Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Construction Coverage.
Despite signs of slowing demand, the U.S. construction industry continues to face a significant labor shortage.
Contractors across the country continue to report difficulty hiring, especially for skilled trades positions.
Industry surveys suggest that nearly 80% of contractors are struggling to fill open roles, pointing to structural issues — including an aging workforce, underinvestment in vocational education, and limited immigration flows — as root causes.
Amid these labor market pressures, construction wages are showing upward momentum, but not as much as one might expect.
This analysis from Construction Coverage looks at the top construction jobs in America with the fastest-growing wages. Find out about the methodology at the end.
10. Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
- 5-year percentage change in wage (nominal): +26.0%
- 5-year percentage change in wage (inflation-adjusted): +2.7%
- Mean annual wage (2024): $104,860
- Mean annual wage (2019): $83,250
- Total employment: 23,340
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers are responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing elevators, moving walkways, escalators, and similar types of equipment.
9. Roofer Helpers
- 5-year percentage change in wage (nominal): +26.1%
- 5-year percentage change in wage (inflation-adjusted): +2.8%
- Mean annual wage (2024): $42,070
- Mean annual wage (2019): $33,350
- Total employment: 5,170
Official BLS title: “Helpers–Roofers.” These workers help skilled roofers by performing lower-level job tasks, such as using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work areas and equipment.
8. Underground Mining Loading and Moving Machine Operators
- 5-year percentage change in wage (nominal): +27.4%
- 5-year percentage change in wage (inflation-adjusted): +3.9%
- Mean annual wage (2024): $68,470
- Mean annual wage (2019): $53,730
- Total employment: 6,130
Official BLS title: “Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining.” These workers run equipment that loads, hauls, and moves materials in underground mines. They operate machines such as shuttle cars, loaders, or conveyors to transport ore, coal, or rock in confined spaces.
7. Mason, Tile Setter, and Marble Setter Helpers
- 5-year percentage change in wage (nominal): +29.4%
- 5-year percentage change in wage (inflation-adjusted): +5.4%
- Mean annual wage (2024): $49,730
- Mean annual wage (2019): $38,440
- Total employment: 15,660
Official BLS title: “Helpers–Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters.” These workers help brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and tile and marble setters by fetching and holding supplies, cleaning up the work area, and maintaining tools and equipment.
6. Oil and Gas Derrick Operators
- 5-year percentage change in wage (nominal): +30.1%
- 5-year percentage change in wage (inflation-adjusted): +6.0%
- Mean annual wage (2024): $62,490
- Mean annual wage (2019): $48,030
- Total employment: 11,040
Official BLS title: “Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas.” These workers set up, operate, and maintain the derrick and related equipment used in drilling oil and gas wells. They guide the drill pipe into position, monitor drilling operations, and ensure the machinery runs safely and efficiently.
5. Fence Erectors
- 5-year percentage change in wage (nominal): +31.0%
- 5-year percentage change in wage (inflation-adjusted): +6.7%
- Mean annual wage (2024): $50,550
- Mean annual wage (2019): $38,600
- Total employment: 22,640
Fence erectors install and repair fences, gates, and related structures to meet specifications for residential, commercial, or industrial properties. They measure and mark layout lines, dig postholes, set posts, attach fencing materials, and ensure the finished structure is secure, level, and aligned.
4. Extraction Worker Helpers
- 5-year percentage change in wage (nominal): +31.1%
- 5-year percentage change in wage (inflation-adjusted): +6.8%
- Mean annual wage (2024): $50,330
- Mean annual wage (2019): $38,390
- Total employment: 6,720
Official BLS title: “Helpers–Extraction Workers.” These workers assist skilled extraction professionals, such as earth drillers, explosives workers, and derrick operators, by carrying out tasks that require less technical skill.
Typical responsibilities include delivering tools and materials, maintaining or cleaning work areas, and supporting overall operations.
3. Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
- 5-year percentage change in wage (nominal): +31.4%
- 5-year percentage change in wage (inflation-adjusted): +7.1%
- Mean annual wage (2024): $58,660
- Mean annual wage (2019): $44,630
- Total employment: 45,680
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators control machines that spread and compact materials like asphalt, concrete, or gravel to build or repair roads, runways, and other surfaces. They monitor equipment performance, adjust controls for even application, and ensure the finished surface meets required specifications.
2. Miscellaneous Construction Trade Helpers
- 5-year percentage change in wage (nominal): +31.9%
- 5-year percentage change in wage (inflation-adjusted): +7.5%
- Mean annual wage (2024): $44,040
- Mean annual wage (2019): $33,400
- Total employment: 25,510
Official BLS title: “Helpers, Construction Trades, All Other.” These workers help skilled trades workers with activities that require less skill.
This occupation category specifically excludes helpers of blockmasons, brickmasons, carpenters, electricians, painters, paperhangers, plasterers, pipefitters, pipelayers, plumbers, roofers, steamfitters, stonemasons, stucco masons, and tile and marble setters.
1. Quarry Rock Splitters
- 5-year percentage change in wage (nominal): +35.2%
- 5-year percentage change in wage (inflation-adjusted): +10.2%
- Mean annual wage (2024): $50,540
- Mean annual wage (2019): $37,390
- Total employment: 3,080
Official BLS title: “Rock Splitters, Quarry.” These workers typically separate blocks of rough dimension stone from quarry mass using jackhammers, wedges, or chop saws.
Methodology
Researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed the latest 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics to identify the construction jobs with the fastest-growing wages.
All construction and extraction occupations were ranked by the five-year percentage change in nominal wages from 2019 to 2024. To provide additional context, the analysis also considered inflation-adjusted wage changes and total employment for each occupation.
The study also examined wage growth by state. To ensure reliability, only state-occupation combinations with at least 500 workers were included in the analysis.
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