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Custom Home Premium Highest Since 2011 – Eye On Housing

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The custom home premium, the difference between what typical buyers pay per square foot for a contractor-built home and a spec home, reached 12.6%, its highest level since 2011, according to NAHB’s analysis of the latest Survey of Construction (SOC) data. For custom single-family detached (SFD) homes started in 2025, the median price climbed to $171 per square foot. For spec starts, after excluding improved lot values, the median was $152 per square foot, essentially unchanged compared to $153 a year earlier.

Custom home contract prices do not include the value of an improved lot, as these homes are built on the owner’s land (with either the owner or a contractor acting as the general contractor). Consequently, contract prices are typically reported as lower than the sale prices of spec homes. To make the comparison more meaningful, this analysis excludes lot development costs from sale prices.

A Widening Gap Between Custom and Spec

Historically, contractor-built custom homes command a higher price per square foot than for-sale SFD homes after excluding improved lot values. The premium presumably reflects differences in the types of homes being built. Custom homes are often designed to meet individual buyers’ specifications, potentially involving one-of-a-kind floor plans, unique finishes, materials, and construction processes compared with standardized spec homes. Over the past two decades, the custom home premium averaged roughly 9%.

That premium all but disappeared in the post-pandemic period, when supply-chain disruptions, soaring building material costs, and rapidly rising home prices affected both segments. For homes started in 2021 and 2022, spec-home prices per square foot essentially caught up with and briefly exceeded custom contract prices. The premium returned to its historical range in 2023 and 2024. In 2025, however, it widened substantially.

The mechanics behind the widening gap are straightforward. Median spec-home prices per square foot have effectively plateaued for four consecutive years, while median custom contract prices increased from $156 per square foot in 2021 to $171 in 2025, a cumulative gain of nearly 10%. With construction costs continuing to rise over this period, the divergence suggests that builders of for-sale homes have had greater ability to contain per-square-foot price increases, particularly in a more price-sensitive housing market.

The latest July 2026 NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) survey provides some additional context.  Small builders (most custom builders are in this group) reported higher hikes in building material costs than large-volume businesses. Large production home builders may have advantages in purchasing and procurement, including the ability to stockpile materials ahead of anticipated price increases, negotiate longer-term contracts, or obtain more favorable terms from suppliers. These advantages could help explain why material-cost increases have translated differently into prices for custom and spec homes.

Custom home building also appears less sensitive to interest rates, as it remains a relatively bright spot for the residential construction industry in this high-rate, high-cost cycle. As spec home building contracted during the first seven months of 2026, the custom market remained stable, potentially supported by rising stock prices and financial wealth.

The Spec Premium is Not Universal

The national custom home premium, however, obscures striking geographic differences. The Central and Southern divisions drive the national median. The East South Central division recorded the highest custom premium at 29%, followed by the North Central at 27%. The West North Central and South Atlantic divisions posted more modest premiums of 9% and 7%, respectively. At the same time, custom and spec square foot prices (after excluding lot values) were nearly identical in the West South Central.

At the same time, the median spec price per square foot exceeded the median custom contract price in four Census divisions (New England, Middle Atlantic, Mountain, and Pacific). The gap was widest in the Pacific division, where the custom median of $171 was roughly a quarter below the spec median of $227.

Notably, the four Census divisions with reversed custom home premiums have the highest spec square-foot prices. In New England, after excluding lot values, half of the spec SFD homes started in 2025 had prices exceeding $262 per square foot. The Pacific and Mountain Divisions in the West were second and third, with corresponding medians of $227 and $204 per square foot. The Middle Atlantic, the next most expensive spec home market, registered square foot prices of $193. At the other end of the spectrum, in the East South Central Division, the median was $138, the most affordable in the nation.

The four Census divisions where median spec price per square foot exceeded the median custom contract price are also among the nation’s most expensive markets for buildable lots. This pattern suggests that the custom-home premium is not simply a reflection of the higher cost of individualized construction. In high-land-value, high-cost markets, custom construction may offer home buyers a more economical path to building a home. This buyer already owns the lot and can commission a house tailored to the site and budget.

Because the square-foot prices in this analysis exclude the cost of developed lots, highly variable land values may only indirectly affect square-foot prices (by influencing home design) but cannot explain wide regional differences in square-foot prices. However, overly restrictive zoning, stricter building codes, and higher regulatory costs directly increase square-foot prices. Regional differences in home types, common features, and construction materials also contribute to price variations. In the South, for example, lower square-foot prices partially reflect a less frequent regional occurrence of costly new home features like basements.

