Rebar Worker Salary in California

$30/hr

California reinforcing-steel employee pay, experience bands and national sector comparisons for evaluating reinforcement placement work, written job offers and benefits.

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What Rebar Workers Earn in California

California employee wages span $21.27–$51.94/hr, with published annual earnings of $44,240–$108,040 a year. These figures cover reinforcing iron and rebar work, including steel placed inside concrete structures. They exclude premium pay and benefits. An offer also needs stated hours, overtime terms and benefit details so you can compare the compensation for the reinforcement duties assigned. Separate the base wage from additional compensation when discussing a long concrete placement shift.

Hourly rates by level in California

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

Apprentice · 0–2 yrs
$21.27–$23.51/hr
▲ 2.71% from last year
Journeyman · 4–8 yrs
$23.51–$48.57/hr
▲ 2.71% from last year
Master · 8+ yrs
$48.57–$51.94/hr
▲ 2.71% 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 Rebar Worker
California · Day Shift
Base rate$36.04
+ Iron Workers Local 433 Apprenticeship (journeyperson)$2.67
+ Ironworkers Local 416 Reinforcing Apprenticeship (journeyperson)$2.67
+ OSHA 10-Hour Construction$0.48
Effective hourly$41.86
Straight · 40 hrs$1,674
Overtime · 8 hrs @ 1.5×$502
Weekly gross$2,177
Annualised · 50 weeks
$108,836
8 OT hrs/week · California

Who pays the most in California

These national sector figures describe three reinforcement settings. Ask California employers about crew duties, pour schedules and paid hours alongside the offered wage range.

01 / 03$30.77/hr

Nonresidential Building Construction

Commercial building reinforcement involves decks, columns and foundations. Ask how the employer schedules steel placement around formwork readiness and concrete inspections. Clarify whether you join a dedicated reinforcing crew or rotate between concrete tasks.

+ Large structures
+ Coordinated crews
– Pour deadlines
– Trade interfaces
02 / 03$29.03/hr

Highway and Bridge Construction

Bridge reinforcement brings cages, deck steel and heavy deliveries together. Discuss access arrangements and the work schedule around traffic controls before accepting. A bridge assignment also needs clear expectations for moving steel through controlled work areas.

+ Infrastructure work
+ Varied assemblies
– Traffic interfaces
– Outdoor exposure
03 / 03$27.83/hr

Foundation and Structure Contractors

Specialist reinforcing crews place bars and mesh within this broader contractor group. Discuss travel between projects and responsibility for staging materials. A specialist employer still needs safe access and stable forms before reinforcement starts.

+ Reinforcement focus
+ Placement practice
– Changing sites
– Material handling

Which states pay rebar workers 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$30.34/hr
  2. 02Virginia$26.50/hr

What each certification is worth

Sorted by payback speed.

CertificationRate bumpExtra / yearCostPayback
Iron Workers Local 433 Apprenticeship (journeyperson)+$2.67$5,554$00 weeks
Ironworkers Local 416 Reinforcing Apprenticeship (journeyperson)+$2.67$5,554$00 weeks
OSHA 30-Hour Construction+$1.43$2,974$1593 weeks
OSHA 10-Hour Construction+$0.48$998$594 weeks
Fall Protection Competent Person+$0.38$790$14910 weeks
NCCCO Signalperson+$0.38$790$20014 weeks

What overtime actually adds

Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $30.34/hr.

40 hr week
$1,214
No OT
50 hr week
$1,669
+$22,755/yr
60 hr week
$2,124
+$45,510/yr
70 hr week
$2,579
+$68,265/yr

Questions workers ask

Must my rebar apprenticeship pay increase over time?▾
Yes. Under Title 8 Section 212, DAS-approved apprenticeship standards must set a progressively increasing wage schedule. Ask Local 416 for its current steps and advancement requirements. The displayed ranges do not set your contractual rate.
When does overtime start on a long pour day?▾
IWC Wage Order 16, enforced by DIR's Labor Commissioner, generally requires construction overtime after eight daily or 40 weekly hours. Qualifying collective agreements and alternative schedules have exceptions. Keep records of required setup and cleanup as well as placement time, then compare them with your wage statement.
Does a public bridge job require prevailing wage?▾
Yes, when the public works project is over $1,000. DIR's Labor Commissioner enforces that threshold, and the DIR Director sets rates by classification and county. Ask which determination covers your reinforcing duties and how benefits are paid.

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Current BLS California employee wages for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers, SOC 47-2171; excludes premium pay and benefits.

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