General Contractor salary by state
The national median for general contractors was $55.28 an hour, or $114,990 a year, in May 2025. Where the work is changes that a lot: New York pays $33.19 an hour more at the median than Arkansas.
$55.28National median hourly
$114,990National median yearly
380,360General Contractors on payrolls
51States and DC with figures
National pay for general contractors
BLS has no separate wage figure for general contractors. These are its numbers for construction managers, the group BLS files general contractors under. They count managers on a payroll, so owners who run their own contracting business are not in them.
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33.50 | $69,690 |
| 25th percentile | $42.57 | $88,550 |
| Median | $55.28 | $114,990 |
| 75th percentile | $72.91 | $151,640 |
| 90th percentile | $91.08 | $189,440 |
| Average (mean) | $59.79 | $124,360 |
Highest and lowest paying states
Ranked by median hourly wage. These are wages as paid, not adjusted for living costs.
| Top 5 | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 1. New York | $74.69 | $155,360 |
| 2. Washington | $74.55 | $155,070 |
| 3. Massachusetts | $69.71 | $145,010 |
| 4. Alaska | $66.92 | $139,190 |
| 5. New Jersey | $66.46 | $138,230 |
| Bottom 5 | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 51. Arkansas | $41.50 | $86,310 |
| 50. Wyoming | $44.39 | $92,320 |
| 49. West Virginia | $46.03 | $95,740 |
| 48. Alabama | $46.61 | $96,960 |
| 47. Kentucky | $46.64 | $97,020 |
General Contractor pay in every state
Pick a state for its full page: the pay range, how it compares with its neighbors, how many general contractors work there and what a business should charge.
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Bottom to top tenth | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $46.61 | $96,960 | $29.79 to $75.70 | 8,560 |
| Alaska | $66.92 | $139,190 | $47.50 to $102.75 | 1,720 |
| Arizona | $55.14 | $114,680 | $37.50 to $81.04 | 9,910 |
| Arkansas | $41.50 | $86,310 | $25.27 to $61.69 | 2,280 |
| California | $64.02 | $133,160 | $39.47 to $101.91 | 34,750 |
| Colorado | $60.02 | $124,830 | $37.58 to $92.04 | 12,550 |
| Connecticut | $60.19 | $125,190 | $38.46 to $93.80 | 3,620 |
| Delaware | $63.53 | $132,150 | $46.02 to $100.68 | 610 |
| District of Columbia | $60.78 | $126,430 | $38.76 to $100.81 | 1,250 |
| Florida | $54.39 | $113,130 | $31.35 to $100.70 | 34,010 |
| Georgia | $53.27 | $110,810 | $34.28 to $86.90 | 10,740 |
| Hawaii | $61.98 | $128,910 | $33.76 to $92.30 | 2,890 |
| Idaho | $50.29 | $104,600 | $27.03 to $78.07 | 2,280 |
| Illinois | $52.48 | $109,160 | $27.97 to $82.89 | 19,160 |
| Indiana | $51.15 | $106,390 | $30.42 to $82.69 | 5,450 |
| Iowa | $47.73 | $99,280 | $31.38 to $80.41 | 3,070 |
| Kansas | $58.08 | $120,810 | $37.17 to $78.43 | 2,960 |
| Kentucky | $46.64 | $97,020 | $25.89 to $94.00 | 2,990 |
| Louisiana | $52.89 | $110,010 | $32.11 to $83.61 | 5,530 |
| Maine | $52.92 | $110,070 | $32.04 to $83.07 | 1,460 |
| Maryland | $61.70 | $128,330 | $38.39 to $99.21 | 5,770 |
| Massachusetts | $69.71 | $145,010 | $50.05 to $104.29 | 9,870 |
| Michigan | $49.63 | $103,230 | $29.73 to $82.38 | 9,620 |
| Minnesota | $59.33 | $123,400 | $36.12 to $88.59 | 5,800 |
| Mississippi | $47.85 | $99,520 | $30.58 to $77.68 | 1,640 |
| Missouri | $53.96 | $112,230 | $36.30 to $82.97 | 3,680 |
| Montana | $50.23 | $104,480 | $34.58 to $83.48 | 2,140 |
| Nebraska | $48.47 | $100,820 | $30.69 to $76.03 | 3,430 |
| Nevada | $55.41 | $115,250 | $38.95 to $84.44 | 4,460 |
| New Hampshire | $62.15 | $129,260 | $44.37 to $97.51 | 660 |
| New Jersey | $66.46 | $138,230 | $44.78 to $107.01 | 6,910 |
| New Mexico | $50.26 | $104,550 | $34.54 to $80.50 | 2,480 |
| New York | $74.69 | $155,360 | $41.47 to $117.59 | 10,280 |
| North Carolina | $51.27 | $106,640 | $33.16 to $84.95 | 16,310 |
| North Dakota | $49.07 | $102,070 | $30.51 to $81.04 | 1,450 |
