Estimated — not yet source-verified.Estimated - not yet source-verified. This cost range is a general knowledge estimate we have not yet confirmed against current regional pricing data. Treat it as a rough guide only and get local contractor quotes.
Contractor costs in Delaware
Regional labor cost ranges for common DIY projects in Delaware. These are estimates for planning purposes - always get multiple quotes from licensed local contractors.
Construction labor wages in Delaware
Official BLS data · OEWS 2024The actual pay range for 15 building trades in Delaware — 10th percentile, median, and 90th percentile hourly wages straight from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the verified labor-cost floor behind the project estimates below, not a national average.
Scroll the table horizontally to compare all wage columns. Keyboard: focus the table, then use the arrow keys.
| Trade | 10th %ile | Median /hr | 90th %ile | Employed in DE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction supervisors | $28.26 | $39.03 | $58.36 | 2,350 |
| Carpenters | $21.54 | $29.38 | $39.12 | 1,650 |
| Cement masons & concrete finishers | $18.46 | $25.22 | $36.12 | 470 |
| Drywall & ceiling-tile installers | $20.76 | $25.63 | $31.35 | 380 |
| Tile & stone setters | $13.25 | $21.58 | $30.57 | 40 |
| Carpet installers | $16.04 | $17.05 | $37.67 | — |
| Painters | $17.97 | $26.81 | $33.20 | 530 |
| Insulation workers | $17.82 | $22.45 | $31.02 | — |
| Brickmasons & blockmasons | $23.99 | $28.08 | $39.59 | 230 |
| Roofers | $14.16 | $28.50 | $35.09 | 230 |
| Electricians | $18.62 | $30.28 | $50.53 | 2,220 |
| Plumbers & pipefitters | $19.53 | $30.92 | $41.78 | 1,570 |
| HVAC technicians | $21.37 | $28.82 | $45.75 | 1,790 |
| Equipment operators | $20.86 | $27.23 | $47.88 | 1,190 |
| Construction laborers | $15.25 | $21.92 | $30.34 | 2,760 |
How building-trade pay has moved since 2019
Median hourly wage by year for Delaware's headline trades — a 6-year OEWS series (2019–2024) that deepens with each annual BLS release.
$23.84 in 2019 → $29.38 in 2024
$26.61 in 2019 → $30.28 in 2024
$29.20 in 2019 → $30.92 in 2024
$17.44 in 2019 → $21.92 in 2024
State-specific BLS wage signals
These comparisons are calculated from the same official OEWS 2024 rows above, so they vary by Delaware's actual trade mix instead of repeating a national average. These are worker wages, not contractor billing rates - a contractor's quote adds overhead, insurance, equipment, and margin.
Highest median wage in state
Construction supervisors
$39.03/hr
Source: BLS OEWS 2024
Largest reported construction trade
Construction laborers
2,760 employed
Source: BLS OEWS 2024
Biggest premium vs trade median
Roofers
+$4.83/hr vs $23.67
Median across states with this BLS trade row, OEWS 2024
Fastest median-wage growth
Roofers
+ 43% since 2019
Source: BLS OEWS 2019-2024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS 2019–2024. These are worker wages, not contractor billing rates — a contractor's quote adds overhead, insurance, equipment, and margin (commonly 1.5–3× the base wage).
Find a contractor in Delaware
When a project is beyond DIY scale, get quotes from licensed local contractors. Always verify contractor license status with Delaware's contractor licensing board.