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State Atlas

Commercial Construction Companies by State: Establishments, Jobs and Pay, 2025

A state atlas of commercial and institutional building contractors built from federal payroll records, with density, pay and five-year growth for all 50 states and DC.

By the CB&C Research Desk · Published 2026-10-03 · Data and tables licensed CC BY 4.0

Primary data
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, NAICS 236220, private ownership
Data period
2025 annual averages; first quarter 2026 (preliminary); 2020 baseline
Latest release used
2026-08-28
Next release
2026-12-02 (second quarter 2026)
Geography
50 states and the District of Columbia
Sources
23 (21 Tier 1)
Short answer

Counting commercial construction companies by state, BLS data show 58,379 private commercial building establishments in the US in 2025, employing 761,316 people at an average $2,061 a week. California has the most (5,127). South Dakota is densest at 38.3 per 100,000 residents, and Idaho grew fastest since 2020 (+50.1% establishments).

58,379US commercial building establishments, 2025 annual average[1]
761,316US jobs in NAICS 236220, 2025 annual average[1]
$2,061Average weekly wage, 2025 (1.36 times the private-sector average)[1][5]
38.3Establishments per 100,000 residents in South Dakota, highest of any state, 2025[1][10]

Commercial construction companies by state: density per 100,000 residents

Measured against population, commercial building contractors are thickest on the ground in the Great Plains, the northern Rockies and Alaska, not in the biggest economies. South Dakota had 38.3 establishments per 100,000 residents in 2025, more than twice the US figure of 17.1.

Commercial building establishments per 100,000 residents, 2025

NAICS 236220, private establishments, annual average

Commercial building establishments per 100,000 residents, 2025US tile map of commercial building construction establishments per 100,000 residents in 2025. South Dakota is highest at 38.3, followed by Alaska at 37.3; Washington is lowest at 11.0. The US value is 17.1.AK: 37.3AK37.3ME: 15.8ME15.8VT: 14.9VT14.9NH: 15.0NH15.0WA: 11.0WA11.0ID: 33.1ID33.1MT: 27.9MT27.9ND: 35.0ND35.0MN: 16.7MN16.7IL: 14.6IL14.6WI: 11.1WI11.1MI: 16.3MI16.3NY: 13.1NY13.1RI: 15.6RI15.6MA: 12.7MA12.7OR: 17.5OR17.5NV: 20.8NV20.8WY: 31.6WY31.6SD: 38.3SD38.3IA: 21.8IA21.8IN: 15.7IN15.7OH: 15.2OH15.2PA: 14.5PA14.5NJ: 12.9NJ12.9CT: 14.5CT14.5CA: 13.0CA13.0UT: 21.9UT21.9CO: 16.5CO16.5NE: 22.5NE22.5MO: 21.6MO21.6KY: 18.6KY18.6WV: 17.0WV17.0VA: 18.6VA18.6MD: 20.8MD20.8DE: 18.8DE18.8AZ: 18.7AZ18.7NM: 24.5NM24.5KS: 19.4KS19.4AR: 19.7AR19.7TN: 16.3TN16.3NC: 16.0NC16.0SC: 20.1SC20.1DC: 36.6DC36.6OK: 34.8OK34.8LA: 23.1LA23.1MS: 24.7MS24.7AL: 22.5AL22.5GA: 19.9GA19.9HI: 27.5HI27.5TX: 15.4TX15.4FL: 21.0FL21.0PR11.0 to 14.614.6 to 16.316.3 to 18.718.7 to 21.621.6 to 27.527.5 to 38.3establishments per 100,000 residents

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, QCEW, NAICS 236220, private ownership (2025 annual averages, final as of 2026-08-28); U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population estimates

Large states rank low on this measure. California had 5,127 establishments, the most of any state, but only 13.0 per 100,000 residents, which ranks 47 of 51. Washington had the lowest density at 11.0 per 100,000 residents, and Wisconsin was next at 11.1 (BLS QCEW, 2025 annual; Census Vintage 2025).

The District of Columbia ranks high at 36.6 per 100,000 residents, but it is a single city, so it is not comparable with states that include rural counties. Alaska (37.3) and North Dakota (35.0) also rank in the top five. Establishments in large states tend to be bigger: California averaged 15.7 employees per establishment and Texas 16.0, against 13.0 nationally.

Establishment: In QCEW, an establishment is a single economic unit, typically at one physical location. One company can operate several establishments, so establishment counts are higher than company counts.

All 50 states and DC: establishments, employment and pay in commercial building construction

Private commercial and institutional building construction (NAICS 236220) had 58,379 establishments and 761,316 jobs in the US in 2025, at an average weekly wage of $2,061. The 10 largest states held 51.9% of the jobs.

