The Salary Index
Salary data is based on the Jackson, MS metropolitan area and applied to Jackson using local cost-of-living adjustments.

Construction Laborers Salaries in Jackson, MS

Average Base Pay

$42,775/yr

14% below national average

Monthly

$3,565

Hourly

$21

Cost Index

72

Construction Laborers in Jackson, MS earn an average of $42,775 per year, with most salaries falling between $34,220 and $51,330 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 14% below the national average, Jackson offers a more modest rate for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 72. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Jackson.

Salary Range

The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.

$32K
Low
$43K
Median
$53K
High
25th percentile: $36K75th percentile: $49K

About Construction Laborers

Construction Managers plan, coordinate, and oversee construction projects from groundbreaking through completion, ensuring that work is delivered on schedule, within budget, and to the required quality standards. They manage subcontractors, suppliers, inspectors, and design professionals simultaneously, coordinating the sequencing of work across multiple trades. The role begins in preconstruction—reviewing plans and specifications, preparing cost estimates, bidding and awarding subcontracts, and developing project schedules using tools like Primavera or Microsoft Project. During construction, they hold weekly job site meetings, track schedule progress, manage submittals and requests for information, process pay applications, and maintain project documentation. Identifying and mitigating risk is central: construction managers anticipate schedule conflicts, monitor weather impacts, manage material procurement lead times, and resolve field conditions that differ from design assumptions. Safety management is a primary legal and ethical responsibility. Most construction managers hold a degree in construction management or civil engineering, and many hold the Certified Construction Manager (CCM) or PMP credential.

What Construction Laborers Do

  • Develop and manage project schedules and construction budgets
  • Bid, award, and manage subcontracts and supplier agreements
  • Coordinate and sequence work among trades to minimize conflicts
  • Conduct job site meetings and maintain project documentation
  • Review and process submittals, RFIs, change orders, and pay applications
  • Enforce safety regulations and maintain a safe job site
  • Monitor work quality and ensure conformance with contract documents
  • Communicate project status to owners and stakeholders

Key Skills & Qualifications

  • Construction scheduling with Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project
  • Cost estimating and budget control
  • Subcontract management and procurement
  • Blueprint and specification reading and interpretation
  • OSHA safety regulations and job site safety management
  • Construction project management software such as Procore
  • Change order management and dispute resolution
  • CCM or PMP certification

Career Path

  1. Field Engineer / Project Engineer
  2. Assistant Project Manager
  3. Project Manager
  4. Senior Project Manager
  5. Senior PM / VP of Construction

Construction Laborers Market in Jackson, MS

Salary Competitiveness

Jackson currently pays 14% below the national median for Construction Laborers. This gap can reflect a lower regional cost base, thinner employer density, or a surplus of qualified candidates relative to open roles—factors worth factoring into any offer negotiation or relocation calculation.

Cost of Living Impact

Jackson's cost of living runs below the national average, which works in favor of this salary. Essential monthly expenses account for approximately 74% of take-home pay—a ratio that leaves meaningful room for savings, debt reduction, and discretionary spending compared with higher-cost metros.

Effective Purchasing Power

Despite a competitive gross salary, a Construction Laborers earning $42,775 in Jackson operates in a tight purchasing-power band once taxes and local cost of living are applied. Careful planning around housing, transportation, and discretionary spending is essential to avoid running negative disposable income month to month.

vs. National Avg

-14%

Cost Pressure

74%

Purchasing Power

Tight

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.

$
Take-home (73%)Taxes (27%)

Annual Net

$31,226

Monthly

$2,602

Weekly

$601

Eff. Tax Rate

27%

A gross salary of $42,775 for a Construction Laborers in Jackson translates to roughly $2,602 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $1,937—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $665 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Jackson's current market.

How far does this salary go in Jackson?

Cost of Living in Jackson

Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Jackson, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.

Cost Index

72

Below Avg — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).

🏠Housing / Rent$980/mo
🍔Food & Groceries$410/mo
🚗Transportation$115/mo
💡Utilities$170/mo
🏥Healthcare$262/mo
Monthly$1,937
Annual$23,244
Disposable Income$665

Financial Reality Check

This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Jackson to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.

Monthly Take-Home

$2,602

Living Costs

$1,937

Disposable

$665

Cost Index

72

Lifestyle

Tight

With a monthly take-home of $2,602, your estimated living costs in Jackson are $1,937 ($23,244/yr). This leaves $665 per month in disposable income, indicating a tight standard of living. Jackson's cost of living is 28% below the national average.

Overall, a Construction Laborers earning $42,775 in Jackson falls into a tight lifestyle tier and will need to budget carefully—essential costs consume a significant share of take-home pay, leaving limited room for savings or emergencies. With a cost index of 72, Jackson is 28% more affordable than the national average, which extends your purchasing power. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Jackson continue to evolve.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Construction Laborers · Jackson, MS14% below avg

Gross Salary

$42,775/yr

Take-home

$2,602/mo

Disposable

$665/mo

Lifestyle

Tight

Source: thesalaryindex.com · BLS data

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COL index, rent benchmarks, top jobs, and affordability score.

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Salary estimates are based on BLS metro data and adjusted using cost-of-living indices.