How much do construction laborers make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

What the Construction Laborers median says in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

The May 2025 BLS OEWS estimate puts the Construction Laborers median in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA at $49,980 per year. Median means the middle of the published wage spread. It is not one worker's pay. It is not a job offer. The row is tied to SOC 47-2061 and BLS area 19780.

BLS lists 3,510 wage and salary jobs for this exact role-place row. That is a survey estimate. It is not a count of open posts. The local mean is $54,000 per year. Mean uses all wage values behind the estimate, so high or low values can move it away from the median.

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA's Construction Laborers median is 6.1% above the U.S. Construction Laborers median of $47,120 on the same published median. Both values use the same job code and source date. They do not account for prices, taxes, benefits, hours, or your work history.

Read source key 47-2061 with area 19780

This page exists because the BLS artifact has one row for SOC 47-2061 and area 19780. SOC 47-2061 names Construction Laborers. Area 19780 names Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Both keys must match before WageScope can show or index this answer.

The 47-2061/19780 row has 3,510 wage and salary jobs. There are 8.69 for each 1,000 local jobs. The location quotient is 1.23. Each value stays under the same job and area codes.

For 47-2061/19780, the annual median is $49,980 per year, while the matching mean is $54,000 per year. The row is published with annual and hourly fields. WageScope does not switch units to fill a blank.

• 47-2061/19780 10th percentile: $40,080 per year.
• 47-2061/19780 25th percentile: $47,160 per year.
• 47-2061/19780 median: $49,980 per year.
• 47-2061/19780 75th percentile: $60,130 per year.
• 47-2061/19780 90th percentile: $72,370 per year.
• 47-2061/19780 employment RSE: 5.1%. Mean-wage RSE: 1.1%.
• 47-2061/19780 has no suppression mark in the fields shown on this page.

BLS area 19780 facts behind this Construction Laborers page

Area 19780 reports 404,130 wage and salary jobs across all covered occupations. Its annual mean is $65,970. Its annual median is $51,820. The employment RSE is 0%. The mean-wage RSE is 0.5%. These are facts for the whole area. They do not replace the 47-2061 row.

The all-jobs wage ladder in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA runs from $29,900 at the 10th percentile to $113,430 at the 90th percentile. The 25th percentile is $37,550. The median is $51,820. The 75th percentile is $78,320. This is a place check, not a pay range for Construction Laborers.

The source rows below are the six largest detailed roles in the bounded area file. Each keeps its own SOC code. They help a reader spot-check area 19780. They do not show related skills or a path into Construction Laborers.

• 1. Customer Service Representatives. Area: 19780. SOC: 43-4051. Jobs: 12,070. Yearly median: $48,880. Jobs per 1,000: 29.86. Location quotient: 1.79.
• 2. Retail Salespersons. Area: 19780. SOC: 41-2031. Jobs: 11,000. Yearly median: $33,430. Jobs per 1,000: 27.22. Location quotient: 1.09.
• 3. Fast Food and Counter Workers. Area: 19780. SOC: 35-3023. Jobs: 10,060. Yearly median: $29,140. Jobs per 1,000: 24.88. Location quotient: 1.
• 4. Cashiers. Area: 19780. SOC: 41-2011. Jobs: 8,720. Yearly median: $29,640. Jobs per 1,000: 21.57. Location quotient: 1.09.
• 5. General and Operations Managers. Area: 19780. SOC: 11-1021. Jobs: 8,370. Yearly median: $98,780. Jobs per 1,000: 20.71. Location quotient: 0.92.
• 6. Registered Nurses. Area: 19780. SOC: 29-1141. Jobs: 8,130. Yearly median: $78,630. Jobs per 1,000: 20.13. Location quotient: 0.93.

Read the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA wage ladder for Construction Laborers

The 10th percentile is $40,080 per year. The 25th percentile is $47,160 per year. The median is $49,980 per year. The 75th percentile is $60,130 per year. The 90th percentile is $72,370 per year.

A percentile is a rank point, not a career stage. The 10th percentile does not mean new-worker pay. The 90th percentile does not mean a wage that comes after a set number of years. The points show how the wage values spread in the source. They do not say why one job sits at one point.

