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California · Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker)
California insulator prevailing wage, county by county
An insulator's prevailing wage on California public works runs from $91.30 an hour in Ventura County to $125.97 in Alameda County, wages and employer payments together. The median county is $125.97.
Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker) rate in each California county, A to Z
| County | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Issued | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alameda CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Alpine CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Amador CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Butte CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Calaveras CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Colusa CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Contra Costa CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Del Norte CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
El Dorado CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Fresno CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Glenn CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Humboldt CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Imperial CountyMechanic · Southern California | $63.76 | $27.54 | $91.30 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-3-5-1-2026-1 |
Inyo CountyMechanic · Southern California | $63.76 | $27.54 | $91.30 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-3-5-1-2026-1 |
Kern CountyMechanic · Southern California | $63.76 | $27.54 | $91.30 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-3-5-1-2026-1 |
Kings CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Lake CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Lassen CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Los Angeles CountyMechanic · Southern California | $63.76 | $27.54 | $91.30 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-3-5-1-2026-1 |
Madera CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Marin CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Mariposa CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Mendocino CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Merced CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Modoc CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Mono CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Monterey CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Napa CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Nevada CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Orange CountyMechanic · Southern California | $63.76 | $27.54 | $91.30 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-3-5-1-2026-1 |
Placer CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Plumas CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Riverside CountyMechanic · Southern California | $63.76 | $27.54 | $91.30 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-3-5-1-2026-1 |
Sacramento CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
San Benito CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
San Bernardino CountyMechanic · Southern California | $63.76 | $27.54 | $91.30 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-3-5-1-2026-1 |
San Diego CountyMechanic · Southern California | $63.76 | $27.54 | $91.30 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-3-5-1-2026-1 |
San Francisco CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
San Joaquin CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
San Luis Obispo CountyMechanic · Southern California | $63.76 | $27.54 | $91.30 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-3-5-1-2026-1 |
San Mateo CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Santa Barbara CountyMechanic · Southern California | $63.76 | $27.54 | $91.30 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-3-5-1-2026-1 |
Santa Clara CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Santa Cruz CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Shasta CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Sierra CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Siskiyou CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Solano CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Sonoma CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Stanislaus CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Sutter CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Tehama CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Trinity CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Tulare CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Tuolumne CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Ventura CountyMechanic · Southern California | $63.76 | $27.54 | $91.30 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-3-5-1-2026-1 |
Yolo CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Yuba CountyMechanic (Zone 1) · Northern California | $98.16 | $27.81 | $125.97 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-3-16-1-2026-2 |
Main insulator classification in each county, DIR period 2026-2. DIR sets this trade by region, so neighboring counties often share a rate. You pay the rate for the county where the work is done. Checked October 24, 2026.
How much does an insulator make on prevailing wage in California?
$91.30 to $125.97 an hour, base wage plus fringe benefits, depending on the county; the median county pays $125.97. 2 groups of counties with identical rates and 0 counties with rates of their own, highest main rate first, each split into base wage and employer payments on one scale.
- Northern California47 counties · Mechanic (Zone 1)$125.97
- Southern California11 counties · Mechanic$91.30
Which counties share a rate
| Counties | Main classification | Base wage | Total rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern California, 47 counties: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, Yuba | Mechanic (Zone 1) | $98.16 | $125.97 |
| Southern California, 11 counties: Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura | Mechanic | $63.76 | $91.30 |
2 groups of counties with identical DIR rates, and 0 counties with rates of their own.
These are journeyperson rates. Apprentices are paid from separate DAS determinations that DIR publishes by craft, county and program.
Determinations: NC-3-16-1-2026-2, NC-3-16-3-2026-2, SC-3-5-1-2026-1, SC-3-5-3-2026-1
Questions about California insulator pay
What is the insulator prevailing wage in Los Angeles County?
$91.30 an hour: a $63.76 base wage plus $27.54 in employer payments (fringe benefits), under DIR determination SC-3-5-1-2026-1. Overtime and every insulator classification in Los Angeles County.
Does insulator prevailing wage include fringe benefits?
Yes. In Los Angeles County the $91.30 total is a $63.76 base wage plus $27.54 in employer payments (fringe benefits), about 30% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.
Do apprentice insulators get this rate?
Registered apprentices are paid DIR's apprentice rates, which DIR publishes separately by craft, county and apprenticeship program on its apprentice wage page. The rates on this site are journeyperson rates.
Why do some counties have the same insulator rate?
DIR sets many trades by area or region rather than one county at a time. Across California, the 58 counties with an insulator rate fall into 2 distinct sets of rates, and 2 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 47 counties (Northern California).
Which county pays insulators the most in California?
Alameda County, at $125.97 an hour for the main classification. The lowest is Ventura County at $91.30, and the median county is $125.97.