These differences are important when interpreting the national custom home premium. Rather than representing a universal markup for custom construction, the 12.6% figure reflects the net result of very different regional housing markets and the characteristics of the homes being built in each market. The widening national premium therefore points to an increasing divergence between custom and spec construction overall, while the regional data show that the economics of custom construction can look very different from one market to another.



This article was originally published by a eyeonhousing.org . Read the Original article here. .

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Residential Building Material Prices Rise at Highest Rate In Over Three Years – Eye On

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Wholesale prices of goods used in residential construction rose in May as energy prices continued to climb. In May, residential building material prices, excluding energy, rose at their highest yearly rate since January 2023, as prices were up 4.4% from a year ago and up 0.7% over the month. Meanwhile, prices for services rose 4.7% over the year, but were unchanged from the previous month.

The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 1.1% in May, after rising 1.1% in April. Compared to a year ago, final demand prices were up 6.5%. The index for final demand services rose 0.3% in May, while the index for final demand goods rose 2.8% over the month.

The price index for inputs to new residential construction rose 1.3% in May and was up 6.9% from last year. The price of goods used in new residential construction (including energy) was up 2.1% over the month and up 8.3% from last year, while the price of services was unchanged over the month and up 4.7% from last year.

Input Goods

The goods component has a larger importance to the inputs to residential construction price index, representing around 60% of the total. On a monthly basis, the price of input goods to new residential construction was up 2.1% in May. This monthly increase was the largest since it rose 3.3% back in March of 2022.

The input goods to residential construction index can be further broken down into two separate components, one measuring energy inputs with the other measuring remaining goods. The latter of these two components simply represents building materials used in residential construction, which makes up around 93% of the goods index.

Energy input prices rose 17.2% in May and were 62.8% higher than a year ago. Building material prices were up 0.7% in May and up 4.4% compared to one year ago.

Among input goods, the largest year-over-year increase was for No. 2 diesel fuel as prices were 105.9% higher than a year ago. Metal molding and trim prices remained higher, with prices up 42.9% from a year ago. Softwood lumber prices were up 5.6% from a year ago in May while ready-mix concrete prices were up 1.7% from a year ago. Gypsum building materials prices were down 1.1% from a year ago.

Input Services

Prices for service inputs to residential construction reported no price change in May. On a year-over-year basis, service input prices were up 4.7%. The price index for service inputs to residential construction can be broken out into three separate components: a trade services component, a transportation and warehousing services component, and a services excluding trade, transportation, and warehousing component (other services).

The most significant component is trade services (around 60%), followed by other services (around 29%), and finally transportation and warehousing services (around 11%). The largest component, trade services, was up 3.8% from a year ago. The price of transportation and warehousing services rose 17.3%, while prices for other services were up 1.7% over the year.



This article was originally published by a eyeonhousing.org . Read the Original article here. .

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Highest Paid Occupations in Construction in 2025 – Eye On Housing

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The median wage of payroll workers in construction was $61,370 in 2025, with the top 25% earning at least $83,480. In comparison, the U.S. median annual wage was $50,980, while workers in the top quartile (the highest paid 25%) earned at least $80,520. These estimates come from the latest release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and do not include premium pay (stock and year-end bonuses, overtime pay, weekend premium pay, etc.).

The OEWS publishes wage data for nearly 400 occupations in construction. Of these, only 46 are construction trades. The remaining workers are in finance, sales, administration, and other off-site activities.

In 2025, the highest-paid occupation in construction was Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Half of CEOs earned more than $198,000 in straight-time wages, and the top 25% earned over $312,000. CEOs in construction also had the widest pay scale spread in the industry, measured as the percentage difference between pay at the bottom and top quartiles. The highest-paid 25% of CEOs earned more than 2.6 times as much as those in the lowest-paid quartile. This wide scale likely reflects a broader range of responsibilities and differences in operational scope.

Lawyers working in construction ranked second, with a median annual wage of about $190,000. Lawyers in the top quartile earned at least $242,000, or 1.9 times more than lawyers in the lowest-paid quartile. This is also a relatively wide pay scale for the industry, reflecting differences in responsibilities and diverse opportunities for career advancement among lawyers in construction.

