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Salary Guides / California
Demolition Worker Salary in California
Read California construction laborer wage ranges alongside demolition duties, job hours, union terms and the employer's removal scope.
What Demolition Workers Earn in California
California construction laborer employee wages span $19.69–$45.01/hr, with wages of $40,950–$93,620 a year. BLS includes demolition labour within this broader occupation. Interior strip-out and debris handling fit that comparison, while specialist abatement needs a separate benchmark. The figures exclude premium pay and benefits. For an offer, put the removal duties beside the hourly range and expected paid hours. Separate the offered wage from allowances for tools and travel. Confirm whether public projects pay a prevailing wage rate.
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 demolition workers 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
These national construction laborer medians cover three settings for demolition work. Match each employer's business and duties to the setting.
Nonresidential Building Construction
Commercial rebuilding involves selective removal around retained structures. Ask California employers how they schedule strip-out, dust containment and movement between work areas. Discuss who handles salvage and protects occupied parts of buildings.
Other Specialty Trade Contractors
Site preparation firms include building demolition and concrete breaking. Discuss machine separation and debris duties under California's demolition supervision rules. Ask which tasks require separate equipment training before accepting assignments.
Residential Building Construction
House replacement and remodeling create removal tasks beside retained finishes. Clarify salvage duties and the air district's asbestos requirements for the property. Include preparation and cleanup hours when reviewing the wage offer.
Which states pay demolition 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.
What each certification is worth
Sorted by payback speed.
| Certification | Rate bump | Extra / year | Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SoCal Laborers Apprenticeship (journeyperson) | +$4.83 | $10,046 | $0 | 0 weeks |
| 40-Hour HAZWOPER | +$3 | $6,240 | $240 | 2 weeks |
| OSHA 30-Hour Construction | +$2.18 | $4,534 | $159 | 2 weeks |
| OSHA 10-Hour Construction | +$0.73 | $1,518 | $59 | 3 weeks |
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
Are these guaranteed apprenticeship pay steps?▾
How should I compare two demolition offers?▾
Are cleanup and loading paid work?▾
See Open Demolition Worker Jobs in California
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
Current BLS California employee wages for Construction Laborers, SOC 47-2061; BLS has no demolition-specific occupation. These are employee wages for construction laborers, the occupation that includes demolition labour. They exclude asbestos/lead abatement workers, SOC 47-4041, demolition contractor or equipment-hire charges, premium pay and benefits.
Last updated October 21, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.