Construction Laborer salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Construction Laborers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $58,500 a year ($28.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 520 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,750 for the top 10%. That is 24% higher than the national median of $47,120. Pay here is 3% lower than the California statewide median of $60,270. There are 5.2 construction laborers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $61,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for construction laborers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,160 | $21.71 |
| 25th percentile | $47,470 | $22.82 |
| Median | $58,500 | $28.13 |
| 75th percentile | $74,880 | $36.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,750 | $39.30 |
| Average (mean) | $61,940 | $29.78 |
Half of construction laborers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,875 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,437.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,250 |
| Weekly | $1,125 |
| Hourly | $28.13 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $58,500 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Construction Laborer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $72,610 | 11,620 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $68,470 | 4,420 |
| Vallejo, CA | $62,500 | 1,080 |
| Salinas, CA | $61,680 | 950 |
| Modesto, CA | $60,630 | 1,070 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,560 | 7,390 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $60,270 | 1,550 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $60,140 | 1,030 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $59,870 | 100 |
| Napa, CA | $59,800 | 540 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $59,500 | 12,120 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $58,950 | 1,790 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $58,810 | 21,730 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $57,450 | 1,470 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $57,180 | 8,850 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $56,140 | 1,150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $55,800 | 1,480 |
| Redding, CA | $55,790 | 500 |
| Fresno, CA | $55,120 | 2,660 |
| Chico, CA | $54,720 | 480 |
| Merced, CA | $54,440 | 380 |
| El Centro, CA | $53,560 | 270 |
| Yuba City, CA | $48,210 | 290 |
| Visalia, CA | $47,700 | 740 |
Highest-paying states for construction laborers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $77,110 |
| New Jersey | $64,060 |
| Massachusetts | $63,390 |
| Illinois | $60,690 |
| California | $60,270 |
| Minnesota | $60,260 |
| Connecticut | $58,290 |
| Alaska | $58,060 |
| Washington | $57,720 |
| Rhode Island | $57,240 |
See Construction Laborer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Carpenter | $77,690 | $37.35 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $68,130 | $32.75 |
| Electrician | $76,610 | $36.83 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| Roofer | $61,640 | $29.64 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $75,640 | $36.36 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $74,740 | $35.93 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $60,210 | $28.95 |
| Plasterers and Stucco Masons | $68,210 | $32.79 |
| Glazier | $58,970 | $28.35 |
| Tile and Stone Setters | $59,770 | $28.73 |
| Solar Photovoltaic Installer | $69,550 | $33.44 |
| Stonemason | $59,620 | $28.66 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $87,180 | $41.91 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2061. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for construction laborers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $58,500 a year, or $28.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid construction laborers make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of construction laborers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $81,750 a year. The top 25% earn $74,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for construction laborers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,160 a year, and a quarter of construction laborers earn $47,470 or less.
How many construction laborers work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 520 construction laborers are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.