Construction Laborer Salary in San Francisco, CA
Construction Laborers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $72,610 a year — 54% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,371 take-home, or $4,698 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,144
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,502
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,053
- California income tax$2,597
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$944
- Take-home pay$56,371
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,440 | $23.29 | $39,516 | $3,293 |
| 25th percentile | $58,310 | $28.03 | $46,726 | $3,894 |
| Median (50th) | $72,610 | $34.91 | $56,371 | $4,698 |
| 75th percentile | $84,240 | $40.50 | $63,393 | $5,283 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,450 | $49.25 | $74,273 | $6,189 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $72,610 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $56,371 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,758 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 less concentrated in San Francisco, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #27 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 |
| 27 | San Francisco, CA | $72,610 | $56,371 | $48,758 |
*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
- Modesto, CA — $60,630
- Vallejo, CA — $62,500
- Sacramento, CA — $60,560
- Salinas, CA — $61,680
- Riverside, CA — $59,500
- Santa Rosa, CA — $60,270
- Redding, CA — $55,790
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in San Francisco, CA?
The median construction laborer salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $72,610 a year, or about $34.91 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $58,310 and $84,240.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $72,610 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $56,371 a year ($4,698 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,541 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 54% above the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,758 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #27 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 56% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Construction and Building Inspector — $125,130
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $124,750
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $120,810
- Sheet Metal Worker — $102,660
- Electrician — $92,830
- Carpenter — $89,200
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $87,340
- Taper — $84,840
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $82,160
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $77,880
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $75,970
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles — $74,970