5 Arizona Construction Jobs with Fastest Wage Growth

Roofers, Plumbers, and Cement Finishers Lead Arizona Construction Wage Gains

Despite slowing demand in parts of U.S. construction—including interest-rate-sensitive sectors like housing and commercial development—Arizona’s construction labor market continues to offer rapid wage growth, reflecting persistent worker shortages. According to the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the industry faces a shortfall of 439,000 workers nationwide in 2025, driving competitive pay for in-demand trades.

Researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for their 2025 Construction Jobs With the Fastest-Growing Wages report, highlighting both nominal and inflation-adjusted wage gains across the state.

Here are Arizona’s five fastest-growing construction jobs over the past five years:

Top Five Arizona Jobs With Fastest Wage Growth

Roofers

Wages up +45.2% (18.3% inflation-adjusted) to $52,680 in 2024, from $36,290 in 2019.

Helpers

Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Up +37.7% (12.2% adjusted) to $46,490.

Helpers, Construction Trades (All Other)

Up +37.3% (11.9% adjusted) to $46,390.

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Up +33.6% (8.9% adjusted) to $67,010.

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

Up +33.3% (8.6% adjusted) to $57,010.

“Wages are rising fast in specific trades due to the ongoing labor gap,” the report noted. “Even as some sectors cool, demand for skilled workers remains strong in Arizona, creating significant pay increases for the most in-demand roles.”

Key Takeaways

Wages Up, Purchasing Power Down

‍Construction and extraction workers earned a mean annual wage of $63,920 in 2024, up 21.6% from 2019 in nominal terms but slightly down (-0.9%) when adjusted for inflation.

West Coast Advantage

‍California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada combine high wages with strong growth, topping $69,000 in cost-of-living-adjusted wages with 2.6–4.5% real gains since 2019.

Strongest Inflation-Adjusted Gains

‍Across all construction jobs, quarry rock splitters (+10.2%), construction helpers (+7.5%), and paving equipment operators (+7.1%) posted the fastest inflation-adjusted wage growth over five years.

The report provides a comprehensive look at construction wages in all 50 U.S. states, breaking down fastest-growing occupations, five-year wage changes (both nominal and inflation-adjusted), and total employment. It also includes downloadable high-resolution graphics for detailed state-by-state comparisons.

“With the labor shortage showing no signs of easing, Arizona construction workers in roofing, plumbing, and concrete trades are seeing their skills increasingly rewarded,” the report concluded.

Originally reported by Arizona Big Media.