Salaries remain high in the construction industry

Words: Jennifer WilkersonSkilled craft professionals continue to earn top dollar, according to NCCER's 2015 Construction Craft Salary Survey. Each year, NCCER surveys companies and organizations from the industrial and commercial construction industries across the U.S about the salaries of their craft professionals. The Construction Craft Salary Survey represents average annual salaries for individual craft areas, not including overtime, per diem, bonuses or other incentives.

Of the nearly 90 construction groups surveyed, average annual salaries for craft professions ranged from just over $47,000 to almost $89,000. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list, earning $88,675 and $77,917, respectively. Other professions earning more than $65,000 annually include tower crane operators, power generation technicians, combo welders, power line workers and instrumentation technicians. Mobile crane operators, millwrights, pipe welders, electronic systems technicians and heavy equipment operators earned more than $60,000 in 2015. Since many craft professionals receive overtime, per diem, project bonuses and other pay incentives, their take-home pay is typically much greater than the salaries listed in this survey.

NCCER's Construction Craft Survey is one of numerous resources that NCCER and its Build Your Future initiative offer to promote construction careers and assist in creating a pipeline of qualified craft professionals to the industry. Complete survey results are available at www.nccer.org/uploads/docs/2015_ConstructionCraftSalarySurvey.pdf.

The organizations that participate in NCCER's survey do so voluntarily, and all specific company information remains confidential. Only craft areas in which the number of responses received is sufficient to calculate a valid average are included in the survey results.
Remembering Paul Odom
December 2025

The masonry industry lost a true titan and a dedicated leader with the passing of Paul Odom. Known for his unwavering commitment to his craft and his community, Paul leaves behind a legacy defined not just by the structures he helped build.

Dan Kamys
Read More
Managing the Modern Jobsite: How MSV Helps Crews Do More with Less in 2026
December 2025

On today’s jobsites, efficiency is becoming as essential as craftsmanship. Crews are working with fewer hands, tighter schedules, and greater pressure to deliver high-quality results without increasing costs. It’s a reality affecting everything from resid

Jeff Tew
Technical Talks
Read More
A Free Resource for Contractors: The Block Design Collective
December 2025

The Concrete Masonry Checkoff has launched the Block Design Collective (BDC), a national resource that provides fast, reliable guidance for anyone designing or building with concrete masonry. For contractors, the benefit is straightforward: better informa

Industry News
Read More
The Hidden Forces That Build America: Arching Action and the Tools We Trust
December 2025

Most people at World of Concrete can identify a CMU block from 50 feet away. Some can even smell Type S mortar curing from across the hall. But mention the phrase “arching action,” and you will see a surprising number of boots shift and eyes drift toward

Shayne Sanders
Technical Talks
Read More