Commercial and institutional building construction by state, 2025: establishments, employment, pay, density and growth Download CSV
Show all 52 rows
StateEstablishments (2025)Employment (2025)Avg weekly wage (2025)Establishments per 100k residentsDensity rankEmployees per establishmentWage premium vs all private industryEstablishments change 2020 to 2025Employment change 2020 to 2025Density x growth quadrant
Alabama1,16610,563$1,87922.5139.11.53+25.4%+15.3%Dense and growing
Alaska2753,898$2,23937.3214.21.55-7.4%+24.5%Dense, slower growth
Arizona1,42522,720$2,08018.72615.91.49+36.0%+49.1%Dense and growing
Arkansas6146,636$1,63619.72310.81.38+17.0%+12.4%Dense and growing
California5,12780,496$2,37013.04715.71.27+10.7%+7.0%Thinner, slower growth
Colorado99416,638$2,11716.53216.71.29-8.0%+7.1%Thinner, slower growth
Connecticut5335,316$2,32014.54410.01.30+9.7%+17.9%Thinner, slower growth
Delaware199n/dn/d18.825n/dn/d+16.4%n/dDense and growing
District of Columbia254n/dn/d36.63n/dn/d+8.1%n/dDense, slower growth
Florida4,91851,536$2,02021.01810.51.44+29.1%+27.1%Dense and growing
Georgia2,25423,997$2,13919.92210.61.50+22.7%+16.1%Dense and growing
Hawaii394n/dn/d27.59n/dn/d+8.2%n/dDense, slower growth
Idaho6716,269$1,74533.169.31.44+50.1%+37.4%Dense and growing
Illinois1,85824,458$2,23814.64313.21.43+4.6%+25.8%Thinner, slower growth
Indiana1,09716,858$1,77715.73715.41.40+17.2%+26.8%Thinner, growing
Iowa7068,756$1,74421.81612.41.42+6.3%+12.1%Dense, slower growth
Kansas5797,956$1,76119.42413.71.41+3.6%+20.0%Dense, slower growth
Kentucky8568,296$1,63418.6279.71.36+9.5%+5.6%Dense, slower growth
Louisiana1,06611,060$1,67523.11210.41.37+5.6%+29.1%Dense, slower growth
Maine2242,268$1,75215.83610.11.38+10.3%+14.2%Thinner, slower growth
Maryland1,30216,612$1,97720.81912.81.31+0.0%-2.9%Dense, slower growth
Massachusetts90915,311$2,67612.74916.81.37+7.6%+13.3%Thinner, slower growth
Michigan1,64819,034$1,89116.33311.51.39+6.7%+24.3%Thinner, slower growth
Minnesota97614,420$2,25216.73114.81.51+3.6%+11.2%Thinner, slower growth
Mississippi7305,740$1,55524.7107.91.54+26.5%+24.8%Dense and growing
Missouri1,35417,730$2,04421.61713.11.58-0.4%+19.6%Dense, slower growth
Montana3193,116$1,94127.989.81.61+25.6%+22.0%Dense and growing
Nebraska4546,658$1,71522.51414.71.42+11.5%+14.0%Dense, slower growth
Nevada68410,112$2,13420.82014.81.62+26.9%+25.2%Dense and growing
New Hampshire2121,958$2,33415.0419.21.47+3.4%+10.3%Thinner, slower growth
New Jersey1,22713,144$2,28212.94810.71.37+8.4%+14.2%Thinner, slower growth
New Mexico5206,090$1,57324.51111.71.34-1.1%+19.5%Dense, slower growth
New York2,61638,196$2,38613.14614.61.23-0.4%+5.3%Thinner, slower growth
North Carolina1,79520,058$2,03616.03511.21.47+29.5%+28.7%Thinner, growing
North Dakota2802,885$1,73835.0410.31.31+2.6%+15.0%Dense, slower growth
Ohio1,81224,144$1,90115.24013.31.46+12.3%+10.0%Thinner, growing
Oklahoma1,43310,005$1,53534.857.01.31+12.9%+19.5%Dense and growing
Oregon7469,800$2,15617.52913.11.56+18.0%-7.4%Dense and growing
Pennsylvania1,89327,996$1,92814.54514.81.35-2.5%+11.2%Thinner, slower growth
Rhode Island174n/dn/d15.638n/dn/d+7.4%n/dThinner, slower growth
South Carolina1,1178,793$1,98020.1217.91.62+25.5%+24.9%Dense and growing
South Dakota3583,605$1,53038.3110.11.30+18.5%+30.1%Dense and growing
Tennessee1,19014,221$2,05316.33412.01.51+23.4%+26.6%Thinner, growing
Texas4,86877,976$1,96615.43916.01.29+14.0%+32.8%Thinner, growing
Utah77411,387$1,89421.91514.71.41+25.6%+41.3%Dense and growing
Vermont96n/dn/d14.942n/dn/d+15.7%n/dThinner, growing
Virginia1,65023,714$2,11418.62814.41.37+10.1%+20.2%Dense, slower growth
Washington88016,847$2,29011.05119.11.17-13.6%-10.4%Thinner, slower growth
West Virginia3013,356$1,54317.03011.11.34+7.5%+26.6%Thinner, slower growth
Wisconsin66416,164$2,01011.15024.31.57+1.1%+15.7%Thinner, slower growth
Wyoming186n/dn/d31.67n/dn/d+5.1%n/dDense, slower growth
United States58,379761,316$2,06117.1n/a13.01.36+12.1%+17.2%Benchmark

n/d = not disclosed by BLS (disclosure_code N). Density uses Census Vintage 2025 population. Quadrant thresholds are the US values (17.1 per 100k; +12.1% establishment growth).

Source: [1][2][5][10] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Census Bureau

BLS withheld 2025 employment and wages for Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wyoming to protect employer confidentiality (disclosure_code N). Their establishment counts are still published, so they appear in the density ranking but not in the employment, size or wage columns. The national totals include the suppressed data (BLS QCEW Questions and Answers).

California, Florida and Texas together held 25.5% of US establishments. Average establishment size runs from 24.3 employees in Wisconsin to 7.0 in Oklahoma, against 13.0 nationally, which shows how much the state mix of large general contractors and small local builders differs.

Row of contractor job trailers next to an equipment yard with excavators and stacked formwork.
Illustrative photograph. Generated image, not a specific project.

State profiles: the 10 largest commercial construction states

The 10 largest states by employment range from California (80,496 jobs) to Arizona (22,720). Arizona and Texas added jobs fastest among them; New York and Pennsylvania lost establishments.

