What home projects cost in California
Construction workers in California earn $1,720 a week on average, +10.3% against the national $1,559. Because labour is roughly 45% of a residential project and materials cost much the same everywhere, that works out to about +4.6% on the price of a job here.
Biggest difference: ADU, where a typical project runs $8,300 more here than the national figure.
Idaho, lowest Alaska, highest
California pays more than 44 of the 51, and the taller notch marks the national average.
| Project | In California | National |
|---|---|---|
| Home Addition cost in California | $68,600 – $103,000 | $65,600 – $98,400 |
| Bathroom Remodel cost in California | $14,300 – $22,300 | $13,700 – $21,400 |
| Basement Finishing cost in California | $30,200 – $45,200 | $28,800 – $43,200 |
| Interior Painting cost in California | $4,500 – $6,800 | $4,300 – $6,500 |
| Garage Conversion cost in California | $27,100 – $44,100 | $25,800 – $42,200 |
| Shower Remodel cost in California | $5,350 – $8,750 | $5,150 – $8,350 |
| Flooring Installation cost in California | $5,900 – $9,200 | $5,600 – $8,800 |
| ADU cost in California | $139,300 – $237,300 | $133,200 – $226,800 |
| Cabinet Refacing cost in California | $5,500 – $8,600 | $5,250 – $8,250 |
| Kitchen Remodel cost in California | $33,400 – $54,400 | $31,900 – $52,100 |
| Countertop cost in California | $2,950 – $4,600 | $2,800 – $4,400 |
| Project | In California | National |
|---|---|---|
| Tree Removal cost in California | $650 – $1,150 | $650 – $1,050 |
| Window Replacement cost in California | $5,950 – $9,750 | $5,700 – $9,300 |
| Roof Replacement cost in California | $6,600 – $10,800 | $6,350 – $10,400 |
| Concrete Driveway cost in California | $5,250 – $8,550 | $5,000 – $8,200 |
| Retaining Wall cost in California | $4,600 – $7,500 | $4,350 – $7,150 |
| Landscaping cost in California | $4,200 – $7,100 | $4,000 – $6,800 |
| Pool cost in California | $34,900 – $59,300 | $33,400 – $56,800 |
| Exterior Painting cost in California | $4,700 – $7,400 | $4,500 – $7,000 |
| Siding cost in California | $7,650 – $12,000 | $7,300 – $11,400 |
| Asphalt Driveway cost in California | $3,700 – $6,300 | $3,550 – $6,050 |
| Fence Installation cost in California | $2,950 – $4,900 | $2,800 – $4,700 |
| Gutter Installation cost in California | $1,600 – $2,650 | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| Concrete Patio cost in California | $2,100 – $3,600 | $2,000 – $3,400 |
| Project | In California | National |
|---|---|---|
| Mold Remediation cost in California | $2,000 – $3,300 | $1,950 – $3,150 |
| Foundation Repair cost in California | $5,550 – $9,050 | $5,300 – $8,700 |
| HVAC Replacement cost in California | $9,850 – $15,400 | $9,350 – $14,600 |
| Furnace Replacement cost in California | $4,800 – $7,800 | $4,550 – $7,450 |
| Well Drilling cost in California | $5,600 – $9,900 | $5,350 – $9,450 |
| Chimney Repair cost in California | $1,100 – $2,000 | $1,050 – $1,950 |
| Asbestos Removal cost in California | $1,750 – $3,250 | $1,700 – $3,100 |
| Water Heater Replacement cost in California | $1,200 – $2,100 | $1,200 – $2,000 |
| Crawl Space Encapsulation cost in California | $4,150 – $7,350 | $3,950 – $7,050 |
| Electrical Panel Upgrade cost in California | $1,950 – $3,450 | $1,850 – $3,350 |
| Septic System cost in California | $5,950 – $11,100 | $5,650 – $10,500 |
| Basement Waterproofing cost in California | $3,850 – $7,150 | $3,700 – $6,900 |
How the California figures are worked out
Every range on this page is the national estimate with one adjustment: the labour portion is scaled by what construction actually pays in California.
Wages come from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages, NAICS 23 (Construction), private ownership. California averages $1,720 a week against $1,559 nationally, an index of 1.103. Applied to a labour share of 45%, that gives a multiplier of 1.046.
What this cannot tell you. It is a state average, and the gap between a metro and a rural county inside California is often wider than the gap between states. Materials are treated as national, which is close to true for lumber and shingles and less true where freight is long. Permit costs, local code and how busy contractors are that month move real quotes as much as wages do. Treat this as a starting point and get a written quote.
Questions about California costs
- Is home improvement more expensive in California?
- Construction wages in California run +10.3% against the national average of $1,559 a week. Labour is about 45% of a residential project and materials cost much the same everywhere, so that works out to roughly +4.6% on the price of a job. California pays more than 44 of the 51 states and the District of Columbia.
- Does the California adjustment hit some projects harder than others?
- No. It is a wage adjustment, so it moves every project by the same +4.6%, whether that is a tree removal or an addition. What changes is the dollar amount: ADU moves by about $8,300 while tree removal moves by less than $100. If a contractor tells you one trade is unusually expensive in California, that is a local market condition, not something this data can show.
- What is the cheapest home improvement project in California?
- Of the 36 projects priced here, tree removal is the least expensive at $650 to $1,150 for a typical job, and ADU is the most at $139,300 to $237,300. Both assume a mid finish level; every calculator lets you change the scope and the finish.
- Are these figures accurate for my city in California?
- They are state-level figures and should be read that way. The gap between a metro area and a rural county inside one state is often wider than the gap between two states, and the wage data behind this page does not resolve below the state. Use the range as a starting point for what to expect, then get an on-site quote, which is the only firm number.