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The Global Insight

Does construction pay good?

Author

Olivia Zamora

Published Jan 21, 2026

All occupations have seen a median salary increase from 2014-2018. Based on their findings, it appears that construction workers, overall are much better off than most industries, as the median pay for those in the construction industry in general was $41,380 in May of 2014 versus $35,540 for all other occupations.

What’s the highest-paying trade job?

Radiation therapist is one of the best-paying trade jobs. According to the BLS, radiation therapist positions are projected to grow 7% between 2019 and 2029. These professionals earn a median annual income of $85,560, making radiation therapist the best-paying trade job on this list.

How much money do you make as a construction worker?

Average hourly pay was ​ $32.11 ​, which makes the average construction worker salary per year approximately ​ $64,220 ​, assuming they work 40 hours per week and 50 weeks each year, which isn’t always the case. Pay varies according to experience, skill level, location and the type of work being done.

How much overhead does a construction company have?

For most small contractors, the overhead runs around 7% of contract revenues. This is the final number; no other deductions can reduce this number. In general this is the after tax costs.

How much tax do you pay on construction?

For most small businesses, a reasonable tax percentage to use is 23% to cover federal and state income taxes. This is the kind of profit that we would be trying to estimate for the construction industry.

What are the costs of running a construction business?

Overhead is one of the costs to take note of when running a construction business. These costs are rent, support staff, insurance, tools, bookkeeping, legal costs, owner’s salaries, debt payments, and other costs associated with operating the business. Profit is what remains when you subtract job costs and your job overhead.