Top 15 states by commercial building construction employment, 2025

NAICS 236220, private, annual average jobs

Top 15 states by commercial building construction employment, 2025Horizontal bar chart of the 15 states with the most NAICS 236220 jobs in 2025. California leads with 80,496, Texas has 77,976 and Florida 51,536.jobsCalifornia80,496Texas77,976Florida51,536New York38,196Pennsylvania27,996Illinois24,458Ohio24,144Georgia23,997Virginia23,714Arizona22,720North Carolina20,058Michigan19,034Missouri17,730Indiana16,858Washington16,847

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, QCEW, NAICS 236220, private ownership (2025 annual averages, final as of 2026-08-28)

  • California: 5,127 establishments and 80,496 jobs in 2025; average weekly wage $2,370 ($123,242 a year); 13.0 establishments per 100,000 residents (47th of 51); establishments +10.7% and employment +7.0% since 2020.
  • Texas: 4,868 establishments and 77,976 jobs in 2025; average weekly wage $1,966 ($102,209 a year); 15.4 establishments per 100,000 residents (39th of 51); establishments +14.0% and employment +32.8% since 2020.
  • Florida: 4,918 establishments and 51,536 jobs in 2025; average weekly wage $2,020 ($105,051 a year); 21.0 establishments per 100,000 residents (18th of 51); establishments +29.1% and employment +27.1% since 2020.
  • New York: 2,616 establishments and 38,196 jobs in 2025; average weekly wage $2,386 ($124,074 a year); 13.1 establishments per 100,000 residents (46th of 51); establishments -0.4% and employment +5.3% since 2020.
  • Pennsylvania: 1,893 establishments and 27,996 jobs in 2025; average weekly wage $1,928 ($100,271 a year); 14.5 establishments per 100,000 residents (45th of 51); establishments -2.5% and employment +11.2% since 2020.
  • Illinois: 1,858 establishments and 24,458 jobs in 2025; average weekly wage $2,238 ($116,383 a year); 14.6 establishments per 100,000 residents (43rd of 51); establishments +4.6% and employment +25.8% since 2020.
  • Ohio: 1,812 establishments and 24,144 jobs in 2025; average weekly wage $1,901 ($98,878 a year); 15.2 establishments per 100,000 residents (40th of 51); establishments +12.3% and employment +10.0% since 2020.
  • Georgia: 2,254 establishments and 23,997 jobs in 2025; average weekly wage $2,139 ($111,221 a year); 19.9 establishments per 100,000 residents (22nd of 51); establishments +22.7% and employment +16.1% since 2020.
  • Virginia: 1,650 establishments and 23,714 jobs in 2025; average weekly wage $2,114 ($109,910 a year); 18.6 establishments per 100,000 residents (28th of 51); establishments +10.1% and employment +20.2% since 2020.
  • Arizona: 1,425 establishments and 22,720 jobs in 2025; average weekly wage $2,080 ($108,138 a year); 18.7 establishments per 100,000 residents (26th of 51); establishments +36.0% and employment +49.1% since 2020.
The 10 largest states by NAICS 236220 employment, 2025 Download CSV
StateEmployment (2025)Establishments (2025)Avg weekly wage (2025)Avg annual pay (2025)Establishments per 100k residentsDensity rankEstablishments change 2020 to 2025Employment change 2020 to 2025
California80,4965,127$2,370$123,24213.047+10.7%+7.0%
Texas77,9764,868$1,966$102,20915.439+14.0%+32.8%
Florida51,5364,918$2,020$105,05121.018+29.1%+27.1%
New York38,1962,616$2,386$124,07413.146-0.4%+5.3%
Pennsylvania27,9961,893$1,928$100,27114.545-2.5%+11.2%
Illinois24,4581,858$2,238$116,38314.643+4.6%+25.8%
Ohio24,1441,812$1,901$98,87815.240+12.3%+10.0%
Georgia23,9972,254$2,139$111,22119.922+22.7%+16.1%
Virginia23,7141,650$2,114$109,91018.628+10.1%+20.2%
Arizona22,7201,425$2,080$108,13818.726+36.0%+49.1%

Ranked by 2025 annual average private employment. Density rank is out of 51 (50 states and DC).

Source: [1][2][10] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Census Bureau

Among the 10 largest states, only Florida (21.0 per 100,000 residents, +29.1%), Georgia (19.9, +22.7%) and Arizona (18.7, +36.0%) are both denser than the US (17.1) and growing faster (+12.1%). County-level detail for the southern part of the state is in our South Florida commercial construction report.

Rankings: densest, thinnest and fastest-growing states, 2020 to 2025

From 2020 to 2025, US establishments in NAICS 236220 grew 12.1% and employment grew 17.2%. Growth concentrated in the Mountain West and Southeast: Idaho added establishments fastest (+50.1%) and Arizona added jobs fastest (+49.1%).

Rankings: highest and lowest density, fastest growth 2020 to 2025 Download CSV
RankHighest densityPer 100kLowest densityPer 100kFastest establishment growth 2020 to 2025ChangeFastest employment growth 2020 to 2025Change
1South Dakota38.3Washington11.0Idaho+50.1%Arizona+49.1%
2Alaska37.3Wisconsin11.1Arizona+36.0%Utah+41.3%
3District of Columbia36.6Massachusetts12.7North Carolina+29.5%Idaho+37.4%
4North Dakota35.0New Jersey12.9Florida+29.1%Texas+32.8%
5Oklahoma34.8California13.0Nevada+26.9%South Dakota+30.1%
6Idaho33.1New York13.1Mississippi+26.5%Louisiana+29.1%
7Wyoming31.6Connecticut14.5Montana+25.6%North Carolina+28.7%
8Montana27.9Pennsylvania14.5Utah+25.6%Florida+27.1%
9Hawaii27.5Illinois14.6South Carolina+25.5%Indiana+26.8%
10Mississippi24.7Vermont14.9Alabama+25.4%Tennessee+26.6%

Employment growth excludes states where BLS suppressed employment in 2020 or 2025.

