Short answer
Massachusetts had 21,631 construction establishments with paid employees in 2023, employing 163,600 people with $15.2 billion in annual payroll, according to Census County Business Patterns: 2.66% of the US total and 11th among states. Middlesex County has 4,952. Average pay is $92,804, second among states after Alaska. Residential remodelers are the largest single group, with 4,989 establishments, 23% of the state's construction businesses.
- 21,631 construction establishments and 163,600 employees in Massachusetts in 2023, 11th among states by establishments.
- Average construction pay of $92,804 is second only to Alaska's and about $16,000 above the national figure.
- 4,989 residential remodelers, 23% of establishments against 17% nationally.
- The state authorized 12,477 housing units in 2025, down from 14,338; 6,824 were in buildings of five or more units.
- Barnstable, Nantucket and Dukes counties have 2,245 construction establishments averaging about four employees each.
On this page
This report is for anyone working with Massachusetts contractors across the state: owners and developers comparing builders between regions, companies looking for acquisitions or partners, people deciding where to work, and B2B sellers planning a Massachusetts territory. For the city and its suburbs in detail, see the Boston construction companies report.
Massachusetts construction at a glance
US Census Bureau County Business Patterns (CBP) 2023, construction sector (NAICS 23), Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
| Measure | Massachusetts, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Construction establishments | 21,631 |
| Employees | 163,600 |
| Annual payroll | $15,182,739,000 |
| Average employees per establishment | 7.6 |
| Average annual pay | $92,804 |
| Share of US construction establishments | 2.66% (of 814,557) |
| Rank among states by establishments | 11th |
The state ranks 17th by construction employment but 2nd by pay, behind Alaska ($102,958) and ahead of Minnesota ($91,833), and $16,224 above the national construction figure of $76,580 (our calculations from the CBP state files).
Fourteen counties
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 4,952 | 45,698 | $96,572 |
| Worcester | 2,610 | 16,619 | $83,664 |
| Essex | 2,506 | 15,293 | $87,739 |
| Norfolk | 2,359 | 21,613 | $102,874 |
| Plymouth | 2,049 | 15,680 | $91,253 |
| Bristol | 1,750 | 11,359 | $81,984 |
| Barnstable | 1,516 | 7,020 | $77,483 |
| Suffolk | 1,142 | 14,402 | $112,964 |
| Hampden | 924 | 7,760 | $83,379 |
| Berkshire | 517 | 2,499 | $71,415 |
| Nantucket | 453 | 1,227 | $89,070 |
| Hampshire | 395 | 2,154 | $79,424 |
| Dukes | 276 | 913 | $86,577 |
| Franklin | 173 | 1,067 | $77,371 |
Three patterns matter for anyone covering the state:
- The Boston core. Middlesex, Suffolk and Norfolk counties hold 39% of establishments but half of all construction jobs, and the highest pay.
- Worcester and the south coast. Worcester and Bristol counties have 4,360 establishments, with average pay $13,000 to $15,000 below Middlesex.
- The Cape, the islands and the west. Barnstable, Nantucket and Dukes counties have 2,245 establishments averaging about four employees, and Nantucket's 453 are more than Hampshire County's. The four western counties (Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire) have 2,009 establishments, fewer than Plymouth County alone.
A remodeling state
| Type of work (NAICS) | Establishments | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| Residential remodelers (236118) | 4,989 | 16,186 |
| New single-family general contractors (236115) | 861 | 3,407 |
| New multifamily general contractors (236116) | 105 | 2,086 |
| Commercial and institutional builders (236220) | 730 | 13,504 |
| Plumbing, heating and air conditioning (238220) | 3,069 | 29,674 |
| Electrical contractors (238210) | 2,640 | 26,784 |
| Painting and wall covering (238320) | 1,068 | 4,031 |
| Finish carpentry (238350) | 979 | 4,251 |
| Drywall and insulation (238310) | 673 | 6,930 |
| Masonry (238140) | 629 | 3,473 |
| Roofing (238160) | 433 | 3,259 |
| Site preparation (238910) | 1,276 | 10,020 |
| Highway, street and bridge (2373) | 207 | 4,155 |
Remodelers are 23% of Massachusetts construction establishments, against 17% nationally, and they outnumber new single-family builders almost six to one. The finishing trades that work alongside them are numerous too: 1,068 painting, 979 finish carpentry and 629 masonry establishments. Mechanical and electrical contractors (5,709 establishments) employ 56,458 people, more than a third of the state's construction workforce.
Size
| Employees per establishment | Establishments |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | 15,465 |
| 5 to 9 | 3,129 |
| 10 to 19 | 1,556 |
| 20 to 49 | 925 |
| 50 to 99 | 315 |
| 100 to 249 | 186 |
| 250 to 499 | 47 |
| 500 to 999 | 7 |
| 1,000 or more | 1 (derived) |
The Census Bureau doesn't publish the 1,000-or-more cell for Massachusetts; the 1 shown is the state total less the published cells. In broader bands, 20,150 establishments (93.2%) have 1 to 19 employees, 1,240 have 20 to 99 and 241 have 100 or more. CBP counts locations with paid employees, not companies, and leaves out the self-employed, who are common among remodelers and trades.
