What demolition workers get paid
The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't track demolition as its own occupation. Most demolition crew members are counted as construction laborers, and the May 2025 national figures for that group are below. Hourly figures are the annual numbers divided by a 2,080-hour work year.
| Pay level | Per year | About per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| Lowest 25% | $38,620 | $18.57 |
| Median | $47,120 | $22.65 |
| Highest 25% | $59,740 | $28.72 |
| Highest 10% | $78,090 | $37.54 |
What moves demolition pay up
- Equipment skillsOperators who run excavators, skid steers and hydraulic breakers earn more than general laborers.
- CertificationsAsbestos and lead abatement work requires licensing and training, and pays accordingly.
- Commercial and union workLarge commercial and public projects often pay prevailing or union wage rates.
- Overtime and storm workPost-hurricane cleanup in South Florida brings long days and overtime for crews.
What homeowners pay for demolition
For customers, the price depends mostly on the size of the job and what it's made of. National cost guides from Angi, HomeAdvisor and HomeGuide put whole-house demolition at roughly $4 to $17 per square foot, with most homes landing between $6,000 and $25,000. Asbestos or lead can push it far higher.
Light demolition is a different scale. A shed, a fence run, a deck or a bathroom tear-out is usually priced as one flat job that includes the hauling and disposal, not by the square foot.
| Job | How it's usually priced | What drives the price |
|---|---|---|
| Shed, deck, fence, hot tub | Flat price per job | Size, material, access, haul volume |
| Kitchen or bathroom tear-out | Flat price per room | Tile and countertops (weight), cabinets, floor level |
| Whole-house interior gut | Per square foot or per project | Square footage, finishes, debris weight |
| Full house demolition | $4 to $17 per sq ft (national guides) | Wood vs. concrete block, foundation, asbestos, permits |
Does anyone pay you to demolish your house?
Occasionally a builder or investor buys a teardown property because they want the land, but nobody normally pays a homeowner for the demolition itself. What can offset the cost is salvage: fixtures, cabinets, doors, metal and some lumber can be donated, sold or recycled, which reduces what goes to the landfill and sometimes the disposal bill.
Common questions
How much does a demolition laborer make an hour?
Nationally, construction laborers, the category that includes most demolition crew members, had a median of about $22.65 an hour in May 2025 based on BLS annual figures. Pay ranges from around $17 an hour at the low end to more than $37 at the top.
Do demolition jobs pay more than other construction jobs?
Entry-level demolition labor pays about the same as general construction labor. It pays more once you add equipment operation, abatement certifications or supervisory work.
How much does a small demolition job cost?
Small light-demolition jobs like a shed, a section of fence or a bathroom tear-out are usually priced as one flat job that includes hauling and disposal. The fastest way to get a real number is to text photos to a local crew.
Is demolition priced by the hour or by the job?
Most residential demolition is priced by the job or by the square foot, not by the hour, so you know the cost before work starts.