Source: [1][2][10] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Census Bureau

Fastest-growing states: establishment and employment change, 2020 to 2025

Top 10 states by establishment growth (with disclosed employment), percent change in annual averages

Fastest-growing states: establishment and employment change, 2020 to 2025Grouped bar chart. Idaho grew establishments +50.1% and employment +37.4% from 2020 to 2025; Arizona grew establishments +36.0% and employment +49.1%. The US grew 12.1% and +17.2%.020.040.060.0percent change50.137.4Idaho36.049.1Arizona29.528.7North Carolina29.127.1Florida26.925.2Nevada26.524.8Mississippi25.622.0Montana25.641.3Utah25.524.9South Carolina25.415.3AlabamaEstablishmentsEmployment

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, QCEW, NAICS 236220, private ownership (2020 and 2025 annual averages, final as of 2026-08-28)

Seven states had fewer establishments in 2025 than in 2020. Washington fell the most (-13.6%), followed by Colorado (-8.0%) and Alaska (-7.4%). Fewer establishments did not always mean fewer jobs: Pennsylvania's employment rose 11.2% and New York's +5.3% while their establishment counts dipped. Washington lost both establishments and jobs (-10.4%).

What commercial builders pay compared with each state's private economy

NAICS 236220 paid an average $2,061 a week in 2025, 1.36 times the all-industry private average of $1,521. The premium was largest in South Carolina and Nevada (1.62) and smallest in Washington (1.17).

Wage premium: commercial building pay vs all private industry, 2025

Ratio of NAICS 236220 average weekly wage to the all-industry private average weekly wage in the same state

Wage premium: commercial building pay vs all private industry, 2025US tile map of the wage premium ratio. South Carolina and Nevada are highest at 1.62; Washington is lowest at 1.17. The US ratio is 1.36. Six states with suppressed wages are blank.AK: 1.55AK1.55ME: 1.38ME1.38VTNH: 1.47NH1.47WA: 1.17WA1.17ID: 1.44ID1.44MT: 1.61MT1.61ND: 1.31ND1.31MN: 1.51MN1.51IL: 1.43IL1.43WI: 1.57WI1.57MI: 1.39MI1.39NY: 1.23NY1.23RIMA: 1.37MA1.37OR: 1.56OR1.56NV: 1.62NV1.62WYSD: 1.3SD1.3IA: 1.42IA1.42IN: 1.4IN1.4OH: 1.46OH1.46PA: 1.35PA1.35NJ: 1.37NJ1.37CT: 1.3CT1.3CA: 1.27CA1.27UT: 1.41UT1.41CO: 1.29CO1.29NE: 1.42NE1.42MO: 1.58MO1.58KY: 1.36KY1.36WV: 1.34WV1.34VA: 1.37VA1.37MD: 1.31MD1.31DEAZ: 1.49AZ1.49NM: 1.34NM1.34KS: 1.41KS1.41AR: 1.38AR1.38TN: 1.51TN1.51NC: 1.47NC1.47SC: 1.62SC1.62DCOK: 1.31OK1.31LA: 1.37LA1.37MS: 1.54MS1.54AL: 1.53AL1.53GA: 1.5GA1.5HITX: 1.29TX1.29FL: 1.44FL1.44PR1.17 to 1.311.31 to 1.371.37 to 1.411.41 to 1.471.47 to 1.541.54 to 1.62ratio

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, QCEW, NAICS 236220, private ownership (2025 annual averages, final as of 2026-08-28); QCEW total all industries, private

The premium is a ratio of two averages in the same state, so it controls for regional pay levels. Massachusetts paid the highest weekly wage in the industry ($2,676), but a high-wage state economy reduces its ratio. South Dakota paid the lowest weekly wage ($1,530). Average pay in 236220 covers every occupation in the industry, from laborers to executives (BLS QCEW, all industries, 2025).

Nationally, the industry's average weekly wage rose 27.0% in nominal terms from $1,623 in 2020 to $2,061 in 2025. Day-to-day conditions behind these numbers are covered in our construction jobsite culture report.

Density and growth: four groups of states

Each state is placed by two tests: density above or below the US value of 17.1 establishments per 100,000 residents, and 2020 to 2025 establishment growth above or below the US rate of +12.1%.

  • Dense and growing: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah.
  • Dense, slower growth: Alaska, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Virginia, Wyoming.
  • Thinner, growing: Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont.
  • Thinner, slower growth: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Dense and growing states are concentrated in the South and Mountain West, including Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Idaho and Utah. Texas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana and Vermont are less dense than average but adding establishments faster than the nation. The thinner and slower group includes most of the Northeast, the upper Midwest, California, Colorado and Washington.

Latest quarter: first quarter 2026 compared with a year earlier

In the first quarter of 2026, NAICS 236220 had 59,439 establishments, +1,657 from a year earlier. March 2026 employment was 766,039, up 3.2% over the year, and the average weekly wage was $2,178 (+6.5%).

Latest quarter: first quarter 2026 vs first quarter 2025, US and top movers by March employment change Download CSV
GroupStateEstablishments Q1 2025Establishments Q1 2026Establishment changeMarch 2025 employmentMarch 2026 employmentEmployment changeAvg weekly wage Q1 2026Wage change
BenchmarkUnited States57,78259,439+1,657742,015766,039+3.2%$2,178+6.5%
Largest employment gainsLouisiana1,0621,089+2710,39113,965+34.4%$1,856+17.0%
Largest employment gainsNorth Dakota263293+302,5832,934+13.6%$1,820+11.2%
Largest employment gainsIdaho700672-286,0586,854+13.1%$1,907+15.6%
Largest employment gainsWest Virginia302295-73,0943,479+12.4%$1,695+22.2%
Largest employment gainsMississippi713759+465,6196,160+9.6%$1,747+7.5%
Largest employment declinesSouth Dakota350358+83,4153,216-5.8%$1,599+2.1%
Largest employment declinesWashington891858-3316,96116,045-5.4%$2,471+9.8%
Largest employment declinesOregon747726-219,6319,298-3.5%$2,798+28.9%
Largest employment declinesKentucky847865+188,2027,921-3.4%$1,626+4.0%
Largest employment declinesNew York2,6082,557-5137,44636,594-2.3%$2,475+3.1%

2026 Q1 data are preliminary. States suppressed in 2025 Q1 (Delaware, DC, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wyoming) are excluded from employment rankings.

