Despite rising material costs, a tight labor market, and stubborn inflation, construction workers’ wages are climbing faster than most industries—a 15% pay boost in just two years, more than double the increase across all occupations.
But in 2025, where workers live makes a big difference not just in how much they earn, but how far those earnings go. The latest edition of Construction Coverage’s Best-Paying Cities for Construction Workers report ranks metros and states by the median annual wage, adjusted for cost of living, to identify where workers in the building trades can live most comfortably.
Highlights for New York State
- Construction Wages in New York State: Construction workers in New York State earn a median $66,770 annually, compared to the national median of $58,360. Meanwhile, the median wage for all workers in New York State is $58,560.
- Adjusted Earnings Dip Slightly Due to Higher COL: After accounting for the 7.6% higher cost of living in New York State, its median wage for construction workers is equivalent to $62,039 annually.
Source: Construction Coverage analysis of BLS & BEA data | Image Credit: Construction Coverage
The full report covers more than 350 U.S. metros and the 49 states with available data, with a detailed breakdown of adjusted and unadjusted construction wages, cost of living differences, total construction employment, and comparisons to overall median wages in each area.