The middle half runs from $47,160 per year to $60,130 per year. The 10th-to-90th span is $32,290. Use the full ladder when a job post sits far from the median.

Compare Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA with its state and the U.S.

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA has a annual median of $49,980 per year. Iowa has $48,490 per year. The U.S. row has $47,120 per year. WageScope keeps annual and hourly values apart.

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is 3.1% above Iowa on the same published median. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is 6.1% above the United States on the same published median. A gap can reflect many things that are not in this row. WageScope reports the gap but does not name a cause.

The state and U.S. rows are benchmarks, not replacements. They do not fill missing local facts. A state can hold many local labor markets. A national row can hold many states. Read the local row first, then use the broader rows to see scale.

Where Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA sits for Construction Laborers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ranks 122 of 392 among metro areas with a published annual median for Construction Laborers. The list keeps one SOC code, one map type, one wage metric, and one BLS release. It skips rows without the matching median.

Rank 122 of 392 is not a place score. A small wage gap can move a row several spots. The rank does not add local prices, job count, concentration, commute, taxes, or work rules. Use it only to find where the published median falls inside this like-for-like set.

The nearby rows below are the closest ranks, not chosen cities. Their pay, job counts, and local shares can differ. Open a peer page before making a deeper comparison. A title and one number are not enough for a move or pay choice.

• 119. Kansas City, MO-KS. The Construction Laborers median is $50,500 per year. BLS estimates 6,580 jobs. The location quotient is 0.85.
• 120. Springfield, OH. The Construction Laborers median is $50,070 per year. BLS estimates 160 jobs. The location quotient is 0.51.
• 121. Kenosha, WI. The Construction Laborers median is $50,040 per year. BLS estimates 340 jobs. The location quotient is 0.64.
• 123. Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN. The Construction Laborers median is $49,960 per year. BLS estimates 760 jobs. The location quotient is 1.05.
• 124. Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA. The Construction Laborers median is $49,950 per year. BLS estimates 710 jobs. The location quotient is 1.2.
• 125. Burlington-South Burlington, VT. The Construction Laborers median is $49,940 per year. BLS estimates 460 jobs. The location quotient is 0.55.

Where Construction Laborers medians lead among metro areas

The rows below use the same SOC 47-2061, the same annual median, the same May 2025 BLS release, and the same metro map type. Vineland, NJ has the highest published median in this set, at $83,680 per year. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA sits at $49,980 per year.

A pay lead is one fact. It does not show the size of the job base. It does not show how common Construction Laborers is in the local mix. It also does not add local prices. The bullets keep the median, job count, and location quotient together so a high wage is not read as a full market score.

Use this list to choose a deeper pair, not to choose a place. Open the two local pages. Check the full wage ladder, the job scale, the survey limits, and the exact BEA price row when present. A missing median stays out of this rank instead of becoming zero.

• 1. Vineland, NJ has a Construction Laborers median of $83,680 per year, or $33,700 above Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. BLS lists 440 jobs there, compared with 3,510 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. The location quotient is 1.
• 2. Kahului-Wailuku, HI has a Construction Laborers median of $79,760 per year, or $29,780 above Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. BLS lists 630 jobs there, compared with 3,510 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. The location quotient is 1.22.
• 3. Urban Honolulu, HI has a Construction Laborers median of $77,960 per year, or $27,980 above Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. BLS lists 3,040 jobs there, compared with 3,510 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. The location quotient is 0.97.
• 4. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA has a Construction Laborers median of $72,610 per year, or $22,630 above Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. BLS lists 11,620 jobs there, compared with 3,510 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. The location quotient is 0.69.
• 5. Trenton-Princeton, NJ has a Construction Laborers median of $71,920 per year, or $21,940 above Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. BLS lists 960 jobs there, compared with 3,510 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. The location quotient is 0.57.
• 6. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has a Construction Laborers median of $68,470 per year, or $18,490 above Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. BLS lists 4,420 jobs there, compared with 3,510 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. The location quotient is 0.55.
• 7. St. Louis, MO-IL has a Construction Laborers median of $64,500 per year, or $14,520 above Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. BLS lists 8,670 jobs there, compared with 3,510 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. The location quotient is 0.92.
• 8. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH has a Construction Laborers median of $63,420 per year, or $13,440 above Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. BLS lists 11,580 jobs there, compared with 3,510 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. The location quotient is 0.61.

