Want a bigger paycheck? Changing employers may be one of the fastest ways to get it — but the payoff varies dramatically by industry.
With wages struggling to keep pace with inflation, workers are increasingly looking for ways to boost their income. New data from ADP shows that, across private-sector industries, job changers saw median pay rise 7.3%, compared with 4.4% for people who stayed put.
That’s a 2.9-percentage-point advantage for switching jobs.
But some industries offer a much bigger premium than others.
🏗️ Construction leads the pack
Construction workers who changed jobs saw their pay rise 9.2%, according to ADP — the strongest increase among the industries tracked.
Demand is being driven by more than traditional building projects. The expansion of AI data centers, infrastructure, hospitals, healthcare facilities, distribution centers and schools is creating demand for experienced workers.
And employers are struggling to find them.
The Associated Builders and Contractors estimates that the construction industry needs to attract 349,000 additional workers in 2026 to keep up with demand.
That shortage can give skilled candidates more leverage when negotiating their next move.
💰 What can construction jobs pay?
According to recruiter Stephanie Lovett of Hays, experienced construction professionals such as project managers and superintendents can command roughly $90,000–$150,000 in base pay, plus benefits, bonuses and other perks.
Experience with data centers or pharmaceutical construction can add further value.
For many candidates, however, money isn't the only consideration. Better time off, equity, benefits and the employer's future project pipeline can all influence whether a move makes sense.
🔄 You don't necessarily need a construction background
One of the more interesting opportunities is that some construction employers are willing to consider people coming from other industries.
Transferable skills can include:
Project and team management
Budgeting and financial analysis
Scheduling
Communication
Organization
Bid preparation
That means experience in finance, education, operations or other fields could potentially open a door into construction.
📊 What about other industries?
Construction isn't the only sector where switching employers can produce a pay premium. ADP's data shows that job switching generally produced larger pay increases than staying put across industries, with one notable exception: leisure and hospitality.
In that sector, job changers saw a 0.2% decline in pay, while stayers received larger increases.
Meanwhile, healthcare added 23,000 jobs in September, making it the biggest source of private-sector job growth that month. Construction added 11,000 jobs.
The information sector, by contrast, lost 10,000 jobs, with analysts pointing to AI-related changes and productivity gains as possible factors.
🎯 The takeaway for job seekers
Changing jobs isn't automatically a ticket to a bigger salary. But the latest numbers suggest that where you switch can matter almost as much as whether you switch.
If you're considering a move, look beyond the headline salary. Compare:
Base pay + bonus + benefits + flexibility + time off + career growth + job security.
And if you're in a high-demand field — particularly construction and skilled project roles — the current labor shortage may give you additional negotiating power.
The best job move isn't necessarily the one with the biggest salary. It's the one that improves your total career package.