Salary data is based on the Modesto, CA metropolitan area and applied to Modesto using local cost-of-living adjustments.

Construction Laborers Salaries in Modesto, CA

Average Base Pay

$49,253/yr

1% below national average

Monthly

$4,104

Hourly

$24

Cost Index

Construction Laborers in Modesto, CA earn an average of $49,253 per year, with most salaries falling between $39,402 and $59,104 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 1% below the national average, Modesto offers a more modest rate for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 93. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Modesto.

Salary Range

The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.

$37K
Low

$49K
Median

$62K
High

25th percentile: $42K75th percentile: $57K

About Construction Laborers

Construction Managers plan, coordinate, and oversee construction projects from groundbreaking through completion, ensuring that work is delivered on schedule, within budget, and to the required quality standards. They manage subcontractors, suppliers, inspectors, and design professionals simultaneously, coordinating the sequencing of work across multiple trades. The role begins in preconstruction—reviewing plans and specifications, preparing cost estimates, bidding and awarding subcontracts, and developing project schedules using tools like Primavera or Microsoft Project. During construction, they hold weekly job site meetings, track schedule progress, manage submittals and requests for information, process pay applications, and maintain project documentation. Identifying and mitigating risk is central: construction managers anticipate schedule conflicts, monitor weather impacts, manage material procurement lead times, and resolve field conditions that differ from design assumptions. Safety management is a primary legal and ethical responsibility. Most construction managers hold a degree in construction management or civil engineering, and many hold the Certified Construction Manager (CCM) or PMP credential.

What Construction Laborers Do

Develop and manage project schedules and construction budgets
Bid, award, and manage subcontracts and supplier agreements
Coordinate and sequence work among trades to minimize conflicts
Conduct job site meetings and maintain project documentation
Review and process submittals, RFIs, change orders, and pay applications
Enforce safety regulations and maintain a safe job site
Monitor work quality and ensure conformance with contract documents
Communicate project status to owners and stakeholders

Key Skills & Qualifications

Construction scheduling with Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project
Cost estimating and budget control
Subcontract management and procurement
Blueprint and specification reading and interpretation
OSHA safety regulations and job site safety management
Construction project management software such as Procore
Change order management and dispute resolution
CCM or PMP certification

Career Path

Field Engineer / Project Engineer
Assistant Project Manager
Project Manager
Senior Project Manager
Senior PM / VP of Construction

Construction Laborers Market in Modesto, CA

Salary Competitiveness

Modesto salaries for Construction Laborers track closely with the national median, diverging by less than 4%. This alignment suggests a competitive but balanced local market—employers are broadly in step with national pay scales, which can make benchmark comparisons more reliable when negotiating.

Cost of Living Impact

Modesto sits close to the national cost average. Monthly essential expenses represent about 84% of take-home pay for this role—a midrange ratio that allows for modest savings and discretionary spending, provided housing costs remain stable.

Effective Purchasing Power

Despite a competitive gross salary, a Construction Laborers earning $49,253 in Modesto operates in a tight purchasing-power band once taxes and local cost of living are applied. Careful planning around housing, transportation, and discretionary spending is essential to avoid running negative disposable income month to month.

vs. National Avg

-1%

Cost Pressure

84%

Purchasing Power

Tight

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.

Annual Salary

Take-home (73%)Taxes (27%)

Annual Net

$35,955

Monthly

$2,996

Weekly

$691

Eff. Tax Rate

27%

A gross salary of $49,253 for a Construction Laborers in Modesto translates to roughly $2,996 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $2,502—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $494 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Modesto's current market.

How far does this salary go in Modesto?

Cost of Living in Modesto

Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Modesto, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.

Cost Index

Below Avg — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).

🏠Housing / Rent$1,420/mo

🍔Food & Groceries$465/mo

🚗Transportation$130/mo

💡Utilities$195/mo

🏥Healthcare$292/mo

Monthly$2,502

Annual$30,024

Disposable Income$494

Financial Reality Check

This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Modesto to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.

Monthly Take-Home

$2,996

Living Costs

$2,502

Disposable

$494

Cost Index

Lifestyle

Tight

With a monthly take-home of $2,996, your estimated living costs in Modesto are $2,502 ($30,024/yr). This leaves $494 per month in disposable income, indicating a tight standard of living. Modesto's cost of living is 7% below the national average.

Overall, a Construction Laborers earning $49,253 in Modesto falls into a tight lifestyle tier and will need to budget carefully—essential costs consume a significant share of take-home pay, leaving limited room for savings or emergencies. With a cost index of 93, Modesto is 7% more affordable than the national average, which extends your purchasing power. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Modesto continue to evolve.