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Salary Guides / California
Traffic Flagger Salary in California
California employee wage ranges help you assess flagging offers across highway construction, utility work and specialist contracting assignments.
What Traffic Flaggers Earn in California
California employee wages for Crossing Guards and Flaggers span $16.96–$39.15/hr, or $35,270–$81,440 a year. The occupation includes crossing guards as well as construction flaggers, so these figures cover more than work-zone assignments. Premium pay and benefits are excluded. For a roadwork offer, compare the hourly range with scheduled station hours, paid preparation, travel between assigned sites and the arrangements for covering breaks.
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 traffic flaggers 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-sector figures narrow the occupation's broad wage picture. Compare each work setting with the California assignment offered.
Other Specialty Trade Contractors
Site preparation and demolition contractors bring flaggers alongside truck movements and changing entrances. Ask who coordinates vehicle access with passing traffic.
Utility System Construction
Pipe and line construction puts flaggers beside excavations and service access. Discuss station moves as the crew advances along the roadway.
Which states pay traffic flaggers 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 |
| OSHA 30-Hour Construction | +$2.18 | $4,534 | $159 | 2 weeks |
| OSHA 10-Hour Construction | +$0.73 | $1,518 | $59 | 3 weeks |
| ATSSA Traffic Control Supervisor (California) | +$1.16 | $2,413 | $390 |
What overtime actually adds
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $24.33/hr.
Questions workers ask
Does an annual figure promise that much yearly income?▾
When does construction overtime start?▾
Which wage applies on public works?▾
See Open Traffic Flagger Jobs in California
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
Current BLS California employee wages for Crossing Guards and Flaggers, SOC 33-9091; includes crossing guards beyond construction flagging, excludes premium pay and benefits.
Last updated October 21, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.