Of the twenty-five highest-paid occupations in construction, sixteen were managerial roles. The highest-paid managers in the industry were architectural and engineering managers, with half earning more than $163,290 and the top 25% earning over $201,300 annually. Architectural and engineering managers also stand out for having a narrower salary range. Only computer and information systems (CIS) managers and human resources (HR) managers had similarly narrow pay ranges among construction managers.

Among construction trades, elevator installers and repairers remained at the top of the median-wage list, with half earning over $113,710 a year and the highest 25% making at least $136,320. This is the only construction trade that made the industry’s overall top 20 highest-paid occupations list.

First-line supervisors of construction trades are next on the trade list with a median wage of $80,000, and the top 25% earning at least $101,220.

In general, construction trades that require more years of formal education tend to offer higher annual wages. The median wage of construction and building inspectors was $74,460, and the top quartile was $95,290. This is also a trade with a relatively wider pay scale, with the top 25% earning at least 66% more than the bottom quartile, potentially reflecting greater variance in educational attainment, professional responsibilities, and expertise of building inspectors.

Carpenters are one of the most prevalent skilled trades in the construction industry. The occupation typically requires less formal education than many other professions, yet carpenters working in construction still earn wages well above the national median for all occupations. In 2025, half of carpenters earned more than $60,950 annually, while the top 25% made at least $77,390.

Plumbers and electricians, trades that typically require specialized training and licensing, had even higher annual wages. The median wage of plumbers in construction was $63,270, with the top quartile making over $83,360. Electricians’ wages are similarly high.

Terrazzo workers and pile-driver operators, fourth and fifth on the highest-paid trade list, registered especially wide wage ranges. The top 25% of pile-drivers earned at least $106,660, more than 80% above the earnings of the bottom quartile. This broad pay scale presumably reflects a greater variety of opportunities and geographic locations (including offshore rigs), as well as differences in technical expertise and training. Some pile-driving equipment comes with computerized controls and requires additional knowledge of electronics.

In contrast, solar photovoltaic installers, a relatively new construction trade, had a much narrower pay scale. The difference between the annual pay of the top 25 percent ($67,970) and the bottom quartile ($47,880) was 42%, likely reflecting less variation in expertise, training, and geographic prevalence.

Typically, construction trades that require less skill not only offer lower wages but also have less variation. Apprentice workers (helpers of painters, plumbers, electricians, roofers, carpenters, and other construction trades) illustrate this point. These are the six lowest-paid construction occupations that simultaneously show the narrowest variation. For example, the highest-paid quartile of carpenters’ helpers made at least $49,420 a year, while the bottom quartile earned at most $36,750, a 34% difference.



This article was originally published by a eyeonhousing.org . Read the Original article here. .

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Top Posts – U.S. Population Grows at Highest Rate Since 2001 – Eye On Housing

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest estimates, the U.S. resident population grew by 3,304,757 to a total population of 340,110,988. The population grew at a rate of 0.98%, the highest rate since 0.99% in 2001. This also marked the third straight increase in the growth rate of the U.S. population. The vintage population estimates are released annually and represent the change in the U.S. population between July 1st of 2023 and 2024.

The Census Bureau reports that the primary source of population growth was net international migration (immigration), as international migration levels once again were higher than the previous year. The level of net international migration between 2023 and 2024 was 2,786,119. The second component of population growth is natural growth, which represents births minus deaths. Births totaled 3,605,563, down slightly from last year, while the number of deaths was reported at 3,086,925, also a decrease from last year. The natural growth, therefore, between 2023 and 2024 was 518,638.

Each region in the U.S. experienced population growth for the 2023-2024 period. The South led in population growth at 1.34% followed by the West at 0.85%. Meanwhile, the Midwest population grew 0.75%, while the Northeast grew the least at 0.59%.  

At the State level, 47 States and the District of Columbia had a population increase over the year. Of note, D.C. had the highest growth rate at 2.13%. Florida was second with population growth at 2.00% followed by Texas at 1.80%. Numerically, Texas experienced the largest population increase gaining 562,941. This was followed by Florida at 467,347 and California at 232,570.

Only three states lost population or remained level according to Census estimates. Vermont and West Virginia tied with a decline of 0.03%. Meanwhile Mississippi saw no population change.

California remained the most populous state by a healthy margin. California’s population was at 39,198,693, while the next most populous state was Texas at 31,290,831. To round out the top five States by total population the proceeding highest were Florida (23,372,215), New York (19,867,248), and Pennsylvania (13,078,751).



