Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in Construction scope.
Demand in the U.S. construction industry has surged in recent years.
Construction companies are struggling to find adequate labor amid increased demand. In response to labor shortages, the industry is increasingly tapping into a historically underrepresented group: women.
To find the states with the highest wages for women working in construction, researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Below are rankings based on median annual salary for full-time female workers in the construction industry, adjusted for cost of living differences. Learn more about the analysis in the final methodology.
Here are the states where women in construction earn the most.
15. Nevada
- Median salary for women in construction (adjusted): $56,392 USD
- Median wages for women in construction (real): $54,352
- Median salary for all working women (real): $47,235
- Women’s share of total employment in the construction industry: 10.4%
14. Wisconsin
- Median salary for women in construction (adjusted): $56,477
- Median wages for women in construction (real): $52,134
- Median salary for all working women (real): $49,360
- Women’s share of total employment in the construction industry: 8.6%
13. Vermont
- Median salary for women in construction (adjusted): $57,546
- Median wages for women in construction (real): $58,177
- Median salary for all working women (real): $53,635
- Women’s share of total employment in the construction industry: 8.2%
12. Colorado
- Median salary for women in construction (adjusted): $57,565
- Median wages for women in construction (real): $58,885
- Median salary for all working women (real): $56,646
- Women’s share of total employment in the construction industry: 11.2%
11. Maryland
- Median salary for women in construction (adjusted): $57,627
- Median wages for women in construction (real): $60,484
- Median salary for all working women (real): $65,812
- Women’s share of total employment in the construction industry: 11.3%
10.Hawaii
- Median salary for women in construction (adjusted): $57,895
- Median wages for women in construction (real): $64,170
- Median salary for all working women (real): $52,822
- Women’s share of total employment in the construction industry: 12.5%
9.Kansas
- Median salary for women in construction (adjusted): $58,193
- Median wages for women in construction (real): $52,351
- Median salary for all working women (real): $46,499
- Women’s share of total employment in the construction industry: 8.9%
8. North Dakota
- Median salary for women in construction (adjusted): $58,420
- Median wages for women in construction (real): $51,793
- Median salary for all working women (real): $49,122
- Women’s share of total employment in the construction industry: 8.7%
7. Illinois
- Median salary for women in construction (adjusted): $58,732
- Median wages for women in construction (real): $59,470
- Median salary for all working women (real): $54,296
- Women’s share of total employment in the construction industry: 9.2%
6. Connecticut
- Median salary for women in construction (adjusted): $60,029
- Median wages for women in construction (real): $63,878
- Median salary for all working women (real): $64,275
- Women’s share of total employment in the construction industry: 8.1%
5. New Jersey
- Median salary for women in construction (adjusted): $60,176
- Median wages for women in construction (real): $65,446
- Median salary for all working women (real): $63,858
- Women’s share of total employment in the construction industry: 9.0%
4. Minnesota
- Median salary for women in construction (adjusted): $60,282
- Median wages for women in construction (real): $58,909 USD
- Median salary for all working women (real): $56,638
- Women’s share of total employment in the construction industry: 10.1%
3. Washington
- Median salary for women in construction (adjusted): $62,139
- Median wages for women in construction (real): $68,259
- Median salary for all working women (real): $59,756
- Women’s share of total employment in the construction industry: 11.1%
2.Massachusetts
- Median salary for women in construction (adjusted): $64,625
- Median wages for women in construction (real): $70,695
- Median salary for all working women (real): $68,081
- Women’s share of total employment in the construction industry: 8.8%
1.Alaska
- Median salary for women in construction (adjusted): $66,132
- Median wages for women in construction (real): $67,447
- Median salary for all working women (real): $58,017
- Women’s share of total employment in the construction industry: 16.3%
methodology
To find the states with the highest wages for women in construction, researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey and cost of living data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional price parity in 2022 data set.
The states are ranked based on the median annual salary of women working full-time in construction, adjusted for cost of living differences. The researchers also calculated the median annual wages of full-time women across all occupations and the share of women in total full-time employment in construction.
In order to improve the reliability of the results, state-level statistics use 5-year estimates, and national-level statistics use 1-year estimates.
