Construction Sand and Gravel Mining Revenue Benchmarks
The average construction sand and gravel mining business in the United States generates $7.7M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 1,392 construction sand and gravel mining businesses in the U.S., employing 22,575 workers with an average profit margin of 15.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $81K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Construction Sand and Gravel Mining Business Actually Do?
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining: Businesses that extract minerals, oil, natural gas, or aggregate from the earth.
Who buys: Refineries, manufacturers, utilities, construction contractors.
Sector-level description — a more specific write-up is available for high-traffic industries.
Average Revenue
$7.7M
per year
Profit Margin
15.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$475K
per year
Total Businesses
1,392
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$1.2M
small business avg
Labor Cost
15.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$81K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.4
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Construction Sand and Gravel Mining Charge?
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining: Extractive industries sell at commodity spot prices set by global markets. The specifics vary within the construction sand and gravel mining category — the ranges below are typical for the sector.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Crude oil (per bbl) | commodity market ($60–90 typical) |
Natural gas (per MMBtu) | commodity market ($2–6 typical) |
Aggregate/stone (per ton) | $8–25/ton delivered |
Sector-typical ranges — individual services within this industry may fall higher or lower.
Complete construction sand and gravel mining business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a construction sand and gravel mining business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the construction sand and gravel mining industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Extraction costs | $31 | $2.4M | Explosives, drilling fluids, chemicals, mining supplies. |
Wages & benefits | $15 | $1.2M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $7 | $539K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $2 | $162K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $29 | $2.3M | Depreciation on huge equipment, environmental compliance, insurance. |
Net profit | $15 | $1.2M | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
6.34%
openings/year
Closure Rate
4.84%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+3.87%
annual
Businesses Closed
153
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Construction Sand and Gravel Mining Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
2 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a construction sand and gravel mining business do?
- Construction Sand and Gravel Mining: Businesses that extract minerals, oil, natural gas, or aggregate from the earth. Refineries, manufacturers, utilities, construction contractors.
- How much do construction sand and gravel mining charge?
- Construction Sand and Gravel Mining: Extractive industries sell at commodity spot prices set by global markets. The specifics vary within the construction sand and gravel mining category — the ranges below are typical for the sector. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average construction sand and gravel mining make per year?
- The average construction sand and gravel mining business generates $7.7M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $1.2M per year at a 15.0% profit margin.
- How many construction sand and gravel mining businesses are there in the US?
- There are 1,392 construction sand and gravel mining businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 22,575 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a construction sand and gravel mining business?
- Startup costs for a construction sand and gravel mining business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the construction sand and gravel mining industry?
- The average employee in the construction sand and gravel mining industry earns $81K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The construction sand and gravel mining industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 3.9% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (6.3% entry vs 4.8% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 78% of construction sand and gravel mining businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 153 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the construction sand and gravel mining industry earns $80,824/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 2,591 establishments employing 31,121 people, the typical business has about 12 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The construction sand and gravel mining industry has declined 16% since 2000 (from 3,226 to 2,694 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Construction Sand and Gravel Mining revenue with other industries: