Construction Laborer Salary in Riverside, CA
Construction Laborers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $59,500 a year — 26% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,595 take-home, or $3,966 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,960
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,689
- Medicare (1.45%)$863
- California income tax$1,619
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$774
- Take-home pay$47,595
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,690 | $18.60 | $32,228 | $2,686 |
| 25th percentile | $46,940 | $22.57 | $38,419 | $3,202 |
| Median (50th) | $59,500 | $28.61 | $47,595 | $3,966 |
| 75th percentile | $77,730 | $37.37 | $59,496 | $4,958 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,080 | $46.19 | $70,467 | $5,872 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,500 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $47,595 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,715 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Construction Laborer jobs are about as common in Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #72 of 286 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vineland, NJ | $83,680 | $64,558 | $67,271 |
| 2 | Trenton, NJ | $71,920 | $57,000 | $55,243 |
| 3 | Kahului, HI | $79,760 | $60,410 | $55,222 |
| 4 | Duluth, MN | $61,340 | $48,819 | $54,996 |
| 5 | Decatur, IL | $61,270 | $48,522 | $54,876 |
| 6 | St. Louis, MO | $64,500 | $51,912 | $54,593 |
| 7 | Peoria, IL | $62,960 | $49,797 | $54,583 |
| 8 | Jefferson City, MO | $58,220 | $47,161 | $53,607 |
| 72 | Riverside, CA | $59,500 | $47,595 | $44,715 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 286 metros →
Construction Laborer salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $68,470
- San Francisco, CA — $72,610
- Modesto, CA — $60,630
- Vallejo, CA — $62,500
- Sacramento, CA — $60,560
- Salinas, CA — $61,680
- Santa Rosa, CA — $60,270
- Redding, CA — $55,790
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Riverside, CA?
The median construction laborer salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $59,500 a year, or about $28.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,940 and $77,730.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $59,500 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $47,595 a year ($3,966 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,393 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 26% above the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,715 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #72 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Construction and Building Inspector — $89,950
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $82,710
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $78,720
- Electrician — $72,790
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $72,790
- Carpenter — $70,880
- Sheet Metal Worker — $68,780
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $63,920
- Brickmason and Blockmason — $63,330
- Roofer — $62,050
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $61,420
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $61,190