Construction and Extraction Occupations
SOC 47-0000 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Construction and Extraction Occupations is $55,680, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $61,500, and an estimated 6,225,630 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +14.5% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -2.7% (pay did not keep up with inflation).
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Construction and Extraction Occupations has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $55,680 | $55,680 | 6,225,630 |
| 2022 | $50,570 | $52,652 | 6,075,520 |
| 2021 | $48,210 | $54,211 | 5,848,950 |
| 2020 | $48,610 | $57,229 | 5,937,830 |
Nominal change
+14.5%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-2.7%
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Construction and Extraction Occupations earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $55,680. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $78,400 | +40.8% | 30,390 |
| Illinois | $76,370 | +37.2% | 188,740 |
| Massachusetts | $76,150 | +36.8% | 136,120 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $71,910 | +29.1% | 8,370 |
| Washington | $71,330 | +28.1% | 173,070 |
| New Jersey | $69,630 | +25.1% | 126,850 |
| Alaska | $69,370 | +24.6% | 19,580 |
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $69,160 | +24.2% | 5,060 |
| Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $68,480 | +23% | 12,530 |
| Minnesota | $65,770 | +18.1% | 110,960 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$36,380
25th Pct
$44,220
Median
$55,680
75th Pct
$74,750
90th Pct
$97,700
Related Occupations in Construction & Extraction
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.