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Salary Guides / California
Construction Laborer Salary in California
Compare California construction laborer pay ranges and compensation factors to evaluate offers for your skills and experience.
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.
Where do you stand?
Enter your hourly rate to see how it compares to other construction laborers in California.
What are you making?
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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.
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
An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What each certification is worth
Sorted by payback speed.
| Certification | Rate bump | Extra / year | Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forklift Operator Certification | +$0.75 | $1,560 | $132 | 4 weeks |
| Traffic Flagger Certification | +$0.38 | $790 | $69 | 5 weeks |
| Fall Protection Competent Person | +$0.75 | $1,560 | $186 | 6 weeks |
| OSHA 10-Hour Construction | +$0.38 | $790 | $103 |
What overtime actually adds
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $28.98/hr.
Questions workers ask
Can a long California shift trigger daily overtime?▾
Is an unexpected short shift always paid as a full day?▾
Can I ask for the vacancy’s pay scale?▾
See Open Construction Laborer Jobs in California
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
May 2025 BLS California employee wages for Construction Laborers, SOC 47-2061. Skilled trades and contractor revenue differ.
Last updated October 21, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.