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Current BLS California employee wages for Construction Laborers, SOC 47-2061; construction-site general labor only, excluding premium pay and benefits.
Last updated October 21, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.
Salary Guides / California
California construction laborer employee pay ranges help you assess crew assignments, overtime terms and the scope of each offer.
California construction laborer employee wages span $19.69–$45.01/hr, or $40,950–$93,620 a year. These figures cover construction work such as site preparation and material handling. They exclude premium pay and benefits. Match an offer to construction duties, then discuss the hours available. A warehouse laborer vacancy needs a different occupation comparison, even when its advertised title sounds similar.
What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.
Enter your hourly rate to see how it compares to other general laborers in California.
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$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.
Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.
An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.
These national construction laborer medians cover three sectors relevant to California projects. Ask about the assignment behind each offer.
Road crews need laborers for asphalt support and material movement. Discuss traffic protection, closure hours and travel between California road projects.
Commercial building work involves moving supplies through busy sites. Ask who coordinates deliveries and keeps access clear alongside other construction trades.
Site preparation firms handle excavation and demolition support. Identify the dust controls and equipment boundaries attached to the specific labor assignment.
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.
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 |
| ATSSA Flagger Certification | +$0.29 | $603 | $125 | 11 weeks |
| American Red Cross Adult First Aid/CPR/AED | +$0.15 | $312 | $102 | 17 weeks |
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $28.98/hr.
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
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