Source: [3][4] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

March employment change, 2025 to 2026: biggest gains and declines

NAICS 236220, private, March employment, percent change over the year (2026 preliminary)

March employment change, 2025 to 2026: biggest gains and declinesHorizontal bar chart of over-the-year March employment change. Louisiana rose 34.4%, North Dakota +13.6% and Idaho +13.1%; South Dakota fell -5.8% and Washington -5.4%. The US rose 3.2%.percent changeLouisiana34.4North Dakota13.6Idaho13.1West Virginia12.4Mississippi9.6United States3.2New York-2.3Kentucky-3.4Oregon-3.5Washington-5.4South Dakota-5.8

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, QCEW, NAICS 236220, first quarter 2025 and first quarter 2026 (preliminary)

Louisiana posted the largest March employment gain (+34.4%), followed by North Dakota (+13.6%) and Idaho (+13.1%). South Dakota (-5.8%) and Washington (-5.4%) had the largest declines. Florida added the most establishments over the year (+271), followed by North Carolina (+191) and Tennessee (+167). For comparison, total covered employment across all industries rose 0.1 percent over the same period (BLS, County Employment and Wages, First Quarter 2026).

Cross-checks: Census business counts and construction manager pay

Census counts are lower than QCEW counts. County Business Patterns found 39,072 NAICS 236220 establishments across the states in 2023, and Statistics of U.S. Businesses counted 37,402 firms in 2022, against 58,379 QCEW establishments in 2025.

Cross-check: QCEW establishments vs Census CBP, SUSB and Nonemployer Statistics by state Download CSV
Show all 52 rows
StateQCEW establishments (2025)CBP establishments (2023)SUSB firms (2022)SUSB establishments (2022)Nonemployer businesses, NAICS 2362 (2024)
Alabama1,1666056086121,964
Alaska275242224238198
Arizona1,4257637367471,740
Arkansas6143523413511,245
California5,1274,3734,1984,3349,144
Colorado9947387457672,010
Connecticut533327321326667
Delaware199838181194
District of Columbia2549510010194
Florida4,9182,8272,6412,68513,640
Georgia2,2541,3761,3201,3365,401
Hawaii394197196205233
Idaho671321327333568
Illinois1,8581,3151,2941,3312,819
Indiana1,0977317037142,643
Iowa7064884664931,181
Kansas579372373381767
Kentucky8564454344401,765
Louisiana1,0666756706731,934
Maine224141140140288
Maryland1,3029429169262,442
Massachusetts9097307357421,510
Michigan1,6481,0721,0721,0902,773
Minnesota9766626616821,202
Mississippi7303153073091,480
Missouri1,3547847838071,959
Montana319183166173443
Nebraska454312297312614
Nevada684413403411680
New Hampshire212125128129320
New Jersey1,2271,0411,0401,0482,253
New Mexico520289292294624
New York2,6162,1232,1152,1536,227
North Carolina1,7951,1411,1091,1373,668
North Dakota280155151156237
Ohio1,8121,1671,1501,1862,994
Oklahoma1,4337817948071,840
Oregon746501492503640
Pennsylvania1,8931,4971,4891,5102,573
Rhode Island174120116118239
South Carolina1,1175315055131,462
South Dakota358201197203330
Tennessee1,1907166796942,420
Texas4,8683,6493,5123,60022,075
Utah7745014834901,021
Vermont96697172147
Virginia1,6501,0451,0021,0252,305
Washington8807828168291,182
West Virginia301140142142243
Wisconsin6645095035421,240
Wyoming186110113114189
United States58,37939,072 (sum of states)37,40239,005115,827 (sum of states)

Different years, frames and definitions. CBP and NES US values are sums of the 50 states and DC. NES is published only for 4-digit NAICS 2362, which also includes industrial building construction (236210).

Source: [1][13][16][18] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Census Bureau

The QCEW count is 1.49 times the CBP count. Part of the gap is time, since QCEW establishments grew 12.1% from 2020 to 2025, but the two programs also use different frames: QCEW comes from unemployment insurance tax reports, and CBP comes from the Census Business Register (Census CBP methodology). The gap varies by state. Delaware had 199 QCEW establishments in 2025 but 83 in CBP 2023. This report found no published reconciliation of the two counts at the state level, so it treats QCEW as the primary count and CBP and SUSB as checks on rank order.

Self-employed builders without payroll are outside all three employer counts. Census Nonemployer Statistics found 115,827 nonemployer businesses in nonresidential building construction (NAICS 2362) across the states in 2024, including 22,075 in Texas. That category also includes industrial building construction, so it overstates the 236220 figure.

