Construction Laborer Salary in Santa Maria, CA
Construction Laborers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median $56,140 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $45,141 take-home, or $3,762 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Santa Maria, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,557
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,481
- Medicare (1.45%)$814
- California income tax$1,418
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$730
- Take-home pay$45,141
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Santa Maria, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,510 | $19.48 | $33,593 | $2,799 |
| 25th percentile | $47,420 | $22.80 | $38,771 | $3,231 |
| Median (50th) | $56,140 | $26.99 | $45,141 | $3,762 |
| 75th percentile | $68,200 | $32.79 | $53,678 | $4,473 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,010 | $43.75 | $67,438 | $5,620 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $56,140 buys in Santa Maria, CA
Prices in Santa Maria, CA are 8.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $45,141 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,490 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 Santa Maria, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.81).
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Santa Maria, CA ranks #129 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 |
| 129 | Santa Maria, CA | $56,140 | $45,141 | $41,490 |
*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 Santa Maria, CA?
The median construction laborer salary in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $56,140 a year, or about $26.99 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,420 and $68,200.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Santa Maria, CA?
On the median $56,140 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $45,141 a year ($3,762 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,148 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Santa Maria, CA a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 8.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,490 would in a typical U.S. city. Santa Maria, CA ranks #129 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Santa Maria, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Santa Maria, CA is $2,746 a month ($3,124 for two bedrooms) — 73% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Santa Maria, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $89,190
- Electrician — $75,290
- Carpenter — $75,140
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $64,370
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $61,000
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $56,420