Construction Laborer Salary in San Jose, CA
Construction Laborers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $68,470 a year — 45% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $53,843 take-home, or $4,487 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,233
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,245
- Medicare (1.45%)$993
- California income tax$2,265
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$890
- Take-home pay$53,843
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,470 | $22.34 | $38,066 | $3,172 |
| 25th percentile | $56,850 | $27.33 | $45,659 | $3,805 |
| Median (50th) | $68,470 | $32.92 | $53,843 | $4,487 |
| 75th percentile | $80,910 | $38.90 | $61,403 | $5,117 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,370 | $45.37 | $69,446 | $5,787 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $68,470 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $53,843 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,761 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 Jose, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.55), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #26 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 |
| 26 | San Jose, CA | $68,470 | $53,843 | $48,761 |
*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 Francisco, CA — $72,610
- 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 Jose, CA?
The median construction laborer salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $68,470 a year, or about $32.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $56,850 and $80,910.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $68,470 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $53,843 a year ($4,487 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,156 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 45% above the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,761 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #26 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 66% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Construction and Building Inspector — $129,750
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $129,700
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $124,340
- Sheet Metal Worker — $109,280
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $107,560
- Taper — $92,810
- Electrician — $91,030
- Carpenter — $80,190
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $79,430
- Roofer — $76,650
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $75,520
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $61,970