Where BLS counts the most Construction Laborers jobs

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ has the largest published metro job estimate for Construction Laborers in this same-source set, at 50,870 jobs. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA has 3,510. The count shows covered job scale, not open posts.

A large job base can have a lower median than a smaller one. It can also have a location quotient near or below 1. That is why WageScope does not blend job count, pay, and local share. Each field keeps its name and unit. The rows below let you compare all three without making one score.

Current MeritLog listings can add a dated view of employer-title matches. They do not change this May 2025 order. A place with few current cards can still have a large BLS job estimate. A place with several cards can still have a smaller estimate. The sources use different clocks and scopes.

• 1. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ has 50,870 estimated Construction Laborers jobs, a gap of 47,360 jobs from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Its median is $61,270 per year, or $11,290 above Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Its location quotient is 0.76.
• 2. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX has 34,080 estimated Construction Laborers jobs, a gap of 30,570 jobs from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Its median is $41,350 per year, or $8,630 below Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Its location quotient is 1.47.
• 3. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX has 29,670 estimated Construction Laborers jobs, a gap of 26,160 jobs from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Its median is $43,960 per year, or $6,020 below Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Its location quotient is 1.04.
• 4. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ has 29,230 estimated Construction Laborers jobs, a gap of 25,720 jobs from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Its median is $46,910 per year, or $3,070 below Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Its location quotient is 1.74.
• 5. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN has 26,690 estimated Construction Laborers jobs, a gap of 23,180 jobs from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Its median is $60,890 per year, or $10,910 above Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Its location quotient is 0.84.
• 6. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA has 21,730 estimated Construction Laborers jobs, a gap of 18,220 jobs from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Its median is $58,810 per year, or $8,830 above Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Its location quotient is 0.49.
• 7. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL has 18,280 estimated Construction Laborers jobs, a gap of 14,770 jobs from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Its median is $45,520 per year, or $4,460 below Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Its location quotient is 0.92.
• 8. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV has 17,710 estimated Construction Laborers jobs, a gap of 14,200 jobs from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Its median is $47,430 per year, or $2,550 below Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Its location quotient is 0.8.

Where Construction Laborers takes the largest share of local jobs

Farmington, NM has the highest published location quotient in this metro set, at 3.91. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA has 1.23. A value above 1 means the role's local job share is larger than its national share.

A high quotient can come from a small local job base. It does not prove more jobs, more posts, faster growth, or higher pay. The bullets keep each quotient beside its BLS job count and median. This lets a reader see when the three measures point in different ways.

Use this list to ask where Construction Laborers is a large part of the local mix. Use the employment list to ask where BLS counts the most jobs. Use the pay list to ask where the median is highest. None of those lists decides where a person should work.

• 1. Farmington, NM has a location quotient of 3.91, a gap of 2.68 from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. BLS lists 1,310 Construction Laborers jobs and a median of $38,150 per year, or $11,830 below Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
• 2. Lake Charles, LA has a location quotient of 2.97, a gap of 1.74 from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. BLS lists 2,130 Construction Laborers jobs and a median of $45,240 per year, or $4,740 below Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
• 3. Decatur, IL has a location quotient of 2.91, a gap of 1.68 from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. BLS lists 940 Construction Laborers jobs and a median of $61,270 per year, or $11,290 above Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
• 4. Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX has a location quotient of 2.9, a gap of 1.67 from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. BLS lists 3,340 Construction Laborers jobs and a median of $44,240 per year, or $5,740 below Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
• 5. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL has a location quotient of 2.43, a gap of 1.20 from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. BLS lists 5,230 Construction Laborers jobs and a median of $43,290 per year, or $6,690 below Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
• 6. Wildwood-The Villages, FL has a location quotient of 2.43, a gap of 1.20 from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. BLS lists 710 Construction Laborers jobs and a median of $41,170 per year, or $8,810 below Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
• 7. St. George, UT has a location quotient of 2.35, a gap of 1.12 from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. BLS lists 1,500 Construction Laborers jobs and a median of $45,670 per year, or $4,310 below Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
• 8. Midland, TX has a location quotient of 2.28, a gap of 1.05 from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. BLS lists 1,970 Construction Laborers jobs and a median of $39,500 per year, or $10,480 below Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.

