why does the same trade cost so much more in San Francisco than in Kansas City?
Wages. The BLS metro rows for the coastal metros run 30% to 60% above the national mean for most construction trades, and labor is half or more of the price of most residential work. Materials vary far less by region, which is why a national average price per square foot is close to useless for a local bid.
Where do these numbers come from and how often are they updated?
Every figure is the mean hourly wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) program, May 2025 release, for the occupation named in each table, resolved to the metropolitan statistical area that contains the ZIP code shown. OES publishes once a year; this page is rebuilt from the new table when it lands and the date at the top changes.
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