Workers in the residential construction industry continue to earn higher average annual wages than workers in general industry.

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 the highest paid 25% earned at least $80,520.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (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.

Of the 25 highest-paid occupations in construction, 16 were managerial roles. 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 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.

Lawyers working in construction ranked second, with a median annual wage of about $190,000.

Among construction trades, elevator installers 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.

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.

For more on the wage data, including a discussion of variance by location, read this post on NAHB’s Eye on Housing.