Construction Laborer Salary in California

$29/hr

Compare California construction laborer pay ranges and compensation factors to evaluate offers for your skills and experience.

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What Construction Laborers Earn in California

California construction laborers earn $19.69–$45.01/hr across the May 2025 BLS 10th–90th percentiles, or $40,950–$93,620/year. The median is $28.98/hr, or $60,270/year. These employee estimates cover general construction labor, not skilled trades or contractor revenue. Compare assigned tasks, project conditions and expected hours when reviewing an offer. Benefits and reimbursements require separate consideration. Annual figures are full-time benchmarks. Discuss project continuity, tool expenses and the actual support duties expected.

Hourly rates by level in California

What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.

Apprentice · 0–2 yrs
$19.69–$23.15/hr
▼ 0.45% from last year
Journeyman · 4–8 yrs
$23.15–$37.75/hr
▼ 0.45% from last year
Master · 8+ yrs
$37.75–$45.01/hr
▼ 0.45% from last year

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Where do you stand?

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$/ hr

Use your base rate, not what you take home after overtime.

You're right around the middle

$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.

10th
$18
25th
$23
Median
$29
75th
$36
90th
$45
YOU · $28.00
Your percentile
46th
Among this market
Your annual · 40 hrs
$58,240
Before overtime and per diem
Gap to median
−$2,080
Below the median

Calculate pay with extra credentials

Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.

1Your level

2Certifications you hold

3Shift & work type

4Overtime & per diem

Weekly overtime hours8 hrs
Per diem (per day away)$0

An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.

American RecruitsEstimate
Journeyman Construction Laborer
California · Day Shift
Base rate$30.45
+ OSHA 10-Hour Construction$0.38
+ First Aid/CPR (OSHA-aligned)$0.25
+ Forklift Operator Certification$0.75
Effective hourly$31.83
Straight · 40 hrs$1,273
Overtime · 8 hrs @ 1.5×$382
Weekly gross$1,655
Annualised · 50 weeks
$82,758
8 OT hrs/week · California

Who pays the most in California

Road infrastructure, commercial buildings and specialist contracting involve different laboring assignments. These national sector medians give California job seekers a comparison, but do not rank the state’s highest-paying industries.

01 / 03$24.08/hr

Highway, Street and Bridge Construction

Road and bridge crews support layout, site preparation and movement of materials around active infrastructure work. Consider traffic exposure, project travel and changing weather when comparing wages. Ask how the employer organizes shifts, supervision and benefits before deciding whether the complete offer meets your needs.

+ Infrastructure project experience
+ Larger site crews
– Moving traffic exposure
– Weather-related work interruptions
02 / 03$24.01/hr

Nonresidential Building Construction

Commercial buildings bring laborers into contact with several trades, deliveries and changing work areas. Review the tasks assigned, access arrangements and equipment responsibility. A national wage median cannot tell you whether a California vacancy provides steady hours, useful training or the benefits you value.

+ Varied building projects
+ Cross-trade crew coordination
– Site trade congestion
– Project schedule pressure
03 / 03$22.79/hr

Other Specialty Trade Contractors

Specialist contractors offer focused support work across particular construction packages. Find out which activities you will assist, how often sites change and who provides instruction. Compare project continuity and travel arrangements alongside the wage rather than assuming every specialty assignment offers the same working conditions.

+ Specialist trade exposure
+ Varied practical assignments
– Changing work locations
– Variable contract workloads

Which states pay construction laborers the most

Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.

  1. 01Californiathis page$28.98/hr
  2. 02Virginia$20.94/hr

What each certification is worth

Sorted by payback speed.

CertificationRate bumpExtra / yearCostPayback
Forklift Operator Certification+$0.75$1,560$1324 weeks
Traffic Flagger Certification+$0.38$790$695 weeks
Fall Protection Competent Person+$0.75$1,560$1866 weeks
OSHA 10-Hour Construction+$0.38$790$1037 weeks
First Aid/CPR (OSHA-aligned)+$0.25$520$869 weeks

What overtime actually adds

Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $28.98/hr.

40 hr week
$1,159
No OT
50 hr week
$1,594
+$21,735/yr
60 hr week
$2,029
+$43,470/yr
70 hr week
$2,463
+$65,205/yr

Questions workers ask

Can a long California shift trigger daily overtime?▾
Yes. Under the Labor Commissioner’s overtime rules, covered nonexempt workers receive time-and-a-half after eight daily hours and double time after twelve. Weekly and seventh-day rules also apply. Check applicable exceptions or agreements and keep daily records.
Is an unexpected short shift always paid as a full day?▾
No. The Industrial Welfare Commission’s construction wage order can require reporting-time pay, but exceptions include certain interruptions beyond the employer’s control. Review the circumstances rather than assuming every weather cancellation qualifies.
Can I ask for the vacancy’s pay scale?▾
Yes. Under Labor Code Section 432.3, which the Labor Commissioner enforces, employers must provide applicants a pay scale on reasonable request. Employers with at least fifteen employees must include it in covered postings. Benefits need separate discussion.

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May 2025 BLS California employee wages for Construction Laborers, SOC 47-2061. Skilled trades and contractor revenue differ.

Last updated October 23, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.