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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 21, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.
Pick a trade and state to see real hourly rates.
Current BLS California employee wages for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers, SOC 47-2171; excludes premium pay and benefits.
Last updated October 21, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.
Salary Guides / California
California reinforcing-steel employee pay, experience bands and national sector comparisons for evaluating reinforcement placement work, written job offers and benefits.
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.
What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.
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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 sector figures describe three reinforcement settings. Ask California employers about crew duties, pour schedules and paid hours alongside the offered wage range.
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.
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.
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Workers Local 433 Apprenticeship (journeyperson) | +$2.67 | $5,554 | $0 | 0 weeks |
| Ironworkers Local 416 Reinforcing Apprenticeship (journeyperson) | +$2.67 | $5,554 | $0 | 0 weeks |
| OSHA 30-Hour Construction | +$1.43 | $2,974 | $159 | 3 weeks |
| OSHA 10-Hour Construction | +$0.48 | $998 | $59 | 4 weeks |
| Fall Protection Competent Person | +$0.38 | $790 | $149 | 10 weeks |
| NCCCO Signalperson | +$0.38 | $790 | $200 | 14 weeks |
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $30.34/hr.
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
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