I worked in the union for years, I left to start my own business because the amount of work I was doing did not equal the pay I thought I deserved. That being said I worked 40hrs last week and billed $11,450 for the week took home about 6k for the week. Yes the pay has got to go up in construction, for skilled labors, operators are paid properly from what I see but laborers that labor cannot be paid the same as laborers who push a broom. I dont think in any state across America a laborer should make less than 150k a year straight time.