ATLANTA — Metro Atlanta construction workers are among the lowest paid in the country, according to a new study on behalf of Construction Coverage.

The study found the average construction worker in metro Atlanta earns just over $51,000 annually, ranking the area eighth-lowest among major U.S. metropolitan areas.

One construction worker pointed to rising prices as a challenge.

“Price wise, everything went up,” the worker said.

The study found many of the highest wages for construction workers are in the Midwest after adjusting for differences in the cost of living.

Illinois ranked as the highest-paying state for construction workers, with a cost-adjusted median annual wage of just over $80,000. Florida ranked lowest at just over $47,000 annually.

Construction employment in the Atlanta area reached an all-time high earlier this year.

WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons & Sabrina Cupit contributed to this story.