Construction Laborer Salary in San Luis Obispo, CA
Construction Laborers in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area earn a median $60,140 a year — 28% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,063 take-home, or $4,005 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in San Luis Obispo, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,037
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,729
- Medicare (1.45%)$872
- California income tax$1,658
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$782
- Take-home pay$48,063
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in San Luis Obispo, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,200 | $21.25 | $36,363 | $3,030 |
| 25th percentile | $48,490 | $23.31 | $39,552 | $3,296 |
| Median (50th) | $60,140 | $28.91 | $48,063 | $4,005 |
| 75th percentile | $76,540 | $36.80 | $58,770 | $4,897 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,190 | $44.32 | $68,143 | $5,679 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,140 buys in San Luis Obispo, CA
Prices in San Luis Obispo, CA are 8.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.44× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $48,063 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,258 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Luis Obispo, CA has 1.2× the national concentration of construction laborer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
San Luis Obispo, CA ranks #82 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 |
| 82 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $60,140 | $48,063 | $44,258 |
*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
- Riverside, CA — $59,500
- Santa Rosa, CA — $60,270
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in San Luis Obispo, CA?
The median construction laborer salary in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area is $60,140 a year, or about $28.91 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,490 and $76,540.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in San Luis Obispo, CA?
On the median $60,140 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $48,063 a year ($4,005 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,440 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Luis Obispo, CA a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 28% above the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 8.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,258 would in a typical U.S. city. San Luis Obispo, CA ranks #82 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in San Luis Obispo, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Luis Obispo, CA is $1,914 a month ($2,512 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Luis Obispo, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $94,560
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $79,340
- Carpenter — $77,220
- Electrician — $76,540