The numbers the industry runs on.
Census construction spending, the ABC workforce model, BLS wages and openings — each figure dated and linked to its source. Get the monthly data brief.
Get the monthly brief Wage tableHeadline numbers
Every figure dated and linked. Updated as of 2026-10-05.
Worth knowing
Roughly one in five electricians is over 55 — retirements, not expansion, drive most of 2026's hiring need.
Nonresidential specialty trade contractors have added about 95,000 jobs since August 2024.
Elevator and escalator installers earn the highest median pay in the trades at $109,910.
Top-paying trades
| Occupation | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Elevator & Escalator Installers and Repairers | $109,910 |
| Boilermakers | $76,410 |
| Construction & Building Inspectors | $74,690 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters | $63,800 |
| Electricians | $63,190 |
| Ironworkers | $61,910 |
| Sheet Metal Workers | $61,800 |
| Carpenters | $60,580 |
| Drywall, Ceiling Tile Installers & Tapers | $59,780 |
| Construction Equipment Operators | $59,600 |
Data in the news
Headlines from ENR, Construction Dive, Construction Executive, AGC of America, For Construction Pros, Construction Equipment Guide, NCCER, BLS Employment Situation — refreshed hourly. Full feed at ConstructionNews.com.
- Federal Injunction Hits $7.5B in Big Bend Border Construction Contracts
ENR · 2026-10-05 - States, Cities Continue Push for Decarbonization, Emissions Cuts, Despite Trump Opposition
ENR · 2026-10-05 - Transportation Systems Firm Diversifies and Expands
ENR · 2026-10-05 - Data center contractors learn to live with the backlash
Construction Dive · 2026-10-05 - Bayer Sets $2.2B Ohio Pharma Campus for 2027 Start
ENR · 2026-10-05
The monthly data brief
Census spending, BLS employment and wages, ABC workforce updates — one email on release week.