How much do construction laborers make in Indiana in 2026?

Indiana construction laborers earn a median of $50,070 per year, which works out to roughly $24.07 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That number is your clearest benchmark — half of laborers in the state earn above it, half earn below it. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

The bottom quarter of earners — the 25th percentile — makes around $44,270 annually, or about $21.28 an hour. Workers at this level are often newer to the trade, working for smaller residential contractors, or picking up seasonal work rather than steady year-round employment. If you're landing your first construction job in Indiana, $21 to $22 an hour is a realistic starting point.

The top quarter — the 75th percentile — pulls in $62,240 a year, roughly $29.92 an hour. Getting to that tier usually means consistent full-time hours, a specialization like demolition, concrete work, or pipeline labor, and ideally a relationship with a general contractor or heavy civil firm that has a steady project backlog. The gap between the 25th and 75th percentile is nearly $18,000 a year. That's not seniority alone — it reflects real differences in the type of work, the employer, and the volume of hours worked annually.

Geography within Indiana matters. Construction activity concentrates around Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and the northwest corner of the state near Gary and Hammond, where proximity to the Chicago metro drives commercial and industrial project volume. Laborers working heavy highway or industrial projects in those corridors tend to see wages toward the upper end of the range. Rural parts of the state, where work is more residential and seasonal, typically land closer to the 25th percentile.

No union scale data is available for this trade in Indiana. That means these figures reflect a broad mix of union and non-union workers across all employer types. If you're in a union hall, your actual pay and benefits package may differ from what's shown here — your local's collective bargaining agreement is the right document to check.

Hours worked per year have an outsized effect on annual income for laborers. Someone averaging 45 hours a week through a busy construction season, including overtime pay, can push their annual earnings well above the 75th percentile figure even at a mid-range hourly rate. Conversely, a worker who loses weeks to weather delays or slow seasons may land below the 25th percentile despite a competitive hourly wage. When comparing offers, ask about typical annual hours and project continuity, not just the hourly rate.

Benefits also factor into total compensation. Health insurance, paid time off, and retirement contributions can add thousands of dollars in value on top of wages. A $23/hr job with full benefits may be worth more than a $26/hr job with none.

The construction labor trade in Indiana spans a wide range of tasks — site clearing, concrete finishing, demolition, pipe laying, material handling, and equipment operation assist. Workers who cross-train and pick up certifications like OSHA 30, forklift operation, or flagging tend to be more attractive to employers and have more leverage when negotiating pay. These credentials cost relatively little in time and money but signal reliability and versatility to a hiring foreman.

If you're evaluating a job offer or thinking about moving into this trade, the median of $50,070 ($24.07/hr) is your floor target for experienced, full-time work in Indiana. Entry-level is closer to $21/hr. Experienced workers on commercial or civil projects in high-activity metro areas can realistically reach $29 to $30 an hour without supervisory roles.