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Top Posts – States with Highest and Fastest Rising Construction Wages, 2025 – Eye On Housing

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Wage growth in construction continued to decelerate in April on a national basis, but the differences across regional markets remain stark. Nationally, average hourly earnings (AHE) in construction increased 3.6% year-over-year and crossed the $39.3 mark when averaged across all payroll employees (non-seasonally adjusted, NSA). Meanwhile, average earnings in construction in Alaska and Massachusetts exceeded $50 per hour (NSA). Across states, the annual growth rate in AHE ranged from 10.6% in Nevada to a decline of 3% in Oklahoma. This is according to the latest Current Employment Statistics (CES) report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).   

Average hourly earnings (AHE) in construction vary greatly across 43 states that report these data. Alaska, states along the Pacific coast, Illinois, Minnesota, and the majority of states in Northeast record the highest AHE. As of April 2025, fourteen states report average earnings (NSA) exceeding $40 per hour.

At the other end of the spectrum, nine states report NSA average hourly earnings in construction under $34. The states with the lowest AHE are mostly in the South, with Arkansas reporting the lowest rate of $29.3 per hour.

While differences in regional hourly rates reflect variation in the cost of living across states among other things, the faster growing wages are more likely to indicate specific labor markets that are particularly tight. Year-over-year, Nevada, Mississippi, Alaska, Colorado, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, and Montana reported fastest growing hourly wages in construction, more than doubling the national average growth of 3.6%. Nevada reported the largest annual increase of 10.6%, while the growth rate in Mississippi and Alaska was just under 10%.

In sharp contrast, Oklahoma registered a decline in hourly wages of 3%. Five other states reported modestly declining hourly rates in construction, compared to a year ago – Louisiana, Missouri, Rhode Island, California, and Wisconsin.



This article was originally published by a eyeonhousing.org . Read the Original article here. .

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Where Renters and Owners Face the Highest Cost Burdens – Eye On Housing

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The housing affordability crisis continues to disproportionately affect renters, with more than half of renter households experiencing high-cost burdens — i.e., paying 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities. At the same time, current home owners, buoyed by significant home equity gains and locked in by below-market mortgage rates, are in a more advantageous financial position to weather the growing affordability crisis. According to the latest 2024 American Community Survey (ACS), more than half of all renter households (50.3%), or 23.2 million, are burdened by housing costs. Among home owners, this share is less than a quarter (24.3%) representing 21 million households. As a result, states and counties with higher shares of renters in their housing markets are more likely to have higher overall shares of households with cost burdens.

Geographically, Florida, Nevada, and California have the largest concentration of cost-burdened renters. In Florida, 60% of all renters pay more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities. In Nevada, the share is 57%, and in California, 55% of renters experience housing cost burdens. Even in states with comparatively low renter cost-burden rates—such as South Dakota, Alaska, and North Dakota—more than one-third of renters still spend 30% or more of their income on housing.

For home owners, cost-burden rates are generally lower, but the geographic pattern mirrors that of renters. California, Florida, and several Northeastern states report the highest shares of cost-burdened home owners. California faces the most severe affordability challenges, with one in three owners paying more than 30% of their income for housing. Florida and Hawaii follow closely, with 31% of existing home owners struggling to afford their homes.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, nine states in the Midwest and South report that fewer than 20% of homeowners are cost-burdened. West Virginia and North Dakota have the lowest rates, at just 16%.



This article was originally published by a eyeonhousing.org . Read the Original article here. .

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States with Highest and Fastest Rising Construction Wages, 2025

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Wage growth in construction continued to decelerate in April on a national basis, but the differences across regional markets remain stark. Nationally, average hourly earnings (AHE) in construction increased 3.6% year-over-year and crossed the $39.3 mark when averaged across all payroll employees (non-seasonally adjusted, NSA). Meanwhile, average earnings in construction in Alaska and Massachusetts exceeded $50 per hour (NSA). Across states, the annual growth rate in AHE ranged from 10.6% in Nevada to a decline of 3% in Oklahoma. This is according to the latest Current Employment Statistics (CES) report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).   

Average hourly earnings (AHE) in construction vary greatly across 43 states that report these data. Alaska, states along the Pacific coast, Illinois, Minnesota, and the majority of states in Northeast record the highest AHE. As of April 2025, fourteen states report average earnings (NSA) exceeding $40 per hour.