Construction managers (SOC 11-9021) by state, May 2025, next to NAICS 236220 average annual pay Download CSV
Show all 51 rows
StateConstruction managers employed, all industries (May 2025)Construction managers mean annual wage (May 2025)NAICS 236220 avg annual pay, all occupations (2025)
Alabama8,560$102,970$97,686
Alaska1,720$153,030$116,423
Arizona9,910$120,460$108,138
Arkansas2,280$88,920$85,087
California34,750$141,670$123,242
Colorado12,550$128,440$110,109
Connecticut3,620$133,180$120,633
Delaware610$140,850n/d
District of Columbia1,250$140,780n/d
Florida34,010$128,210$105,051
Georgia10,740$122,830$111,221
Hawaii2,890$129,760n/d
Idaho2,280$110,300$90,724
Illinois19,160$117,010$116,383
Indiana5,450$116,730$92,398
Iowa3,070$112,130$90,708
Kansas2,960$120,510$91,570
Kentucky2,990$111,410$84,961
Louisiana5,530$119,740$87,108
Maine1,460$117,740$91,086
Maryland5,770$136,590$102,816
Massachusetts9,870$155,900$139,166
Michigan9,620$113,660$98,324
Minnesota5,800$128,650$117,114
Mississippi1,640$108,110$80,874
Missouri3,680$120,590$106,292
Montana2,140$117,710$100,956
Nebraska3,430$107,500$89,162
Nevada4,460$124,280$110,964
New Hampshire660$138,040$121,347
New Jersey6,910$151,170$118,646
New Mexico2,480$115,100$81,798
New York10,280$159,510$124,074
North Carolina16,310$119,310$105,877
North Dakota1,450$110,550$90,358
Ohio16,130$109,120$98,878
Oklahoma1,980$115,420$79,796
Oregon4,300$137,040$112,115
Pennsylvania6,840$121,000$100,271
Rhode Island450$115,280n/d
South Carolina5,620$123,420$102,974
South Dakota1,070$123,320$79,539
Tennessee5,860$122,250$106,764
Texas59,060$112,680$102,209
Utahn/d$111,080$98,492
Vermont930$109,090n/d
Virginia7,290$127,200$109,910
Washington6,010$158,890$119,103
West Virginia600$102,040$80,235
Wisconsin6,080$121,360$104,518
Wyomingn/d$104,420n/d

OEWS counts construction managers in every industry, not only NAICS 236220. n/d = not published by BLS. Pay columns measure different populations and are not directly comparable.

Source: [20][1] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

BLS occupational data give a second view of pay. Construction managers earned a mean $159,510 a year in New York in May 2025, the highest of any state; Texas employed the most, 59,060. These estimates cover construction managers in all industries, released 2026-05-15 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

These counts describe the contractor base, not the work it performs. Dollar volumes are tracked in our commercial construction spending report, and federal awards by state are in federal construction contracts by state.

Tilt-up concrete wall panel being lifted by a crane on a warehouse construction slab.
Illustrative photograph. Generated image, not a specific project.

State-by-state findings

  1. The US had 58,379 private establishments in commercial and institutional building construction (NAICS 236220) in 2025, an annual average.[1]
  2. The industry employed 761,316 people in the US in 2025, up 17.2% from 649,775 in 2020.[1][2]
  3. US establishments in NAICS 236220 rose 12.1% from 52,076 in 2020 to 58,379 in 2025.[1][2]
  4. California had the most establishments in 2025 (5,127), followed by Florida (4,918) and Texas (4,868); the three held 25.5% of the US total.[1]
  5. South Dakota had the highest density in 2025 with 38.3 establishments per 100,000 residents; Washington had the lowest with 11.0; the US figure was 17.1.[1][10]
  6. Idaho grew establishments fastest from 2020 to 2025 (+50.1%); Arizona grew employment fastest (+49.1%).[1][2]
  7. Washington lost the most establishments from 2020 to 2025 (-13.6%), followed by Colorado (-8.0%) and Alaska (-7.4%).[1][2]
  8. The average weekly wage in US NAICS 236220 was $2,061 in 2025, 1.36 times the all-industry private average of $1,521.[1][5]
  9. South Carolina and Nevada had the largest wage premium in 2025 (1.62); Washington had the smallest (1.17).[1][5]
  10. Massachusetts paid the highest average weekly wage in the industry in 2025 ($2,676); South Dakota paid the lowest ($1,530).[1]
  11. The average US commercial building establishment had 13.0 employees in 2025, ranging from 24.3 in Wisconsin to 7.0 in Oklahoma.[1]
  12. In the first quarter of 2026, US establishments reached 59,439, +1,657 over the year, and March employment rose 3.2% to 766,039.[3][4]
  13. Louisiana had the largest March employment gain from 2025 to 2026 (+34.4%); South Dakota had the largest decline (-5.8%).[3][4]
  14. Census Statistics of U.S. Businesses counted 37,402 NAICS 236220 firms in the US in 2022, operating 39,005 establishments.[16]

Rankings and ratios we derived

Establishments per 100,000 residents

Formulaestabs_2025 / population_2025 x 100,000

Inputs: rows 1, 14 (US); state rows in derived_metrics.csv ids XX-density (fact sheet rows)

Result: US 17.1; highest South Dakota 38.3; lowest Washington 11.0

Shows how many commercial building establishments serve each 100,000 residents; small and rural states rank high, large states rank low.

Limitations: Establishments are not firms; DC is a single city; population is residents, not construction demand.

Employees per establishment

Formulaemployment_2025 / estabs_2025

Inputs: rows 1, 2 (US); ids XX-size (fact sheet rows)

Result: US 13.0; Wisconsin 24.3; Oklahoma 7.0

Average establishment size; higher values point to a market weighted toward larger general contractors.

Limitations: Average only; not available for six states with suppressed employment.

Wage premium vs all private industry

Formula236220 avg weekly wage 2025 / all-industry private avg weekly wage 2025

Inputs: rows 3, 13 (US); ids XX-premium (fact sheet rows)

Result: US 1.36; South Carolina and Nevada 1.62; Washington 1.17

How much more the industry pays than the typical private job in the same state.

Limitations: Ratio of averages across all occupations; occupational mix differs by state; nominal wages.

Five-year growth, 2020 to 2025

Formula(value_2025 / value_2020 - 1) x 100 for establishments and employment

Inputs: rows 1, 5, 2, 6 (US); ids XX-g-est, XX-g-emp (fact sheet rows)

Result: US establishments +12.1%, employment +17.2%; Idaho +50.1% establishments; Arizona +49.1% employment

Where the contractor base and its workforce expanded or contracted.

Limitations: 2020 is a pandemic-affected base; small counts amplify percentages; employment growth unavailable for DE, DC, HI, RI, VT, WY.