| Ohio | $49.03 | $101,980 | $31.63 to $77.60 | 16,130 |
| Oklahoma | $48.41 | $100,690 | $28.99 to $84.66 | 1,980 |
| Oregon | $63.18 | $131,420 | $35.00 to $100.74 | 4,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $52.04 | $108,250 | $37.55 to $83.25 | 6,840 |
| Rhode Island | $50.00 | $103,990 | $29.47 to $85.27 | 450 |
| South Carolina | $51.98 | $108,110 | $34.37 to $92.31 | 5,620 |
| South Dakota | $56.91 | $118,380 | $43.37 to $77.61 | 1,070 |
| Tennessee | $52.98 | $110,200 | $31.63 to $88.11 | 5,860 |
| Texas | $48.78 | $101,470 | $30.79 to $80.19 | 59,060 |
| Utah | $50.58 | $105,200 | $30.87 to $76.55 | Not published |
| Vermont | $49.74 | $103,450 | $36.92 to $69.07 | 930 |
| Virginia | $57.26 | $119,110 | $38.43 to $88.45 | 7,290 |
| Washington | $74.55 | $155,070 | $50.85 to $104.77 | 6,010 |
| West Virginia | $46.03 | $95,740 | $27.64 to $73.16 | 600 |
| Wisconsin | $54.90 | $114,190 | $37.01 to $81.59 | 6,080 |
| Wyoming | $44.39 | $92,320 | $30.04 to $77.16 | Not published |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 11-9021, construction managers, all industries. Read from the BLS state and national data files. Counts leave out the self-employed.
From a wage to a price
If you run the business, the wage is only the start. At the national median of $55.28, the labor rate calculator's starting numbers (one person, 2 unbilled hours a day, $90,000 of overhead, 15% profit) give a rate of $167.67 per billable hour. Try yours in the labor rate calculator.
Other trades
National median $30.67 an hourPlumber salary by statePlumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, from apprentices to master plumbers.National median $30.38 an hourElectrician salary by stateInside wiring, panels and service work, residential through industrial.National median $29.33 an hourHVAC Technician salary by stateHeating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers.National median $26.65 an hourRoofer salary by stateShingle, metal and flat roof installers and repair crews.National median $23.75 an hourPainter salary by stateHouse, commercial and maintenance painters.National median $29.12 an hourCarpenter salary by stateFraming, finish and remodel carpenters.National median $18.82 an hourLandscaper salary by stateLandscaping and groundskeeping workers, lawn crews included.National median $17.07 an hourHouse Cleaner salary by stateMaids and housekeeping cleaners, in homes, hotels and hospitals.National median $17.71 an hourJanitor salary by stateJanitors and commercial cleaners, office crews and custodians.National median $21.75 an hourPest Control Technician salary by stateTechnicians who inspect, treat and trap in homes and businesses.National median $22.66 an hourConstruction Laborer salary by stateCrew labor on job sites: demo, digging, hauling and cleanup.National median $29.71 an hourSheet Metal Worker salary by stateDuctwork, flashing and metal fabrication, in the shop and on site.National median $25.55 an hourSolar Installer salary by stateCrews who mount, wire and set up solar panels.National median $38.42 an hourConstruction Supervisor salary by stateForemen and crew leads who run the work on site.National median $24.68 an hourLocksmith salary by stateLockouts, rekeys, lock changes and safe work.National median $24.50 an hourTree Trimmer salary by stateClimbers and pruners, utility arborists included.National median $17.23 an hourAuto Detailer salary by stateCleaners of vehicles and equipment, the BLS group for detailers.National median $23.84 an hourHandyman salary by stateGeneral maintenance and repair workers, the closest BLS group.National median $24.51 an hourAppliance Technician salary by stateHome appliance repairers, from washers to ovens.National median $23.78 an hourCrime Scene Cleaner salary by stateHazardous materials removal workers, the closest BLS group.National median $17.71 an hourWindow Cleaner salary by stateFiled by BLS under janitors and cleaners.