At the other end of the spectrum, nine states report NSA average hourly earnings in construction under $34. The states with the lowest AHE are mostly in the South, with Arkansas reporting the lowest rate of $29.3 per hour.

While differences in regional hourly rates reflect variation in the cost of living across states among other things, the faster growing wages are more likely to indicate specific labor markets that are particularly tight. Year-over-year, Nevada, Mississippi, Alaska, Colorado, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, and Montana reported fastest growing hourly wages in construction, more than doubling the national average growth of 3.6%. Nevada reported the largest annual increase of 10.6%, while the growth rate in Mississippi and Alaska was just under 10%.

In sharp contrast, Oklahoma registered a decline in hourly wages of 3%. Five other states reported modestly declining hourly rates in construction, compared to a year ago – Louisiana, Missouri, Rhode Island, California, and Wisconsin.

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Highest Paid Occupations in Construction in 2024

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Half of payroll workers in construction earn more than $60,320 and the top 25% make at least $81,510, according to the latest May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and analysis by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). In comparison, the U.S. median annual pay is $49,500, while the top quartile (the highest paid 25%) makes at least $78,810.

The OEWS publishes wages for almost 400 occupations in construction. Out of these, only 46 are construction trades. The other construction industry workers are in finance, sales, administration and other off-site activities.

In 2024, the highest paid occupation in construction is lawyers with wages of $180,520 per year, and the top 25 percent making over $238,720. Traditionally, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) occupy the top paid position in the industry, but in 2024, they are second on the list, with half of CEOs making over $174,030, while the wages of the top quartile remain undisclosed.

Out of the top twenty highest paid occupations in construction, fourteen are various managers. The highest paid managers in construction are architectural and engineering managers, with half of them making over $153,510 and the top 25 percent on the pay scale earning over $181,150 annually.

The architectural and engineering managers also stand out for having a smaller salary range spread, measured as a percentage difference between the bottom and top 25 percent pay levels. Only computer and information systems (CIS) managers have a narrower pay range among managers in construction. The annual pay of the highest paid 25 percent CIS managers in construction is at least $168,850, which is 40% higher than the top earnings of the lowest paid quartile ($119,990). In contrast, higher-level positions, such as lawyers and CEOs, have a noticeably wider pay scale spread. The top 25 percent highest paid lawyers make more than double of the bottom quartile pay, potentially reflecting a greater range of responsibilities and opportunities for career advancement for lawyers in construction.

Among construction trades, elevator installers and repairers top the median wages list with half of them earning over $108,130 a year, and the top 25% making at least $133,370. This is also the only construction trade that made the industry overall top 20 highest paid occupations list. 

First-line supervisors of construction trades are next on the trade list; their median wages are $78,900, with the top 25% highest paid supervisors earning more than $100,150.  

In general, construction trades that require more years of formal education tend to offer higher annual wages. Median wages of construction and building inspectors are $66,340 and the top quartile is $89,550. This is also the trade with a relatively wide pay scale spread, with the top 25 percent making at least 74% more than the bottom quartile, potentially reflecting a wider variance in educational attainment, professional responsibilities and expertise of building inspectors.

Carpenters are one of the most prevalent construction crafts in the industry. The trade requires less formal education. Nevertheless, the median wages of carpenters working in construction exceed the national median. Half of these craftsmen earn over $59,890 and the highest paid 25 percent bring in at least $76,290.

Plumbers and electricians, trades that typically require specialized training and licensing, earn higher annual wages. Half of plumbers in construction earn over $62,820, with the top quartile making over $81,740. Electricians’ wages are similarly high.

The construction trade with the greatest pay range spread is pile driver operators. The top 25 percent highest paid operators earn at least $105,100, over 100% more than the bottom quartile. This wide pay scale presumably reflects a greater variety of opportunities and geographic locations (some pile driver operators work on offshore rigs), as well as varying degree of technical expertise and training (some equipment comes with computerized controls and requires additional knowledge of electronics).

In contrast, solar photovoltaic installers, a relatively new construction trade, have a much narrower pay scale. The difference between the annual pay of the top 25 percent ($65,850) and the bottom quartile ($48,350) is 36%, likely reflecting less variation in expertise, training, and geographic prevalence.

