Laborer

Laborer

Salary

$50,065.60 - $59,612.80 Annually

Location

City of San Diego, CA

Job Type

Varies by Position

Job Number

JR-T12011-202610

Business Area

N/A - Multiple Departments

Opening Date

10/09/2026

Closing Date

10/26/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

JOB INFORMATION

See NOTES below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

Laborer positions perform manual construction and maintenance work as a member of a crew by lifting, loading, moving, digging and scraping; operate a jackhammer to break pavement for the repair and maintenance of streets and water utilities services; dig water and sewer pipelines and mains; and perform other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by AFSCME Local 127 are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:

• 3.5% effective 7/1/27

• 2% effective 7/1/28

• 2% effective 1/1/29

• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).

• Laborer employees may be required to lift and carry items weighing up to 100 pounds.

• After gaining the requisite experience, Laborer employees may be eligible for career advancement to higher level classifications.

• For positions in the Public Utilities Department, Water Production Division, Water Distribution Division, and Water Meter Services Division, Laborer employees are required to meet the following requirements to career advance to Water Systems Technician I: 1) Possess a valid California Class A or B Driver License within six months from date of hire and 2) Obtain a valid Grade D2 or higher Water Distribution Operator Certification issued from the State of California within one year from date of hire. A high school diploma, General Education Development (GED) examination or California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) is required to obtain Distribution Operator Certification. Failure to meet the requirements may result in termination.

• For positions in the Public Utilities Department, Wastewater Collection Division, Laborer employees are required to meet the following requirement to career advance to Utility Worker I: Possess a valid California Class A or B Driver License within six months from date of hire. Failure to meet this requirement may result in termination.

• For positions in the Public Utilities Department, Water Meter Services Division, Laborer employees are required to meet the following requirement to career advance to Senior Backflow and Cross Connection Specialist: Possession of a valid American Water Works Association (AWWA) or American Backflow Prevention Association (ABPA) Certification as a Cross Connection Control Specialist within one year from date of hire. Failure to meet this requirement may result in termination.

• Some Laborer positions may require a Confined Space Certificate within six months from date of hire. Employees in this position will be required to maintain the certification as a condition of employment.

• Laborer employees who operate commercial vehicles are required by California State Law, as a condition of employment, to submit to drug and alcohol testing. Prior to hire, a background check will be completed in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and with former employers regarding drug and alcohol testing results.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

AGE: 18 years of age or older; except for high school graduates (or persons with GED equivalency) who are 17.

CITIZENSHIP: You must be a United States citizen or have the current legal right to work in the United States.

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.

NOTES:

• Some positions may require a valid California Class B Driver License at the time of hire.
• Some positions may require a valid California Class A or B Driver License within six months from the date of hire.
• Some positions may require a valid California Class A or B Driver License with a valid Tank Endorsement within six months from the date of hire.
• Candidates will generally be required to show proof of the driver license within about two weeks of receiving a conditional job offer.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE:

• Landscaping/landscape maintenance experience including brush cutting/thinning, weeding, planting, digging, use of chainsaws and other hand-held power equipment, and working on rugged terrain with steep slopes; and experience/knowledge in working with native plant vegetation.
• Construction experience.
• Possession of a valid Water Distribution Operator Certificate issued from the State of California.
• Possession of a valid Qualified Applicator Certificate issued from the State of California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

SCREENING PROCESS

Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.

Rev. 1 - October 9, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)

City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.

Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).

Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.

Flexible Benefits Plan Options for Employees Represented by Local 127 or review the Benefits Summary for Local 127 Employees.

01

I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Resumes are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02

Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03

If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.

04

The minimum age for this job is 18, unless you are 17 and a high school graduate. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05

Are you a United States citizen or do you have the current legal right to work in the United States?

• Yes
• No

06

I understand that some positions may require a valid California Class A or B Driver License with a valid Tank Endorsement within six months from date of hire.

• Yes
• No

07

I understand I will be required to provide proof of my driver license if I receive a conditional job offer (generally within two weeks after the offer).

• Yes
• No

08

I understand that some positions may require Confined Space Certification within six months from date of hire.

• Yes
• No

09

Do you possess a valid Qualified Applicator Certificate issued from the State of California Department of Pesticide Regulation?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of San Diego

Address 1200 3rd Ave., Suite 300, MS 51P

San Diego, California, 92101

Phone (619) 236-6400

(619) 236-6358

Website http://www.sandiego.gov/empopp/