Construction Laborer salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Construction Laborers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $57,180 a year ($27.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,850 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,000 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $47,120. Pay here is 5% lower than the California statewide median of $60,270. There are 5.8 construction laborers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $60,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for construction laborers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,600 | $19.04 |
| 25th percentile | $48,480 | $23.31 |
| Median | $57,180 | $27.49 |
| 75th percentile | $71,390 | $34.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,000 | $41.35 |
| Average (mean) | $60,490 | $29.08 |
Half of construction laborers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,765 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,382.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,199.23 |
| Weekly | $1,099.62 |
| Hourly | $27.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Construction Laborer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $72,610 | 11,620 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $68,470 | 4,420 |
| Vallejo, CA | $62,500 | 1,080 |
| Salinas, CA | $61,680 | 950 |
| Modesto, CA | $60,630 | 1,070 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,560 | 7,390 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $60,270 | 1,550 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $60,140 | 1,030 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $59,870 | 100 |
| Napa, CA | $59,800 | 540 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $59,500 | 12,120 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $58,950 | 1,790 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $58,810 | 21,730 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $58,500 | 520 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $57,450 | 1,470 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $56,140 | 1,150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $55,800 | 1,480 |
| Redding, CA | $55,790 | 500 |
| Fresno, CA | $55,120 | 2,660 |
| Chico, CA | $54,720 | 480 |
| Merced, CA | $54,440 | 380 |
| El Centro, CA | $53,560 | 270 |
| Yuba City, CA | $48,210 | 290 |
| Visalia, CA | $47,700 | 740 |
Highest-paying states for construction laborers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $77,110 |
| New Jersey | $64,060 |
| Massachusetts | $63,390 |
| Illinois | $60,690 |
| California | $60,270 |
| Minnesota | $60,260 |
| Connecticut | $58,290 |
| Alaska | $58,060 |
| Washington | $57,720 |
| Rhode Island | $57,240 |
See Construction Laborer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Carpenter | $73,200 | $35.19 |
| Electrician | $76,160 | $36.62 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $72,510 | $34.86 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $55,970 | $26.91 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $76,290 | $36.68 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $83,670 | $40.23 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $66,530 | $31.98 |
| Roofer | $62,180 | $29.90 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $80,080 | $38.50 |
| Tile and Stone Setters | $58,240 | $28.00 |
| Glazier | $65,150 | $31.32 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| Solar Photovoltaic Installer | $61,340 | $29.49 |
| Plasterers and Stucco Masons | $61,080 | $29.37 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2061. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for construction laborers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $57,180 a year, or $27.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid construction laborers make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of construction laborers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $86,000 a year. The top 25% earn $71,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for construction laborers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,600 a year, and a quarter of construction laborers earn $48,480 or less.
How many construction laborers work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 8,850 construction laborers are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.