Typically, construction trades that require less skill not only offer lower wages but also show less variation in pay. Apprentice workers (helpers of painters, plumbers, electricians, roofers, carpenters, and other construction trades) illustrate this point. These are the six lowest paid construction occupations that simultaneously show the narrowest variation in pay. For example, the highest paid quartile of carpenters’ helpers makes at least $46,720 a year, while the bottom quartile earns at most $35,870, only a 30% difference.

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U.S. Population Grows at Highest Rate Since 2001

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest estimates, the U.S. resident population grew by 3,304,757 to a total population of 340,110,988. The population grew at a rate of 0.98%, the highest rate since 0.99% in 2001. This also marked the third straight increase in the growth rate of the U.S. population. The vintage population estimates are released annually and represent the change in the U.S. population between July 1st of 2023 and 2024.

The Census Bureau reports that the primary source of population growth was net international migration (immigration), as international migration levels once again were higher than the previous year. The level of net international migration between 2023 and 2024 was 2,786,119. The second component of population growth is natural growth, which represents births minus deaths. Births totaled 3,605,563, down slightly from last year, while the number of deaths was reported at 3,086,925, also a decrease from last year. The natural growth, therefore, between 2023 and 2024 was 518,638.

Each region in the U.S. experienced population growth for the 2023-2024 period. The South led in population growth at 1.34% followed by the West at 0.85%. Meanwhile, the Midwest population grew 0.75%, while the Northeast grew the least at 0.59%.  

At the State level, 47 States and the District of Columbia had a population increase over the year. Of note, D.C. had the highest growth rate at 2.13%. Florida was second with population growth at 2.00% followed by Texas at 1.80%. Numerically, Texas experienced the largest population increase gaining 562,941. This was followed by Florida at 467,347 and California at 232,570.

Only three states lost population or remained level according to Census estimates. Vermont and West Virginia tied with a decline of 0.03%. Meanwhile Mississippi saw no population change.

California remained the most populous state by a healthy margin. California’s population was at 39,198,693, while the next most populous state was Texas at 31,290,831. To round out the top five States by total population the proceeding highest were Florida (23,372,215), New York (19,867,248), and Pennsylvania (13,078,751).

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Top Posts – Highest Paid Occupations in Construction in 2023

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With the end of 2024 approaching, NAHB’s Eye on Housing is reviewing the posts that attracted the most readers over the last year. In April, Natalia Siniavskaia shared wages by occupation in construction including the median salaries and top 25% salaries.

Half of payroll workers in construction earn more than $58,500 and the top 25% make at least $79,450, according to the latest May 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and analysis by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). In comparison, the U.S. median wage is $48,060, while the top quartile (top 25%) makes at least $76,980.

The OES publishes wages for almost 400 occupations in construction. Out of these, only 46 are construction trades. The other industry workers are in finance, sales, administration and other off-site activities.

The highest paid occupation in construction is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with half of CEOs making over $172,000 per year. Lawyers working in construction are next on the list with the median wages of $166,450, and the top 25 percent highest paid lawyers making over $221,220. Out of the next ten highest paid trades in construction, eight are various managers. The highest paid managers in construction are architectural and engineering managers, with half of them making over $145,180 and the top 25 percent on the pay scale earning over $176,270 annually.

Among construction trades, elevator installers and repairers top the median wages list with half of them earning over $103,340 a year, and the top 25% making at least $129,090. First-line supervisors of construction trades are next on the list; their median wages are $76,960, with the top 25% highest paid supervisors earning more than $97,500.

In general, construction trades that require more years of formal education, specialized training or licensing tend to offer higher annual wages. Median wages of construction and building inspectors are $65,790 and the wages in the top quartile of the pay scale exceed $88,800. Half of plumbers in construction earn over $61,380, with the top quartile making over $80,300. Electricians’ wages are similarly high.

Carpenters are one of the most prevalent construction crafts in the industry. The trade requires less formal education. Nevertheless, the median wages of carpenters working in construction exceed the national median. Half of these craftsmen earn over $57,300 and the highest paid 25% bring in at least $73,800.

The OEWS program adopted a new estimation methodology in 2021. As a result, the previously published estimates are not directly comparable to the post-pandemic editions.  Nevertheless, comparing the median wages in construction over the last two years reveals that, on average, lower-paid occupations experienced a somewhat faster wage growth. Median wages of drywall installers, for example, grew 11%. Moreover, the overall construction median increased 7.3%, one of the largest increases among all industries.  

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