10 Best States for Construction Jobs

A strong construction job market is about more than hiring numbers. For workers looking to build a long-term career, where they work can influence everything from earning potential to job stability and future opportunities. 

Construction employment continues to grow nationwide; wages are climbing and demand for skilled tradespeople remains high. But not all markets offer the same mix of opportunities. Some states stand out because they combine large job markets, competitive pay and economic conditions that support future construction activity. 

Employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows encouraging trends for jobseekers. The construction industry created an additional 11,000 jobs in June 2026 after creating 6,000 more in May. Compared to June a year ago, roughly 64,000 new jobs were created. 

Job opportunities in construction are forecasted to remain strong through 2034. With job growth expected to outpace overall employment and many workers nearing retirement, the field is expected to generate about 649,300 job openings annually. 

After taking this big picture view, it is clear that the construction industry remains a hot job market in 2026 — and well into the future. 

States with the most jobs 

Construction jobs are being created in most areas of the country. Even in many of the states that have experienced recent job losses, their overall employment situation remains strong. 

According to June 2026 employment data analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), 30 states had seen job growth over the previous 12 months, led by Texas, North Carolina and Wisconsin. The 20 states that experienced job losses were led by California, Georgia and New Jersey. 

Ken Simonson, AGC’s Chief Economist said surging demand for data centers and infrastructure are sometimes offset by inconsistent demands for other types of projects. 

While employment numbers will always fluctuate from month to month, the most recent Employment & Wage Report from the BLS provides an indication of which states employ the most construction workers. The states offering the most jobs are: 

• Texas 

• California 

• Florida 

• New York 

• Pennsylvania 

• Ohio 

• North Carolina 

• Illinois 

• Virginia 

• Arizona 

• Washington 

• Michigan 

• Georgia 

Texas, California and Florida continue to offer some of the largest construction job markets in the country, largely because of their size and steady project pipelines. For workers looking for immediate opportunities, those states remain difficult to ignore. 

But a large job market does not always translate into higher pay. 

Several of the states employing the most construction workers pay wages below the national average, while some of the industry’s highest-paying states have significantly smaller workforces. That tradeoff highlights an important reality for jobseekers: finding the best opportunity often means balancing job availability with earning potential. 

Looking at wage data helps complete that picture. 

States with the best wages 

BLS data from May 2025 shows that the average hourly wage for a “construction and extraction” worker is $31.42. This represents a significant increase from two years earlier, when the average wage was $26.77. Looking back to 2020, when the average wage was $23.37, average wages have increased by nearly 35%, highlighting a sustained upward trend in earning over the past five years. 

Of course, construction workers in some states earn a higher wage than in others, likely for a variety of reasons. Regardless of what those reasons are, May 2025 BLS data shows that the top-paying states are: 

• Hawaii — $40.48 

• Washington — $39.60 

• Illinois — $39.27 

• Massachusetts — $39.10 

• Alaska — $39.06 

• New Jersey — $38.69 

• California — $37.64 

• New York — $36.85 

• Oregon — $36.54 

• Minnesota — $36.13 

• Connecticut — $35.12 

• Rhode Island — $33.67 

• Wisconsin — $33.56 

• Nevada — $32.97 

• Missouri — $32.49 

• Pennsylvania — $31.93 

• Indiana — $31.68 

• Ohio — $31.42 

NOTE: BLS data shows that average hourly wages across the country have continued to rise in 2026. The national average hourly wage for a private sector construction worker was $41.01 in April. In June it had ticked up to $41.36. 

States with the most growth potential 

While wages are an important part of the equation, they only provide a snapshot of current market conditions. 

Workers considering a long-term move should also pay attention to where construction activity is headed. States experiencing sustained economic expansion and population growth tend to generate demand for new housing, infrastructure and commercial development, creating opportunities that can last well beyond any single project cycle. 

Those trends offer a clearer view of where future construction demand may emerge. 

State GDP. Overall U.S. GDP grew by 2.1% in the first quarter of 2026, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The following states generated the most growth: 

• Washington — 4.5% 

• California — 3.7% 

• South Carolina — 3.2% 

• North Carolina — 3.2% 

• New Mexico — 3.1% 

• Nevada — 2.9% 

• Louisiana — 2.9% 

• Alaska — 2.8% 

• Utah — 2.6% 

• Georgia — 2.5% 

• Mississippi — 2.5% 

• Alabama — 2.4% 

• Massachusetts — 2.4% 

• Indiana — 2.2% 

• Arkansas — 2.1% 

Population. A large and growing population is a catalyst for construction activity. Demand for housing, infrastructure and other amenities increases as more people move into an area. Below are the 10 most populous states based on July 2025 data from the U.S Census Bureau: 

• California — 39,355,309 

• Texas — 31,709,821 

• Florida — 23,462,518 

• New York — 20,002,427 

• Pennsylvania — 13,059,432 

• Illinois — 12,719,141 

• Ohio — 11,900,510 

• Georgia — 11,302,748 

• North Carolina — 11,297,968 

• Michigan — 10,127,884 

Population growth. The following states saw the most population growth from 2024-2025: 

• Texas — 391,243 

• Florida — 196,680 

• North Carolina — 145,907 

• Georgia — 98,540 

• South Carolina — 79,958 

• Washington — 73,062 

• Arizona — 67,394 

• Tennessee — 63,785 

• Virginia — 60,465 

• New Jersey — 41,861 

And the 10 best states for constructions jobs in 2026 are …. 

No single metric can identify the best place to build a construction career. A state may offer high wages but limited job openings. Another may have abundant work today but slower long-term growth prospects. 

The strongest construction markets tend to combine several advantages: a large employment base, competitive wages and economic conditions that support continued development. Looking across those indicators reveals a group of states that consistently rise to the top.

1. Texas
2. California
3. Florida
4. New York
5. Pennsylvania
6. Ohio
7. North Carolina
8. Illinois
9. Virginia
10. Arizona 

As contractors compete for labor and demand for skilled tradespeople remains strong, understanding where those trends are developing can provide a clearer picture of where construction careers are positioned to grow next.