Density x growth quadrant

Formuladense = per-100k >= US value; growing = 2020 to 2025 establishment growth >= US rate

Inputs: d1 and d4 per state; US thresholds rows 1, 5, 14; ids XX-quadrant (fact sheet rows)

Result: Dense and growing: 15 states; dense, slower growth: 14; thinner, growing: 6; thinner, slower growth: 16

Separates markets with many builders per resident and fast expansion from saturated or shrinking ones.

Limitations: Binary cut at the national value; states close to a threshold can move with revisions.

Latest-quarter change

Formula(Q1 2026 / Q1 2025 - 1) x 100 for establishments, March employment and weekly wage

Inputs: rows 7, 10, 8, 11, 9, 12 (US); ids XX-q-est, XX-q-emp, XX-q-wage (fact sheet rows)

Result: US establishments +1,657; March employment +3.2%; weekly wage +6.5%

The most recent read on direction, ahead of the 2026 annual data.

Limitations: 2026 Q1 is preliminary; states suppressed in 2025 Q1 have no over-the-year employment comparison.

Download the calculations (CSV)

Executive summary

  • The US had 58,379 private commercial and institutional building establishments and 761,316 jobs in 2025 (BLS QCEW).
  • California (5,127), Florida (4,918) and Texas (4,868) had the most establishments in 2025, together 25.5% of the US.
  • Per resident, South Dakota (38.3 per 100,000), Alaska (37.3) and North Dakota (35.0) are the densest states; Washington (11.0) is the thinnest.
  • From 2020 to 2025, establishments grew 12.1% and jobs +17.2%; Idaho (+50.1% establishments) and Arizona (+49.1% jobs) grew fastest.
  • Seven states lost establishments since 2020, led by Washington (-13.6%).
  • The industry paid $2,061 a week in 2025, 1.36 times the private-sector average; the premium peaks in South Carolina and Nevada (1.62).
  • Preliminary first quarter 2026 data show 59,439 establishments and March employment up 3.2% over the year.

Questions people ask

How many commercial construction companies are there in the US?

BLS counted 58,379 private commercial and institutional building establishments in the US in 2025 (QCEW annual average). Measured as companies rather than locations, Census Statistics of U.S. Businesses counted 37,402 employer firms in 2022. A further 115,827 nonemployer businesses without payroll worked in nonresidential building construction (NAICS 2362) in 2024.

Which state has the most commercial builders?

California had the most commercial building establishments in 2025 with 5,127, followed by Florida with 4,918 and Texas with 4,868 (BLS QCEW). Per resident, South Dakota leads with 38.3 establishments per 100,000 people.

How much do commercial construction workers make by state?

Across all occupations, NAICS 236220 paid an average $2,061 a week ($107,183 a year) in the US in 2025. Massachusetts paid the most at $2,676 a week and South Dakota the least at $1,530 (BLS QCEW, 2025). The full state list is in the table above.

Which states have the fastest growing construction industry?

In commercial building construction, Idaho added establishments fastest from 2020 to 2025 (+50.1%) and Arizona added jobs fastest (+49.1%). In the latest quarter, Louisiana's March 2026 employment was +34.4% above March 2025 (BLS QCEW, preliminary).

How many people work in commercial construction?

Private commercial and institutional building construction employed 761,316 people in the US in 2025 on an annual average basis, and 766,039 in March 2026 (BLS QCEW). These counts exclude self-employed builders without payroll.

Download the data

Every table in this report is available as a CSV under CC BY 4.0. The fact sheet lists each value with its source URL and access date.

For journalists and researchers

If you cite only a few, cite these

  1. The US had 58,379 private commercial building construction establishments in 2025, employing 761,316 people (BLS QCEW).[1]
  2. South Dakota has 38.3 commercial building establishments per 100,000 residents, the most of any state in 2025 (BLS QCEW; Census Vintage 2025).[1][10]
  3. Commercial building construction paid 1.36 times the private-sector average weekly wage in the US in 2025 ($2,061 vs $1,521) (BLS QCEW).[1][5]

Most quotable statistics

  • The US had 58,379 private commercial building construction establishments in 2025, employing 761,316 people (BLS QCEW).[1]
  • South Dakota has 38.3 commercial building establishments per 100,000 residents, the most of any state in 2025 (BLS QCEW; Census Vintage 2025).[1][10]
  • Commercial building construction paid 1.36 times the private-sector average weekly wage in the US in 2025 ($2,061 vs $1,521) (BLS QCEW).[1][5]
  • Idaho's count of commercial building establishments grew 50.1% from 2020 to 2025, the fastest of any state (BLS QCEW).[1][2]
  • Arizona's commercial building construction employment grew 49.1% from 2020 to 2025, the fastest of any state with disclosed data (BLS QCEW).[1][2]
  • Washington lost 13.6% of its commercial building establishments from 2020 to 2025, the steepest decline of any state (BLS QCEW).[1][2]
  • March 2026 commercial building employment was +3.2% above March 2025, while total covered employment across all industries rose 0.1 percent (BLS QCEW, preliminary).[3][4][7]

Press summary

A new state atlas from Commercial Builders & Contractors maps commercial construction companies by state using federal payroll records. The US had 58,379 private commercial and institutional building establishments in 2025, employing 761,316 people at an average $2,061 a week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. California had the most establishments (5,127), but South Dakota had the most per resident, 38.3 per 100,000 people, against 17.1 nationally. Establishments grew 12.1% and jobs +17.2% from 2020 to 2025, led by Idaho (+50.1% establishments) and Arizona (+49.1% jobs). Washington, Colorado and Alaska lost establishments. The industry paid 1.36 times the private-sector average wage, with the largest premium in South Carolina and Nevada. Preliminary first quarter 2026 data show March employment up 3.2% over the year. Census business counts, nonemployer statistics and BLS occupational wages are included as cross-checks. All tables are downloadable under CC BY 4.0.

