One State Is the Cheapest in America for Four Different Construction Trades
This is a wage analysis, not a cost guide.
The bottom of every table
For each trade we took the lowest-paying state. The same few names keep appearing.
| Trade | Cheapest state | Median there | National median | Discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | Arkansas | $49,070 | $68,765 | -29% |
| Plumbers | Arkansas | $48,660 | $68,972 | -29% |
| Painters | Arkansas | $40,090 | $52,502 | -24% |
| Tile setters | Arkansas | $38,980 | $55,979 | -30% |
| Roofers | Oklahoma | $43,680 | $55,610 | -21% |
| Carpenters | Oklahoma | $46,910 | $62,569 | -25% |
| Laborers | Alabama | $36,900 | $49,118 | -25% |
| Cement masons | Mississippi | $43,980 | $57,122 | -23% |
Why the same states
Low union density, a large supply of labour and a low cost of living all push the median down at the same time. Those three conditions tend to occur together in the same states.
That is good news for a homeowner budgeting a job there and bad news for a tradesperson trying to earn a coastal wage inland.
How much it actually saves
The discount column is the trade wage discount, not the bill discount. Because material, permits and fixed costs do not move, the saving on a completed job is smaller — typically half the wage gap, since labour is roughly half the bill.
On a $10,000 job with a 30% wage discount, expect to save something closer to $1,500 than $3,000.
Frequently asked
Does a low-wage state mean lower quality?
No. Pay reflects local supply and prices. The licensing requirements are set by the state, not by the wage level.
Is it worth hiring across a state line?
Sometimes. Contractors are usually licensed per state, so a crew working across the line needs to be licensed where the work is, not where they are based.
Updated October 2026