California prevailing wage rates, by county
Federal Davis-Bacon base + fringe for every California county, next to the market wage, with the determination numbers to cite.
Look up a California county
Key trades by county (Building)
Highest electrician packages
- 1Alameda, Calaveras and 15 more$111.42
- 2Los Angeles$92.39
- 3Ventura$90.12
Lowest
Building type, base + fringe per hour; counties sharing a rate are grouped. Swatch: union contract rate or survey rate. Select a county to see every classification.
| County | Electrician | Plumber | Carpenter | Construction laborer | Heavy equipment operator | Ironworker | Sheet metal worker | Painter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| Alpine | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Amador | $20.17* | $28.38* | $25.04* | $19.12* | $25.36* | $27.85* | $25.63* | $19.24* |
| Butte | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Calaveras | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| Colusa | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Contra Costa | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| Del Norte | $23.46* | $42.37* | $26.00* | $22.57* | $33.87* | $28.08* | $34.34* | $25.46* |
| El Dorado | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Fresno | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| Glenn | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Humboldt | $23.46* | $42.37* | $26.00* | $22.57* | $33.87* | $28.08* | $34.34* | $25.46* |
| Imperial | $63.96 | $72.42 | $78.42 | $75.43 | $98.45 | $85.85 | $82.37 | $57.16 |
| Inyo | $82.22 | $72.42 | $68.41 | $75.43 | $98.45 | $85.85 | $89.74 | $60.46 |
| Kern | $82.22 | $72.42 | $68.41 | $75.43 | $98.45 | $85.85 | $89.74 | $60.46 |
| Kings | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| Lake | $23.46* | $42.37* | $26.00* | $22.57* | $33.87* | $28.08* | $34.34* | $25.46* |
| Lassen | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Los Angeles | $92.39 | $72.42 | $78.42 | $75.43 | $98.45 | $85.85 | $46.20 | $57.16 |
| Madera | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| Marin | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Mariposa | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| Mendocino | $23.46* | $42.37* | $26.00* | $22.57* | $33.87* | $28.08* | $34.34* | $25.46* |
| Merced | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| Modoc | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Mono | $82.22 | $72.42 | $68.41 | $75.43 | $98.45 | $85.85 | $89.74 | $60.46 |
| Monterey | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| Napa | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Nevada | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Orange | $88.10 | $72.42 | $78.42 | $75.43 | $98.45 | $85.85 | $89.74 | $57.16 |
| Placer | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Plumas | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Riverside | $90.09 | $72.42 | $78.42 | $75.43 | $98.45 | $85.85 | $89.74 | $57.16 |
| Sacramento | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| San Benito | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| San Bernardino | $82.22 | $72.42 | $78.42 | $75.43 | $98.45 | $85.85 | $89.74 | $57.16 |
| San Diego | $85.39 | $72.42 | $75.12 | $74.37 | $98.45 | $85.85 | $84.37 | $57.16 |
| San Francisco | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| San Joaquin | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| San Luis Obispo | $79.92 | $72.42 | $78.42 | $75.43 | $98.45 | $85.85 | $91.19 | $60.46 |
| San Mateo | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| Santa Barbara | $79.77 | $72.42 | $78.42 | $75.43 | $98.45 | $85.85 | $91.19 | $55.02 |
| Santa Clara | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| Santa Cruz | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| Shasta | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Sierra | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Siskiyou | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Solano | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Sonoma | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Stanislaus | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| Sutter | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Tehama | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Trinity | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Tulare | $80.15 | $97.04 | $17.60* | $10.69* | $10.27* | $85.85 | $96.88 | $9.87* |
| Tuolumne | $111.42 | $97.04 | $93.91 | $67.91 | $74.87 | $85.85 | $89.34 | $85.04 |
| Ventura | $90.12 | $72.42 | $78.42 | $75.43 | $98.45 | $85.85 | $91.19 | $60.46 |
| Yolo | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
| Yuba | $68.88 | $97.19 | $86.68 | $66.44 | $84.41 | $78.20 | $95.59 | $66.25 |
Building construction type, base + fringe per hour, current revision. * = survey rate. Not the official determination; use the lookup for the determination number and a link to the official text.
Rates that have not kept up
Survey-based rates that are eight or more years old and how they compare with today's market median for the county's metro (or state).
| County | Trade | Survey year | Required package $/hr | Market median $/hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amador | Electrician | 1985 | $20.17 | $36.62 |
| Del Norte | Electrician | 1986 | $23.46 | $36.62 |
| Humboldt | Electrician | 1986 | $23.46 | $36.62 |
| Amador | Plumber | 1985 | $28.38 | $35.01 |
| Del Norte | Plumber | 1986 | $42.37 | $35.01 |
| Humboldt | Plumber | 1986 | $42.37 | $35.01 |
| Amador | Carpenter | 1985 | $25.04 | $36.50 |
| Del Norte | Carpenter | 1986 | $26.00 | $36.50 |
| Humboldt | Carpenter | 1986 | $26.00 | $36.50 |
| Amador | Construction laborer | 1985 | $19.12 | $28.98 |
| Del Norte | Construction laborer | 1986 | $22.57 | $28.98 |
| Humboldt | Construction laborer | 1986 | $22.57 | $28.98 |
| Amador | Heavy equipment operator | 1985 | $25.36 | $41.90 |
| Del Norte | Heavy equipment operator | 1986 | $33.87 | $41.90 |
| Humboldt | Heavy equipment operator | 1986 | $33.87 | $41.90 |
| Amador | Ironworker | 1985 | $27.85 | $36.72 |
| Del Norte | Ironworker | 1986 | $28.08 | $36.72 |
| Humboldt | Ironworker | 1986 | $28.08 | $36.72 |
| Amador | Sheet metal worker | 1985 | $25.63 | $36.82 |
| Del Norte | Sheet metal worker | 1986 | $34.34 | $36.82 |
| Humboldt | Sheet metal worker | 1986 | $34.34 | $36.82 |
| Amador | Painter | 1985 | $19.24 | $28.38 |
| Del Norte | Painter | 1986 | $25.46 | $28.38 |
| Humboldt | Painter | 1986 | $25.46 | $28.38 |
Questions this page answers
What is the prevailing wage in California?
For federally funded construction, the Davis-Bacon determinations for California (28 active documents covering Building, Residential, Heavy and Highway work) set the required base wage and fringe by county and classification. Union-contract rates apply to electricians in 53 of 58 counties with a Building rate; the typical union package is $80.15 an hour.
How many Davis-Bacon determinations cover California?
28 active general wage determinations cover California: 15 Building, 14 Heavy, 14 Highway, 12 Residential. Together they list rates for 58 counties in the Building type shown here. State-funded projects may fall under a separate California prevailing wage law; this page covers the federal rates.
How often do the rates change?
The Department of Labor publishes modifications most Thursdays. The latest change to a California determination in our data is dated 2026-09-17. New determination numbers are issued each January.
Sources and notes
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations for California, current revisions as of 2026-09-28: Building 15, Heavy 14, Highway 14, Residential 12.
- BLS OEWS May 2025 for market medians.
- Classification labels normalised to trades by Skilled Wages; where a determination lists several electrician or laborer classes, the journeyman / general class is shown. The official text governs.