Where the homes are being permitted
The Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey counted 12,477 housing units authorized in Massachusetts in 2025, down 13% from 14,338 in 2024, with an estimated construction value of $4.31 billion. Statewide, 5,018 were single-family homes, 635 were in two- to four-unit buildings and 6,824 in buildings of five or more units.
| Metro area | Units authorized, 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton (Massachusetts and New Hampshire) | 10,072 | 11,235 |
| Worcester | 1,690 | 2,506 |
| Barnstable Town | 630 | 640 |
| Springfield | 318 | 443 |
Worcester fell by a third, and Springfield authorized only 318 units. For sellers to remodelers, new permits matter less than they look: remodeling work comes from homes that already exist.
Public companies headquartered in Massachusetts
| Company | Headquarters | Business | Revenue, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ameresco | Framingham | Energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades and distributed energy projects | $1.93 billion |
| ConnectM Technology Solutions | Marlborough | Electrification and clean energy, traded over the counter | $35.8 million |
These are the only SEC-registered, listed companies in construction industry codes with Massachusetts business addresses, with revenue from each 10-K. The large general contractors and construction managers based in the state are private and don't publish revenue.
What to ask a Massachusetts contractor for
Massachusetts law requires a licensed builder to be actively in charge of permitted building work, and Boston's building department, for one, asks for the builder's credentials with the permit. For a home project, ask for two things and check both:
- The Construction Supervisor License (CSL) of the person who will run the job.
- The firm's Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration.
Then ask for certificates of liability insurance and workers' compensation, and look up the firm's recent permits with the town or city building department. Requirements and forms vary by municipality; Boston, for example, also accepts its own Builders License and asks for a workplace safety affidavit.
Selling across Massachusetts
| Size band | Establishments | Who usually decides |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 19 employees | 20,150 | The owner, usually the CSL holder |
| 20 to 99 employees | 1,240 | Owner with an office manager, estimator or project manager |
| 100 or more | 241 | Preconstruction, procurement, safety and operations leaders |
Split the state into four territories: the Boston core counties, Worcester and the south coast, the Cape and Islands, and the west. Each has a different size mix, so set account targets by county rather than statewide. Our guide on finding decision makers covers the larger accounts.
Illustrative example. Commonwealth Kitchen and Bath Supply and its sales are invented; the counts are CBP 2023 figures.
Commonwealth Kitchen and Bath Supply (commonwealthkb.example) sells cabinets, counters and fixtures to remodelers at trade prices. Its market is the state's 4,989 remodelers. If 40% do kitchen and bath work regularly, that's about 2,000 accounts; winning 10% (200) at $45,000 a year each is $9.0 million. It opens with a showroom in Worcester County, which has 2,610 construction establishments, and a second rep for the Cape and Islands. Point Bebop at a description of those remodelers and it finds them and writes a playbook for each.
Statewide sources
| Source | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Census Building Permits Survey | Housing units authorized by state, metro, county and town |
| AGC Massachusetts | 100+ union and open shop commercial contractors, with a member directory |
| Boston Inspectional Services | The state's largest building department, with permit rules and the online portal |
Next step: go to the state's biggest market with the Boston construction companies report.
Sources
- County Business Patterns 2023, US Census Bureau, accessed 30 October 2026
- Building Permits Survey, annual state and CBSA data 2024 and 2025, US Census Bureau, accessed 30 October 2026
- Change of licensed builder, City of Boston Inspectional Services Department, accessed 30 October 2026
- Ameresco, Inc. Form 10-K for 2025, US Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR), 3 March 2026
- ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. Form 10-K for 2025, US Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR), 16 April 2026
- AGC Massachusetts, Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts, accessed 30 October 2026
Written by the Bebop team at Blackpearl Group. Published .
Questions people ask
How many construction companies are there in Massachusetts?
The US Census Bureau counted 21,631 construction establishments with paid employees in Massachusetts in 2023, employing 163,600 people. Massachusetts has 2.66% of the national total, 11th among states. Middlesex County has the most, 4,952, followed by Worcester (2,610) and Essex (2,506). Establishments are locations, not companies, and self-employed contractors aren't counted.
What license does a contractor need in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts law requires a licensed builder to be actively in charge of permitted building work; in Boston that means a Construction Supervisor License or the city's Builders License. Contractors working on homes also need a Home Improvement Contractor registration. Ask for both numbers, check them, and confirm insurance. Local building departments may ask for more.
What are the largest construction companies in Massachusetts?
Among SEC-registered listed companies, Ameresco of Framingham is the largest construction company headquartered in Massachusetts, with $1.93 billion in 2025 revenue according to its 10-K. ConnectM Technology Solutions of Marlborough reported $35.8 million. The state's large general contractors and construction managers are privately held, so their size has to be judged from project records, association directories and published rankings.
How much do construction workers make in Massachusetts?
Average annual pay at Massachusetts construction establishments was $92,804 in 2023, second among states after Alaska and about $16,000 above the national average, according to County Business Patterns. Suffolk County pays the most, $112,964, and Berkshire County the least, $71,415. It's an average of all payroll, office and management staff included.