Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction — Average Employee Salary
The average employee in the water and sewer line and related structures construction industry earns $80,777 per year ($38.84/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.
What Do Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction Workers Earn?
At $80,777/year (equivalent to $38.84/hour for a full-time worker), water and sewer line and related structures construction wages are significantly above the national average of ~$65,000.
Higher wages in this industry typically reflect specialized skills, professional certifications, or technical expertise required for the work. Employers competing for talent in this space face elevated labor costs.
The typical water and sewer line and related structures construction business employs 16 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.
Wages as a Percentage of Revenue
For the average water and sewer line and related structures construction business generating $3.7M/year with 16 employees at $80,777 each, total payroll represents roughly 35.1% of revenue. Labor is a significant cost but leaves room for other expenses and profit.
What This Means for Business Owners
If you're starting or running a water and sewer line and related structures constructionbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:
- Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $105,010/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
- Typical team size: 16 employees = ~$1,292,432/year in base payroll.
- Hourly equivalent: $38.84/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
- Revenue needed: With average revenue of $3.7M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.
See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.
View full Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction revenue benchmarks →Frequently Asked Questions
- How much do water and sewer line and related structures construction employees make?
- The average water and sewer line and related structures construction employee earns $80,777 per year, which is equivalent to $38.84/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
- How many people work in the water and sewer line and related structures construction industry?
- The water and sewer line and related structures construction industry employs 203,821 workers across 12,888 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 16 employees.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).