A National Center for Construction Education and Research survey revealed that salaries for many skilled craft positions in the construction industry continued to rise in 2018. The survey tallied results from more than 130 companies nationwide and represents nearly 350,000 employees. The results do not include overtime, bonuses, or incentive pay.
The survey found that HVAC technicians, sheet metal workers, plumbers, and scaffold builders have experienced the largest salary increases since the inception of the survey in 2015. The survey also reported the average salary of 19 construction-related jobs are were at $60,000 or more, with project managers and project supervisors reporting the highest salaries.
While many trades reported wage increases, several have experienced salary declines since 2015, including welders and heavy equipment operators.
To supplement the findings from the National Center for Construction Education and Research survey, Construction Dive reports that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found the average hourly construction wage increased to $30.18 in September of 2018, marking the first time salaries have exceeded $30 an hour. Additionally, a workforce survey from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) found in 62% of firms said they had raised hourly pay for trade workers in 2018 and only 11% of respondents said the had no plans to increase pay or benefits in the near future.
Despite the rise in wages and salaries, the labor shortage is still a problem widely affecting the construction industry, with 80% of AGC respondents suggesting they were having problems filling craft positions.
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