UnionIronworkers MLA fence wages 2026 (California)
The hourly rates, overtime, shift, vacation and per diem rules of Ironworkers MLA fence in California and Nevada, read from the one agreement built into the Ironworker app. An independent guide: the agreement and your hall have the final word.
Fence erector (all areas)
California Field Ironworkers Master Labor Agreement 2025–2027, fence erectors (every area), with the 2026 rates
$46.50an hour
Fence erector, Fence erector (all areas)
From January 1, 2026. No later step published.
| Classification | From January 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Fence erectorbase rate | $46.50 |
| Fence foreman (the minimum)JM + 10% | $51.15 |
| Apprentice, 8th period95% | $44.18 |
| Apprentice, 7th period90% | $41.85 |
| Apprentice, 6th period80% | $37.20 |
| Apprentice, 5th period75% | $34.88 |
| Apprentice, 4th period65% | $30.23 |
| Apprentice, 3rd period60% | $27.90 |
| Apprentice, 2nd period55% | $25.58 |
| Apprentice, 1st period50% | $23.25 |
- 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, 2026Fence erector, Fence erector (all areas)
Example| Day | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hours | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Earnings | |
| Regular40 h × 46.50 | 1,860.00 |
| Vacation (taxable, to the Vacation/PTO Plan)40 h × 5.00 | 200.00 |
| Gross pay | 2,060.00 |
| Deductions | |
| Vacation sent to the Vacation/PTO Planper hour | −200.00 |
| Social Security6.2% | −127.72 |
| Medicare1.45% | −29.87 |
| CA SDI | −26.78 |
| Federal income taxestimate (W-4) | −283.39 |
| California income taxestimate | −124.14 |
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 state shows no predetermined fence increase for January 1 2027, so the app keeps the 2026 rate: type your new rate under Enter my own rate when it changes.
- 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.
- Nevada work adds Admission Day, which the app doesn't mark by itself: if you work it, tick Holiday on that day.
- 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, treats the fence erector's vacation like the journeyman's under the agreement, and uses it 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 fence fence erector make in 2026?
$46.50 an hour under the California Field Ironworkers Master Labor Agreement 2025–2027, fence erectors (every area), with the 2026 rates, from January 1, 2026.
When is the next MLA fence raise?
No later step is published in the data for the Fence erector (all areas) agreement. Rates usually change once a year; check the schedule before you count on a raise.
What do MLA fence apprentices make?
Apprentice, 8th period $44.18 (95%), Apprentice, 7th period $41.85 (90%), Apprentice, 6th period $37.20 (80%), Apprentice, 5th period $34.88 (75%), Apprentice, 4th period $30.23 (65%), Apprentice, 3rd period $27.90 (60%), Apprentice, 2nd period $25.58 (55%) and Apprentice, 1st period $23.25 (50%) an hour from January 1, 2026.
Does MLA fence 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 fence 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.