Construction Laborers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,100 a year or less, while the top 10% make $105,500 or more. The middle half of construction laborers in Chicago earn between $46,290 and $100,750.
- $39K10th
- $46K25th
- $61KMedian
- $101K75th
- $106K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $69,180 | $5,765 | $33.26 |
| Median | $60,890 | $5,074 | $29.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,290 | $3,858 | $22.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $100,750 | $8,396 | $48.44 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Construction Laborers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Construction laborers in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($67,620) and 33% more than the U.S. average ($52,030). At the median the gap is +29% against the U.S. median of $47,120.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $69,180 | $60,890 | $39,100 | $105,500 | 26,690 |
| Illinois | $67,620 | $60,690 | $38,880 | $105,040 | 35,940 |
| United States | $52,030 | $47,120 | $35,090 | $78,090 | 1,096,780 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Construction Laborers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $69,180, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $54,215 a year, or $4,518 a month and $2,085 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $55,453 | $4,621 |
| Working in IL | $54,215 | $4,518 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for construction laborers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $69,180 buys what about $66,779 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Construction Laborers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$69,180
- Peoria$65,360
- Rockford$64,230
- Champaign$62,870
- Decatur$62,830
- Bloomington$62,560
- Springfield$62,250
- Kankakee$60,470
Highest-paying cities for construction laborers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($78,590).
- Kahului, HI$78,590
- Vineland, NJ$74,200
- San Francisco, CA$73,640
- Trenton, NJ$73,100
- Boston, MA$71,350
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Construction Laborers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do construction laborers make an hour in Chicago?
$33.26 an hour on average, and $29.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level construction laborers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,100 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the construction laborers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $54,215 a year ($4,518 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $69,180.
Do construction laborers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 33% more than the U.S. average for this job ($52,030).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2061; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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