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Cement Mason prevailing wage, Northern California (46 counties)
DIR sets the same cement mason rates, row for row, in 46 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, 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 and Yuba. Every figure on this page applies in each of them.
$83.56an hour, base wage + fringe benefits
$51.35 base wage + $32.21 fringe benefits
On California public works in each of these 46 counties, a cement mason must be paid at least $83.56 an hour in total: $51.35 in wages plus $32.21 in employer payments to health, pension, training and other funds. Daily overtime is $109.24 and Sunday and holiday work is $134.91.
DIR general determination NC-23-203-1-2026-1, issued August 22, 2026. Expires June 30, 2027. Checked against dir.ca.gov on October 24, 2026.
DIR lists 2 cement mason rates for each of these counties, from $83.56 to $84.56 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $51.35 + $32.21
The basic hourly rate is the taxable wage. The other lines, the fringe benefits DIR calls employer payments, are what DIR expects the employer to pay into health, pension and other plans for each hour worked. An employer can pay part of that as extra wages instead, as long as the total per hour stays at $83.56 or more.
| Basic hourly rate (taxable wage) | $51.35 |
| Health and welfare | $10.40 |
| Pension | $12.86 |
| Vacation and holiday (footnote a) | $7.71 |
| Training | $1.12 |
| Other payments | $0.12 |
| Total straight-time hourly rate | $83.56 |
Straight time covers an 8-hour day.
When does this rate change?
- A project pays the rates in effect on its bid advertisement date for the life of the job, plus any increase DIR set in advance (DIR FAQ).
- DIR issues new determinations on February 22 and August 22, and they take effect 10 days later. This rate is from determination NC-23-203-1-2026-1, issued August 22, 2026; DIR's expiration date for it is June 30, 2027.
Every cement mason rate in Northern California
As DIR lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Daily OT | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement Mason | $51.35 | $32.21 | $83.56 | $109.24 | NC-23-203-1-2026-1 |
| Mastic Magnesite Gypsum, Epoxy, Polyester, Resin, and all composition masons, swing or slip form scaffolds | $52.35 | $32.21 | $84.56 | $110.74 | NC-23-203-1-2026-1 |
Davis-Bacon cement mason rates in these counties
The counties share DIR's rates, but not always the same federal wage determination. When a California awarding body runs a federally funded or assisted project, DIR's rates must be paid where they are higher than the Davis-Bacon rates (DIR public works FAQ).
| County | Federal classification | Base + fringe | WD | vs DIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Alpine County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Amador County | CEMENT MASONS: CEMENT MASON | $23.09 | CA20260023 Mod 1 | DIR +$60.47 |
| Butte County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Calaveras County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Colusa County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Contra Costa County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Del Norte County | CEMENT MASONS: CEMENT MASON | $24.09 | CA20260005 Mod 2 | DIR +$59.47 |
| El Dorado County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Fresno County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Glenn County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Humboldt County | CEMENT MASONS: CEMENT MASON | $24.09 | CA20260005 Mod 2 | DIR +$59.47 |
| Kings County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Lake County | CEMENT MASONS: CEMENT MASON | $24.09 | CA20260005 Mod 2 | DIR +$59.47 |
| Lassen County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Madera County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Marin County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Mariposa County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Mendocino County | CEMENT MASONS: CEMENT MASON | $24.09 | CA20260005 Mod 2 | DIR +$59.47 |
| Merced County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Modoc County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Monterey County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Napa County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Nevada County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Placer County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Plumas County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Sacramento County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| San Benito County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| San Francisco County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| San Joaquin County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| San Mateo County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Santa Clara County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Santa Cruz County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Shasta County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Sierra County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Siskiyou County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Solano County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Sonoma County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Stanislaus County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Sutter County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Tehama County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Trinity County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Tulare County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260016 Mod 4 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Tuolumne County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260018 Mod 8 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Yolo County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
| Yuba County | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $55.42 | CA20260007 Mod 5 | DIR +$28.14 |
How Northern California compares
The main cement mason rate in every county that has one, and how the pay splits here and in the nearest counties. All bars use the same scale.
Every county in California
Base wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Northern Californiabase $51.35$83.56
- Santa Cruz Countybase $51.35$83.56
- Alameda Countybase $51.35$83.56
- San Luis Obispo Countybase $50.00$80.69
Which county is in which cement mason group
Every California county with a cement mason rate. Counties DIR treats alike share one page; the rest have their own. You pay the rate for the county where the work is done, even if your shop is somewhere else.
| Counties | Main classification | Base wage | Total rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern California, 46 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, 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 | Cement Mason | $51.35 | $83.56 |
| San Diego County | Cement Mason Building Construction: TYPE I & II | $49.18 | $83.53 |
| Southern California, 11 counties: Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura | Cement Mason, Curb and Gutter Machine Operator; Clary and Similar Type of Screed Operator (Cement only); Grinding Machine Operator (all types); Jackson Vibratory, Texas Screed and Similar Type Screed Operator; Scoring Machine Operator | $50.00 | $80.69 |
2 groups of counties with identical DIR rates, and 1 county with rates of its own.
California cement mason prevailing wage by county, with a map
Footnotes on this rate
DIR's footnotes, in DIR's words. Several change the rate itself: zone pay, a percentage added to the total, or which overtime hours get which rate.
- a Includes an amount for supplemental dues.
- b Where multiple shifts are worked, the day shift shall work eight (8) hours and for such work they shall be paid the regular straight time rate for eight (8) hours; the second (2nd) shift shall work seven and one-half (7 1/2) hours, and for such work they shall be paid the regular straight time rate for eight (8) hours; if a third (3rd) shift is worked, they shall work seven (7) hours and for such work they shall be paid eight (8) hours regular straight time pay. No multiple shift shall be started for less than five (5) consecutive days.
- c Rate applies to the first 4 daily overtime hours and the first 8 hours worked on Saturday. All other time is paid at the double time (2X) rate.
- d Saturdays may be worked at straight time if job is shut down during normal work week due to inclement weather or major mechanical breakdown (limited to curb and gutter machine, concrete pump, and concrete plant).
DIR's other marks: # means an apprenticeable craft, * means in effect until superseded, ** means the next rate is already set.
More from DIR on this rate
- Holidays (DIR PDF)
- Scope of work: which tasks this rate covers
- Travel and subsistence
- Apprentice rates: DIR publishes these separately, by program. Look them up on DIR.
Every trade's rates, county by county: Alameda · Alpine · Amador · Butte · Calaveras · Colusa · Contra Costa · Del Norte · El Dorado · Fresno · Glenn · Humboldt · Kings · Lake · Lassen · Madera · Marin · Mariposa · Mendocino · Merced · Modoc · 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
Are you being paid this rate?
Add your hourly wage to what your employer pays into health, pension and other plans for you, and compare it with $83.56. Plan payments only count if the money goes into the plan; your pay stub won't show them, but plan statements will. The training amount goes to the California Apprenticeship Council or an apprenticeship program, not to you. Check a week of pay.
Contractors on most public works jobs file certified payroll with the state, and anyone can look it up in DIR's CPR public search. If your total comes up short, you can file a public works complaint with the California Labor Commissioner.
Source
California Department of Industrial Relations, general prevailing wage determination NC-23-203-1-2026-1, page 1: www.dir.ca.gov/oprl/2026-2/PWD/Determinations/Northern/NC-023-203-1.pdf
Each figure is copied from DIR's file and checked by a second, separate reader. How we check · How to read a determination · Download every California rate as CSV · Report an error