Suggested headlines

  • South Dakota Has the Most Commercial Builders per Resident: 38.3 per 100,000
  • Commercial Building Contractors Up 12.1% Since 2020 as Idaho and Arizona Lead Growth
  • Commercial Construction Pays 1.36 Times the Private-Sector Average Wage
  • Washington Lost 13.6% of Its Commercial Building Establishments in Five Years
  • California, Florida and Texas Hold 25.5% of US Commercial Building Establishments

How to cite this report

Commercial Builders & Contractors. (2026). Commercial Construction Companies by State: Establishments, Jobs and Pay, 2025. Retrieved from https://commercialbuildersandcontractors.com/commercial-builders-by-state/

Reuse license

Data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0. Attribution: “Source: Commercial Builders & Contractors, Commercial Construction Companies by State: Establishments, Jobs and Pay, 2025” with a link to this page.

Frequently asked questions

How many commercial construction companies are there in each state?

The table above lists all 50 states and DC. In 2025, California had 5,127 NAICS 236220 establishments, Florida 4,918 and Texas 4,868 (BLS QCEW, 2025 annual averages).

What does NAICS 236220 cover?

NAICS 236220 is commercial and institutional building construction: general contractors, for-sale builders, design-build firms and construction management firms for buildings such as offices, schools, hospitals, warehouses and data centers (U.S. Census Bureau, NAICS 2022).

Is an establishment the same as a company?

No. An establishment is a single location; a company can have several. In 2022, Census counted 37,402 NAICS 236220 firms operating 39,005 establishments in the US (SUSB 2022).

Why are some states missing employment and wage data?

BLS suppresses employment and wages when publishing them could identify an employer. For 2025, that applies to Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wyoming in NAICS 236220. Their establishment counts are still published.

Which state pays commercial construction workers the most?

Massachusetts had the highest NAICS 236220 average weekly wage in 2025 at $2,676, followed by New York at $2,386 and California at $2,370 (BLS QCEW).

Where is the pay premium for commercial building work largest?

Relative to all private industries in the same state, the premium was largest in South Carolina and Nevada in 2025, where NAICS 236220 paid 1.62 times the private average. The US ratio was 1.36.

Which states have fewer commercial builders than in 2020?

Seven states had fewer NAICS 236220 establishments in 2025 than in 2020. Washington fell -13.6%, Colorado -8.0% and Alaska -7.4% (BLS QCEW annual averages).

How large is a typical commercial construction establishment?

The US average was 13.0 employees per establishment in 2025. Wisconsin averaged the most (24.3) and Oklahoma the fewest (7.0) among states with disclosed data.

How many construction managers work in each state?

BLS estimated 59,060 construction managers in Texas in May 2025, the most of any state, across all industries. New York had the highest mean annual wage for the occupation at $159,510 (BLS OEWS).

When will this data be updated?

BLS released first quarter 2026 QCEW data on 2026-08-28. Second quarter 2026 data are scheduled for 2026-12-02 (BLS QCEW release calendar). This report will be refreshed after each release.

Related guides, services and research

Methodology

Source selection: the primary dataset is the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) for NAICS 236220, private ownership (own_code 5), state level, downloaded as open-data CSV slices on 2026-10-03. QCEW was chosen because it tabulates employers that report to unemployment insurance programs, which cover about 95 percent of wage and salary civilian employment, is published for every state, and is the most recent federal source with establishment, employment and wage data at this industry detail. Only government statistical sources were used for figures; two Tier 2 sources (IBISWorld, AGC) appear only as context and are labeled as such.

Periods: 2025 annual averages (final as of the first quarter 2026 release on 2026-08-28), first quarter 2026 (preliminary, released 2026-08-28) compared with first quarter 2025, and 2020 annual averages as the five-year base. Population is the Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimate for July 1, 2025, the most recent completed vintage. Cross-checks use the latest releases available on 2026-10-03: County Business Patterns 2023, Statistics of U.S. Businesses 2022, Nonemployer Statistics 2024 and OEWS May 2025.

Suppression: rows with disclosure_code N have establishment counts but no employment or wages. They are shown as n/d and excluded from employment, size, wage and employment-growth rankings. They remain in the density ranking because establishment counts are published. National totals from BLS include suppressed state data, so state columns do not sum exactly to the US row.

Derived metrics: establishments per 100,000 residents = 2025 establishments / July 1, 2025 population x 100,000. Employees per establishment = 2025 employment / 2025 establishments. Wage premium = NAICS 236220 average weekly wage / total all industries private average weekly wage, same state and year. Growth = (2025 / 2020 – 1) x 100 on annual averages. Quadrant: density above or below the US value and 2020 to 2025 establishment growth above or below the US rate. Every input row and result is in fact_sheet.csv and derived_metrics.csv, and scripts/ reproduces them from raw/.

Conflicting numbers: QCEW, CBP and SUSB count different things in different years. QCEW counts UI-covered private establishments as annual averages; CBP counts employer establishments on the Census Business Register with employment in the week of March 12; SUSB counts firms and establishments for the same frame. The report uses QCEW as the primary count and reports the others side by side without adjusting them. Nonemployer Statistics is published only for 4-digit NAICS 2362, which also includes industrial building construction.

Limitations: establishment counts are not company counts; a firm with offices in several states appears in each. QCEW excludes self-employed workers without payroll. 2020 is a pandemic-affected base year. Wages are nominal and not adjusted for inflation or cost of living. Percent changes for small states rest on small counts. The District of Columbia is a single city and is not directly comparable with states. This report does not go below state level. It is statistical information, not business, legal or financial advice. Last updated 2026-10-03.

This report presents published data with its limitations. It is not legal, financial or investment advice.

Sources, ranked by quality

Tier 1: primary and official sources (21)

Tier 2: trade bodies, market research, company data (2)