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Residential Building Wage Growth Slows to 1%

Aug 12, 2026

Average hourly earnings for residential building workers rose 1.0% year-over-year in June to $39.74 per hour, down sharply from a peak increase of 9.4% in mid-2024, according to a National Association of Home Builders analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. NAHB attributes the cooling to softer housing construction activity and weaker labor demand.

After adjusting for inflation, wages fell 2.4% from a year earlier. Real wage growth peaked at 6.2% in 2024 but has since faded as nominal gains cooled and inflation stayed elevated.

The data covers all employees in the residential building industry, including single-family builders and remodelers, but excludes specialty trade contractors.

Read the full report here.

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