The PayScale Index (US): Trends in Compensation

2012: In Q1 2012, construction earnings built upon the previous quarter’s growth, rising almost 2 percent from a year earlier. Even though wage trends for the construction industry lag far behind national averages, this positive growth in Q1 2012 is a move in the right direction.

2007-2011: The "Great Recession" could be called the “Construction Recession.” Even though the recession started in Q4 2007, construction wages rose at that time, following national trends through 2008. However, they then dipped more than 2 percent between Q4 2008 and Q4 2009. 2010 was a disappointment for people in the construction industry with continued declines in wages throughout the year that were, by far, the worst of any industry tracked by The PayScale Index.

Fortunately, wages for construction workers grew in the second half of 2011, ending up about half a percent for the year.

Employers: Request Compensation Trend Reports

Sign up to receive a specialized report for your business showing new trends in compensation.

The construction industry (23), as defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), includes the following: home construction and remodeling, commercial building construction, water and sewer line construction, road construction, brick masons, plumbers, painters. View the full definition on Census.gov.

The PayScale Index tracks quarterly changes in total cash compensation for full-time, private industry employees in the United States. In addition to a national index, it includes separate indices for specific industries, metropolitan areas, job categories, and company sizes. The PayScale Index uses 2006 average total cash compensation as a baseline.

See full methodology for compensation trend reports.

Find Out Exactly What
YOU Should Be Paid

Get a precise salary range
for your exact position.

Job Title
Country
State
City
Experience
Continue