How common Construction Laborers is in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

BLS lists 3,510 Construction Laborers jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. It also lists 8.69 jobs per 1,000 local jobs. Jobs per 1,000 turns the count into a rate. It helps compare places of different size. It does not show open posts or hiring speed.

The location quotient is 1.23. A value of 1 means Construction Laborers has the same share of local jobs as it has across the nation. This row is higher than 1. The quotient is a share check, not a wage or a growth measure.

Read the three values as separate facts. Employment asks how many covered jobs BLS estimated. Jobs per 1,000 asks how much of the local job base the role takes. Location quotient asks how that share compares with the national share. None of them tells you how many posts are open today.

Construction Laborers beside other roles in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

The all-occupations median in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $51,820 per year. The Construction Laborers median is $49,980 per year. Construction Laborers is 3.6% below the local all-occupations median on the same published median. This compares one role with the full covered job mix.

The nearby role medians below come from the bounded detailed-role table for Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. They are close by wage, not by task. A small wage gap does not mean two jobs need the same skill or lead to the same career. Official titles keep their own SOC codes and source rows.

Use the list to spot the local wage mix around Construction Laborers. Then open the role page you mean. A role can have a similar median and a very different job count or local share. The pay number alone cannot show fit, demand, or a path between jobs.

• 1. Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks, SOC 43-3031, has a Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median of $50,610 per year. BLS lists 3,670 jobs and a location quotient of 1.03.
• 2. Maintenance and Repair Workers, General, SOC 49-9071, has a Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median of $50,780 per year. BLS lists 3,780 jobs and a location quotient of 0.95.
• 3. Customer Service Representatives, SOC 43-4051, has a Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median of $48,880 per year. BLS lists 12,070 jobs and a location quotient of 1.79.
• 4. Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive, SOC 43-6014, has a Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median of $47,500 per year. BLS lists 3,110 jobs and a location quotient of 0.7.
• 5. Office Clerks, General, SOC 43-9061, has a Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median of $46,540 per year. BLS lists 6,010 jobs and a location quotient of 0.94.
• 6. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand, SOC 53-7062, has a Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median of $46,370 per year. BLS lists 7,000 jobs and a location quotient of 0.91.
• 7. Nursing Assistants, SOC 31-1131, has a Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median of $43,940 per year. BLS lists 4,660 jobs and a location quotient of 1.24.
• 8. Light Truck Drivers, SOC 53-3033, has a Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median of $43,200 per year. BLS lists 3,470 jobs and a location quotient of 1.36.

The largest detailed roles in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Customer Service Representatives is the largest detailed occupation in the bounded Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA table, at 12,070 jobs. Construction Laborers has 3,510 jobs in its exact role-place row. The two counts show where this role sits beside other large parts of the local job base.

The all-occupations job count is 404,130. The detailed list below is only a bounded view of that larger mix. It does not sum to every local job. It does not include a blank role as zero. It helps explain why one role's wage and job count should not stand in for the whole area.

A large role can have a lower median. A smaller role can have a higher one. Job count does not show current posts, job quality, or growth. Use the list to see local scale. Then keep Construction Laborers's own median, spread, and share in their own fields.

