UnionIronworkers MLA Area 1 wages 2026 (California)
The hourly rates, overtime, shift, vacation and per diem rules of Ironworkers MLA Area 1 in California, read from the one agreement built into the Ironworker app. An independent guide: the agreement and your hall have the final word.
Field ironwork (San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara)
California Field Ironworkers Master Labor Agreement 2025–2027, Area 1, with the 2026 rates
$58.44an hour
Journeyman, Field ironwork (San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara)
From January 1, 2026. No later step published.
| Classification | From January 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Journeymanbase rate | $58.44 |
| Foreman (the minimum)JM + 10% | $64.28 |
| Apprentice, 8th period95% | $55.52 |
| Apprentice, 7th period90% | $52.60 |
| Apprentice, 6th period80% | $46.75 |
| Apprentice, 5th period75% | $43.83 |
| Apprentice, 4th period65% | $37.99 |
| Apprentice, 3rd period60% | $35.06 |
| Apprentice, 2nd period55% | $32.14 |
| Apprentice, 1st period50% | $29.22 |
- Overtime
- A 4×10 by agreement is Monday to Thursday at straight time, hours 11 and 12 at time and a half and past 12 double; Friday can be a voluntary make-up day, a fifth day that isn't a make-up day is time and a half for 8 hours then double, and the 6th and 7th days are double time.
- Shift premium
- 6% of the rate on straight-time hours worked on shift.
- Per diem and travel
- 60 to 75 miles: $30 a scheduled work day; 75 to 100 miles: $40 a scheduled work day; Over 100 miles: $95 a scheduled work day.
One 40-hour week, worked out
Week of October 25, 2026Journeyman, Field ironwork (San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara)
Example| Day | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hours | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Earnings | |
| Regular40 h × 58.44 | 2,337.60 |
| Vacation/PTO (taxable, to the Vacation/PTO Plan)40 h × 6.40 | 256.00 |
| Gross pay | 2,593.60 |
| Deductions | |
| Vacation sent to the Vacation/PTO Planper hour | −256.00 |
| Social Security6.2% | −160.80 |
| Medicare1.45% | −37.61 |
| CA SDI | −33.72 |
| Federal income taxestimate (W-4) | −405.81 |
| California income taxestimate | −178.72 |
What's missing
Where the app can't follow a rule to the letter yet, its notes say so, and say how to allow for it when you enter your hours. From this page's agreements:
- The apprentice and foreman dollar rates are worked out from those percentages, rounded to the cent (the state's apprentice determination wasn't read), and the foreman is paid the minimum.
- The 2026 area map moved some counties: in 2025 Area 1 was San Francisco only, San Mateo and Santa Clara were in Area 2 ($55.33), and the counties now in Area 5 were paid $50.70, or $43.75 in the remote counties. For a 2025 week in San Mateo or Santa Clara, use Enter my own rate ($55.33). On January 1 2027 the package goes up $2.95 an hour, not yet split between the wage and the funds, so the app keeps the 2026 rate until the state publishes the 2027 one: then type it under Enter my own rate.
- The agreement doesn't say what a make-up day pays past 40 hours in the week; the app pays straight time up to 10 hours and the 40-hour week, then time and a half.
- The app pays 6% on every night, on its straight-time hours only, so a 3rd or dedicated shift comes out short: use Enter my own rate for those weeks.
- The app adds it for every hour worked and uses $6.40 for 2025 weeks too.
- The app uses the 2026 subsistence amounts for every week.
Enter your own hours in the Ironworker app: it applies these rates, the overtime and holiday rules, dues and tax, and keeps a year of paychecks. Free for a month.
Your agreement isn't here, or a number is wrong? Send us your agreement from the app's Settings tab. If the app doesn't have it yet, you get a free year when it's added.
Questions
What does a MLA Area 1 journeyman make in 2026?
$58.44 an hour under the California Field Ironworkers Master Labor Agreement 2025–2027, Area 1, with the 2026 rates, from January 1, 2026.
When is the next MLA Area 1 raise?
No later step is published in the data for the Field ironwork (San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara) agreement. Rates usually change once a year; check the schedule before you count on a raise.
What do MLA Area 1 apprentices make?
Apprentice, 8th period $55.52 (95%), Apprentice, 7th period $52.60 (90%), Apprentice, 6th period $46.75 (80%), Apprentice, 5th period $43.83 (75%), Apprentice, 4th period $37.99 (65%), Apprentice, 3rd period $35.06 (60%), Apprentice, 2nd period $32.14 (55%) and Apprentice, 1st period $29.22 (50%) an hour from January 1, 2026.
Does MLA Area 1 pay a per diem?
60 to 75 miles: $30 a scheduled work day; 75 to 100 miles: $40 a scheduled work day; Over 100 miles: $95 a scheduled work day.
How is MLA Area 1 overtime paid?
A 4×10 by agreement is Monday to Thursday at straight time, hours 11 and 12 at time and a half and past 12 double; Friday can be a voluntary make-up day, a fifth day that isn't a make-up day is time and a half for 8 hours then double, and the 6th and 7th days are double time.
Sources
The agreements and schedules these numbers were read from. Built October 15, 2026 from the Ironworker app, version 0.1.0.
Independent. Not affiliated with any union. Check your agreement.