Construction in the United States

This page gathers the figures we hold on construction in the United States. Each section names its own source.

Each source groups industries its own way, so the edges of construction differ a little from section to section.

What businesses sold for

The median and the middle half, in times EBITDA. The figure is the median. Under it are the middle half and the number of deals.
  1. Construction5.5 times EBITDA, middle half 4.5 to 6.0, 10+ deals
Deal details

Construction: median 5.5 times EBITDA. The middle half of deals ran from 4.5 to 6.0 times (10+ deals of US$6.7 million to US$333 million, announced 2006 to 2022).

Sizes are converted from our size range of A$10 million to A$500 million, at the fixed rate our database uses to place overseas deals: US$1 = A$1.50. The rate stays fixed, so the range always describes the same deals.

See what US businesses sell for, by sector.

These are deals for US businesses in our database, not every deal in the market.

Source: deals in our database with a published value. Counts by onestepright.

Compare sale multiples across countries.

How many businesses are still active

Out of 100 businesses started in 2020

About 63 in every 100 were still active three years later.

The Census Bureau counts businesses with employees. The rate is our calculation from its counts.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics (2023 release). Survival computed by onestepright.

What costs did

What wage rates and input prices did in this industry. Each comes from its own BLS series and grouping of industries. The wage series holds the mix of jobs fixed, so it tracks pay rates.

What costs did, the year to June 2026
  1. Wage rates+3.5%
  2. Input prices+7.4%

Each bar comes from its own BLS series, named below.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Cost Index, wages and salaries, private industry, 12 months to June 2026.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index, inputs to industries, June 2025 and June 2026. Change computed by onestepright from the published index.

Your own cost mix

Enter the share of your costs that go on inputs and on staff. The box works out what those two changes add to your total costs, if your costs moved with the industry. Nothing you enter leaves this page.

Your own suppliers' prices and pay rises are the better figures, if you have them.

Prices businesses expect to charge

In September 2026, 50.6% of construction businesses expected their prices to be higher six months on. Across all businesses, 38.4% did.

The Census Bureau asks businesses with employees every two weeks. Each business counts once, whatever its size.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Trends and Outlook Survey, 7 to 20 September 2026.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Figures marked as ours are onestepright's calculations from their published data.

See construction in Australia.

See construction in New Zealand.

See construction in the United Kingdom.

See construction in Canada.

Who in your business can move a price, and by how much? The pricing check takes about ten minutes.

Construction in the United States: deals, margins and costs · onestepright