Demolition Worker Salary in Virginia

$21/hr

Virginia construction laborer wages help demolition workers assess offers for interior removal, structural demolition support and debris handling.

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What Demolition Workers Earn in Virginia

Virginia construction laborer employee wages span $15.82–$27.46/hr across the bands below. BLS includes demolition labor within this broader occupation, so these figures also cover other construction laborer work. Match an offer to the removal duties, expected hours and travel arrangements. Base wages exclude premium pay and benefits, which belong in a separate review of the employment package. Ask how demolition preparation and required cleanup enter your timesheet.

Hourly rates by level in Virginia

What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.

Apprentice · 0–2 yrs
$15.82–$17.80/hr
▲ 8.33% from last year
Journeyman · 4–8 yrs
$17.80–$22.86/hr
▲ 8.33% from last year
Master · 8+ yrs
$22.86–$27.46/hr
▲ 8.33% from last year

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Where do you stand?

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$/ hr

Use your base rate, not what you take home after overtime.

You're right around the middle

$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.

10th
$18
25th
$23
Median
$29
75th
$36
90th
$45
YOU · $28.00
Your percentile
46th
Among this market
Your annual · 40 hrs
$58,240
Before overtime and per diem
Gap to median
−$2,080
Below the median

Calculate pay with extra credentials

Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.

1Your level

2Certifications you hold

3Shift & work type

4Overtime & per diem

Weekly overtime hours8 hrs
Per diem (per day away)$0

An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.

American RecruitsEstimate
Journeyman Demolition Worker
Virginia · Day Shift
Base rate$20.33
+ Baltimore-Washington Laborers / LIUNA Local 11 Apprenticeship (journeyperson)$2.31
+ OSHA 30-Hour Construction$0.65
+ Virginia DPOR Asbestos Worker License$0.70
Effective hourly$23.99
Straight · 40 hrs$960
Overtime · 8 hrs @ 1.5×$288
Weekly gross$1,247
Annualised · 50 weeks
$62,374
8 OT hrs/week · Virginia

Who pays the most in Virginia

These national sector figures help frame demolition job searches across Virginia. Ask employers which removal duties their crews perform and who directs the work.

01 / 03$22.79/hr

Other Specialty Trade Contractors

Interior gutting and building demolition fall within this broad sector. Ask Virginia demolition firms about salvage sorting, concrete breaking and equipment support. Match the advertised role to those tasks when comparing offers.

+ Demolition focus
+ Salvage experience
– Dust exposure
– Changing sites
02 / 03$24.01/hr

Nonresidential Building Construction

Commercial renovation connects selective removal with the next construction phase. Discuss protection of retained building sections and coordination with other trades. Ask which parts of the assignment involve demolition and which involve general construction support.

+ Sequenced projects
+ Trade coordination
– Restricted access
– Changing assignments
03 / 03$24.08/hr

Highway, Street, Bridge Construction

Bridge rehabilitation puts removal crews near traffic and heavy equipment. Ask about concrete breaking duties, shift schedules and controlled access arrangements. Include expected work hours when reviewing the hourly range offered.

+ Infrastructure experience
+ Equipment teamwork
– Traffic exposure
– Outdoor conditions

Which states pay demolition workers the most

Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.

  1. 01California$28.98/hr
  2. 02Virginiathis page$20.94/hr

What each certification is worth

Sorted by payback speed.

CertificationRate bumpExtra / yearCostPayback
Baltimore-Washington Laborers / LIUNA Local 11 Apprenticeship (journeyperson)+$2.31$4,805$00 weeks
OSHA 30-Hour Construction+$0.65$1,352$1597 weeks
OSHA 10-Hour Construction+$0.22$458$597 weeks
Virginia DPOR Asbestos Worker License+$0.70$1,456$61322 weeks
OSHA Silica in Construction (29 CFR 1926.1153) Training+$0.02$42$3038 weeks
EPA Lead RRP Certified Renovator (Initial)+$0.17$354$27541 weeks

What overtime actually adds

Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $20.94/hr.

40 hr week
$838
No OT
50 hr week
$1,152
+$15,705/yr
60 hr week
$1,466
+$31,410/yr
70 hr week
$1,780
+$47,115/yr

Questions workers ask

Must I pay for my own respirator?▾
No. VOSH applies the federal respiratory protection standard, which requires employers to provide required respirators, training and medical evaluations at no cost to you. Tight-fitting respirators also need fit testing before use and at least annually.
How much pay does workers' compensation replace?▾
Two-thirds of your average weekly wage during total incapacity, capped at Virginia's statewide average weekly wage under Virginia Code § 65.2-500. Section 65.2-509 leaves the first seven days unpaid unless incapacity lasts more than three weeks.
Does debris hauling time count as paid work?▾
Yes. Federal hours-worked rules count assigned debris loading and cleanup as work, along with travel between jobs during the workday. Keep records so your paid hours reflect the full assignment; Virginia DOLI accepts unpaid wage complaints.

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Current BLS Virginia employee wages for Construction Laborers, SOC 47-2061; BLS has no demolition-specific occupation. This occupation includes demolition labour. Figures exclude premium pay, benefits, asbestos/lead abatement workers (SOC 47-4041), and demolition contractor or equipment-hire charges.

Last updated October 29, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.