Median hourly wages for construction and extraction employees, by states with prevailing wage laws, May 2015
| Hourly median wage | Cost-of-living-adjusted median hourly wage (BEA RPP) | Cost-of-living-adjusted median hourly wage (MERIC) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| States with prevailing wage laws | $ 22.52 | $ 22.40 | $ 20.67 |
| States without prevailing wage laws | $ 18.47 | $ 19.82 | $ 19.37 |
| Percent higher median wage in states with prevailing wage laws | 21.9% | 13.0% | 6.7% |
Note: Construction occupations make up about 95.2 percent of the construction and extraction occupation category.
Source: EPI analysis of Occupational Employment Statistics data, Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (BEA RPP) data, and Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) data