What apprenticeships are available for construction trades workers in California?

In California, registered apprenticeships are administered through the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in California (2026)

Q: How much do construction trades workers earn in California?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), construction trades workers in California earned a median annual wage of approximately $60,270. Employment concentration in California is roughly 0.69 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in California?

California currently employs approximately 88,240 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.3% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

California construction laborers earn a median annual wage of $60,270 ($28.98/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 88,240 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 27.9% above the national median of $47,120 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $60,270 ($28.98/hr)
25th percentile: $48,140 per year
75th percentile: $78,520 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $93,620 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $40,950 per year
Workers employed in California: 88,240
Versus national median: 27.9% above the U.S. median of $47,120
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.69 - this occupation is less concentrated in California than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

California employs about 88,240 construction trades workers earning a median $60,270 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most construction trades workers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in California.

Compare Construction Trades Worker Schools in California

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	College of the Canyons	60.9	Contact school for pricing	$64,248	44%	—	89 mi
2	CET-Santa Maria	58.3	Contact school for pricing	$40,676	68%	—	62 mi
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3	Santa Barbara City College	56.7	Contact school for pricing	$63,514	34%	Yes*	72 mi
4	Cuesta College	55.2	Contact school for pricing	$57,231	46%	Yes*	83 mi
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5	Coalinga College	49.2	Contact school for pricing	$46,286	43%	Yes*	68 mi
6	College of the Sequoias	47.3	Contact school for pricing	$44,147	36%	—	63 mi
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7	San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia	45.3	Contact school for pricing	$42,211	35%	Yes*	63 mi
8	Fresno City College	41.3	Contact school for pricing	$46,885	24%	—	94 mi
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9	CET-Oxnard	39.1	Contact school for pricing	$40,676	53%	—	88 mi
10	Bakersfield College	24.0	Contact school for pricing	$51,238	22%	—	31 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

California employs approximately 88,240 construction trades workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,270 ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 129,400 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Construction Trades Worker in California, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (California): $60,270 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in California

How to become a Construction Trades Worker in California? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for construction trades workers in California.

How long does it take? Most paths into the construction trades worker field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do construction trades workers earn in California? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in California is $60,270 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $40,950 and experienced professionals can earn $93,620 or more ¹.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in California

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most California training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in California that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to construction trades workers in California before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Construction Trades Worker Apprenticeship Information in California

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. California’s apprenticeship program is administered by the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Fresno Region
Phone: (559) 445-5431
Email: [email protected]

Construction Trades Worker Wages by Metro Area in California

Construction Laborers Wages by Metro Area in California

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction laborers wages in California vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim	21,730	$58,810	$63,220	$39,680	$91,490
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario	12,120	$59,500	$65,580	$38,690	$96,080
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont	11,620	$72,610	$73,640	$48,440	$102,450
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad	8,850	$57,180	$60,490	$39,600	$86,000
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom	7,390	$60,560	$64,070	$40,240	$91,530
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara	4,420	$68,470	$69,780	$46,470	$94,370
Fresno	2,660	$55,120	$60,040	$37,940	$84,810
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura	1,790	$58,950	$63,920	$41,000	$94,140
Santa Rosa-Petaluma	1,550	$60,270	$65,600	$45,430	$91,380
Bakersfield-Delano	1,480	$55,800	$60,910	$38,310	$90,750
Stockton-Lodi	1,470	$57,450	$61,870	$38,520	$88,050
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara	1,150	$56,140	$59,480	$40,510	$91,010
Vallejo	1,080	$62,500	$66,400	$45,160	$92,160
Modesto	1,070	$60,630	$62,660	$39,380	$81,840
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles	1,030	$60,140	$64,150	$44,200	$92,190
Salinas	950	$61,680	$66,620	$45,620	$99,030
Visalia	740	$47,700	$54,640	$37,070	$77,080
Napa	540	$59,800	$63,010	$40,230	$90,780
Santa Cruz-Watsonville	520	$58,500	$61,940	$45,160	$81,750
Redding	500	$55,790	$60,990	$39,600	$84,780
Chico	480	$54,720	$59,560	$40,570	$81,190
Merced	380	$54,440	$60,320	$37,780	$99,290
Yuba City	290	$48,210	$54,830	$40,100	$80,050
El Centro	270	$53,560	$56,440	$38,380	$74,090
Hanford-Corcoran	100	$59,870	$64,650	$38,030	$95,120

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in California? California currently employs approximately 88,240 construction trades workers ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in California? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in California. You can also contact the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do construction trades workers earn in California compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in California is $60,270, which is $13,540 above the national median of $46,730 according to BLS data ¹.

In California

Best Trade Schools in California (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in California

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.dir.ca.gov/databases/das/aigstart.asp ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)