• 1. Customer Service Representatives has 12,070 jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a gap of 8,560 from Construction Laborers. Its median is $48,880 per year, or $1,100 below Construction Laborers. Its location quotient is 1.79.
• 2. Retail Salespersons has 11,000 jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a gap of 7,490 from Construction Laborers. Its median is $33,430 per year, or $16,550 below Construction Laborers. Its location quotient is 1.09.
• 3. Fast Food and Counter Workers has 10,060 jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a gap of 6,550 from Construction Laborers. Its median is $29,140 per year, or $20,840 below Construction Laborers. Its location quotient is 1.
• 4. Cashiers has 8,720 jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a gap of 5,210 from Construction Laborers. Its median is $29,640 per year, or $20,340 below Construction Laborers. Its location quotient is 1.09.
• 5. General and Operations Managers has 8,370 jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a gap of 4,860 from Construction Laborers. Its median is $98,780 per year, or $48,800 above Construction Laborers. Its location quotient is 0.92.
• 6. Registered Nurses has 8,130 jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a gap of 4,620 from Construction Laborers. Its median is $78,630 per year, or $28,650 above Construction Laborers. Its location quotient is 0.93.
• 7. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers has 7,840 jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a gap of 4,330 from Construction Laborers. Its median is $60,720 per year, or $10,740 above Construction Laborers. Its location quotient is 1.46.
• 8. Stockers and Order Fillers has 7,430 jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a gap of 3,920 from Construction Laborers. Its median is $36,800 per year, or $13,180 below Construction Laborers. Its location quotient is 1.01.

Published role medians around Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Financial Managers has the highest published median in the bounded Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA role table, at $154,140 per year. Construction Laborers has $49,980 per year. This puts the role beside a local pay range without blending the source rows.

The local all-occupations median is $51,820 per year. A role above that mark is not better. A role below it is not worse. The mark only shows where the role's published median sits against the full covered job mix. Job tasks, level, hours, and work setting are separate facts.

The bullets keep each SOC title, job count, median, and local share together. Use them to find a role page worth opening. Do not use a close median as proof that two roles share skills or that one is a path to the other.

• 1. Financial Managers has a median of $154,140 per year in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, or $104,160 above Construction Laborers. BLS lists 3,800 jobs, compared with 3,510 for Construction Laborers. Its location quotient is 1.74.
• 2. Software Developers has a median of $126,460 per year in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, or $76,480 above Construction Laborers. BLS lists 4,240 jobs, compared with 3,510 for Construction Laborers. Its location quotient is 0.97.
• 3. General and Operations Managers has a median of $98,780 per year in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, or $48,800 above Construction Laborers. BLS lists 8,370 jobs, compared with 3,510 for Construction Laborers. Its location quotient is 0.92.
• 4. Business Operations Specialists, All Other has a median of $86,540 per year in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, or $36,560 above Construction Laborers. BLS lists 5,130 jobs, compared with 3,510 for Construction Laborers. Its location quotient is 1.82.
• 5. Accountants and Auditors has a median of $79,290 per year in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, or $29,310 above Construction Laborers. BLS lists 4,850 jobs, compared with 3,510 for Construction Laborers. Its location quotient is 1.29.
• 6. Registered Nurses has a median of $78,630 per year in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, or $28,650 above Construction Laborers. BLS lists 8,130 jobs, compared with 3,510 for Construction Laborers. Its location quotient is 0.93.
• 7. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists has a median of $76,580 per year in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, or $26,600 above Construction Laborers. BLS lists 3,440 jobs, compared with 3,510 for Construction Laborers. Its location quotient is 1.47.
• 8. First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers has a median of $71,690 per year in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, or $21,710 above Construction Laborers. BLS lists 3,100 jobs, compared with 3,510 for Construction Laborers. Its location quotient is 0.83.

Roles with the largest local share in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Insurance Sales Agents has the highest location quotient in the bounded Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA role table, at 2.36. Construction Laborers has 1.23. Both values compare a local job share with the matching national share.

A quotient above 1 means the role takes a larger share of local jobs than it does across the nation. It does not mean more jobs than every other role. It does not mean open posts, growth, or high pay. The job count and median beside each row answer those other narrow questions.

The local role-share mix can differ a lot from the pay mix. Read both lists. Then compare Construction Laborers with the same SOC code in another place. This keeps a broad area pattern from replacing the exact role-place row.

