Construction wages sprint ahead as broader pay gains stall

Construction is driving the strongest wage gains in 2026 as workers switching into the trades see pay jumps around 12.9% and a median starting pay near $59k, far above the typical $43k for other industries. The gap reflects intense demand from large projects (chip plants, AI data centers), retirements thinning the experienced workforce, and a broader slowdown in wage growth elsewhere, signaling an uneven job market where pay fluctuates sharply by industry.