• 1. Insurance Sales Agents has a location quotient of 2.36 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a gap of 1.13 from Construction Laborers. BLS lists 2,940 jobs and a median of $61,140 per year, or $11,160 above Construction Laborers.
• 2. Business Operations Specialists, All Other has a location quotient of 1.82 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a gap of 0.59 from Construction Laborers. BLS lists 5,130 jobs and a median of $86,540 per year, or $36,560 above Construction Laborers.
• 3. Customer Service Representatives has a location quotient of 1.79 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a gap of 0.56 from Construction Laborers. BLS lists 12,070 jobs and a median of $48,880 per year, or $1,100 below Construction Laborers.
• 4. Financial Managers has a location quotient of 1.74 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a gap of 0.51 from Construction Laborers. BLS lists 3,800 jobs and a median of $154,140 per year, or $104,160 above Construction Laborers.
• 5. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products has a location quotient of 1.52 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a gap of 0.29 from Construction Laborers. BLS lists 4,900 jobs and a median of $67,040 per year, or $17,060 above Construction Laborers.
• 6. Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists has a location quotient of 1.47 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a gap of 0.24 from Construction Laborers. BLS lists 3,440 jobs and a median of $76,580 per year, or $26,600 above Construction Laborers.
• 7. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers has a location quotient of 1.46 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a gap of 0.23 from Construction Laborers. BLS lists 7,840 jobs and a median of $60,720 per year, or $10,740 above Construction Laborers.
• 8. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary has a location quotient of 1.39 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, a gap of 0.16 from Construction Laborers. BLS lists 5,140 jobs and a median of $34,620 per year, or $15,360 below Construction Laborers.

What $49,980 may mean after the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA price level

BEA's 2024 all-items price index for Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is 91.7. The U.S. level is 100. The local level is 8.3% below that mark. This is a broad price comparison. It is not a personal budget.

WageScope divides the $49,980 Construction Laborers median by 91.7 divided by 100. The result is $54,503 in national-price dollars per year. This proxy keeps the math clear. It is not take-home pay and does not set a move target.

Housing is 84.7. Goods are 93.7. Utilities are 84.6. Other services are 92.9. The parts do not move as one. WageScope uses BEA's all-items index for the proxy and does not make its own basket.

How much care to use with the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA row

The employment RSE for this Construction Laborers row is 5.1%. The mean-wage RSE is 1.1%. RSE means relative standard error. It is a survey precision flag. A smaller value often means less sampling uncertainty. It is not the chance that one person's pay is right or wrong.

The employment RSE belongs to the 3,510 job estimate. The mean-wage RSE belongs to the $54,000 mean. BLS does not give the same RSE field for the median or every percentile. WageScope does not move an RSE from one field to another.

A local row can change in a new release. A small role-place sample can also have more survey uncertainty than a broad national row. Keep the May 2025 date next to the value. Do not mix a newer job post with the BLS date as if both facts came from one clock.

Use Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA wage data before you tailor

The job block looks for strict employer-title matches to Construction Laborers. It uses a Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA place filter only when the public place list has an exact approved match. If that match is not safe, the page says the jobs are not narrowed to this place. A false negative is safer than showing a different role.

Each card keeps its employer, place, source, and seen date. Listings can change between visits while the survey figures stay tied to their release date. A listing range does not replace the $49,980 BLS median. The listing and survey answer different questions.

Open one listing. Check its level, work place, pay range, and needs. Then tailor with work facts you can support. Do not turn a wage, job count, rank, or price proxy into a résumé claim. The public page is read only. It does not save a job or start a draft on load.

What the Construction Laborers row for Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA does not claim

The row does not say what one person earns. It does not promise a job, offer, raise, or move result. It does not say why the local median differs from the U.S. row. It does not add tips, bonus pay, stock, benefits, taxes, or work hours unless those items are in the BLS wage measure.

The 3,510 job estimate is not a live opening count. The location quotient of 1.23 is not a growth score. Rank 122 of 392 is not a place score. The 91.7 price index is not a personal budget.

Use the row for one clear task. Read the May 2025 wage spread for SOC 47-2061 in BLS area 19780. Compare the same metric with the state and U.S. rows. Add the separate 2024 price level when present. Inspect a dated job match. Then use confirmed work facts for a résumé.