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Prevailing wage rates in Kern County, California
DIR's 2026-2 determinations set 225 rates across 48 trades for public works in Kern County. Of each trade's main rate, elevator constructor is the highest at $133.615 an hour in total, and landscape maintenance laborer the lowest at $17.63.
General determinations for DIR's 2026-2 release, issued August 22, 2026. A project pays the rates in effect on its bid advertisement date, and new determinations take effect 10 days after DIR issues them (DIR FAQ). Checked against dir.ca.gov on October 24, 2026.
Kern County rates by trade, highest first
Each trade's main rate, highest first, split into the taxable wage and the employer payments DIR itemizes. All bars share one scale. The table below lists the same rates A to Z with classifications.
- Elevator Constructor$133.615
- Dredger$115.70
- Field Surveyor$110.38
- Pile Driver$105.10
- Inspector & Tester$104.53
- Operating Engineer$103.75
- Boilermaker$101.43
- Utility Lineman$101.19
- Plumber / Pipefitter$94.22
- Heat & Frost Insulator$91.30
- Ironworker$90.97
- Tunnel Worker$86.16
- Drywall Installer / Lather$84.65
- Sheet Metal Worker$84.59
- Carpenter$84.32
- Glazier$83.79
- Electrician$82.01
- Gunite Worker$81.99
- Teamster (Truck Driver)$81.77
- Plasterer$81.20
- Plaster Tender$80.95
- Cement Mason$80.69
- Drywall Finisher$79.69
- Striping & Traffic Control$79.52
- Tile Setter$79.13
- Laborer$78.65
- Housemover$78.60
- Abatement Laborer$78.54
- Bricklayer$78.36
- Landscape Laborer$76.67
- Fence Builder$76.19
- Directional Drilling$75.06
- Brick Tender$71.95
- Painter$71.47
- Terrazzo Worker$68.51
- Telecom Technician$67.71
- Soft Floor Layer$67.51
- Fire Safety Sealer$67.51
- Line Clearance Trimmer$67.13
- Roofer$66.62
- Marble Finisher$65.55
- Terrazzo Finisher$60.53
- Tile Finisher$58.49
- Furniture Installer$41.78
- Tree Maintenance$38.57
- Hauling Driver$24.23
- Stator Rewinder$22.145
- Landscape Maintenance$17.63
All trades and classifications, A to Z
One main rate per trade, with its classification and base wage. Open a trade for its other classifications, overtime, footnotes and increases. Click a column heading to sort.
| Trade | Main classification | Total | Base | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asbestos & Lead Abatement Laborer · Southern California | Asbestos and Lead Abatement Worker | $78.54 | $49.20 | 1 |
| Boilermaker · Area 1 | Boilermaker-Blacksmith (Area 1) | $101.43 | $57.98 | 4 |
| Brick Tender · Los Angeles County group | Brick Tender | $71.95 | $46.23 | 2 |
| Bricklayer · Los Angeles County group | Bricklayer, Cement Blocklayer, Pointer, Caulker, Cleaner | $78.36 | $55.10 | 3 |
| Carpenter · Southern California | Carpenter , Cabinet Installer, Insulation Installer, Hardwood Floor Worker, Acoustical Installer | $84.32 | $54.41 | 17 |
| Carpet & Soft Floor Layer · Los Angeles County group | Resilient Tile Layer | $67.51 | $46.85 | 2 |
| Cement Mason · Southern California | 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 | $80.69 | $50.00 | 3 |
| Construction Inspector & Materials Tester · Southern California | Group 1 | $104.53 | $65.18 | 3 |
| Directional Drilling Laborer · Southern California | Group 1 (Drilling Crew Laborer) | $75.06 | $50.66 | 4 |
| Dredger · Southern California | Leverman | $115.70 | $68.90 | 9 |
| Drywall Finisher · Kern County group | Drywall Finisher | $79.69 | $48.20 | 1 |
| Drywall Installer / Lather · Southern California | Drywall Installer/Lather | $84.65 | $54.41 | 2 |
| Electrical Utility Lineman · Los Angeles County group | Lineman, Cable Splicer | $101.19 | $74.43 | 23 |
| Electrician | Inside Wireman, Technician | $82.01 | $58.65 | 4 |
| Elevator Constructor | Mechanic | $133.615 | $87.48 | 8 |
| Fence Builder · Southern California | Fence Builder | $76.19 | $48.25 | 1 |
| Field Surveyor · Los Angeles County group | Chief of Party (018.167-010) | $110.38 | $68.91 | 3 |
| Fire Safety Sealer · Southern California | Asbestos Worker, Fire Safety Technician - Class IV (6001 or more hrs) | $67.51 | $46.60 | 8 |
| Glazier · Fresno County group | Glazier | $83.79 | $52.10 | 1 |
| Gunite Worker · Southern California | Ground Wire Man, Nozzleman, Rodman | $81.99 | $55.88 | 5 |
| Hauling Driver (On/Off Site) | Driver: Dump Truck | $24.23 | $16.90 | 2 |
| Housemover · Southern California | Housemover | $78.60 | $49.25 | 1 |
| Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker) · Southern California | Mechanic | $91.30 | $63.76 | 2 |
| Ironworker · Area 5 | Iron Worker (Ornamental, Reinforcing, Structural) (Area 5) | $90.97 | $51.85 | 2 |
| Laborer · Southern California | Group 1 | $78.65 | $49.20 | 5 |
| Landscape & Irrigation Laborer · Southern California | Landscape/Irrigation Laborer | $76.67 | $47.57 | 3 |
| Landscape Maintenance Laborer | Landscape Maintenance Laborer (complex work) | $17.63 | $16.90 | 2 |
| Line Clearance Tree Trimmer · Los Angeles County group | Tree Trimmer | $67.13 | $45.37 | 6 |
| Marble Finisher · Los Angeles County group | Marble Finisher | $65.55 | $46.97 | 1 |
| Modular Furniture Installer · Southern California | Modular Installer: Installer | $41.78 | $27.00 | 2 |
| Operating Engineer · Southern California | Group 1 | $103.75 | $64.40 | 36 |
| Painter · Kern County group | Industrial Painter | $71.47 | $50.07 | 5 |
| Pile Driver · Southern California | Group 1 | $105.10 | $65.75 | 13 |
| Plaster Tender · Los Angeles County group | Plaster Tender | $80.95 | $51.32 | 2 |
| Plasterer · Los Angeles County group | Plasterer | $81.20 | $47.77 | 1 |
| Plumber / Pipefitter | Plumber, Industrial and General Pipefitter | $94.22 | $64.83 | 6 |
| Roofer · Fresno County group | Roofer | $66.62 | $44.91 | 1 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | Sheet Metal Worker | $84.59 | $54.13 | 1 |
| Stator Rewinder · Los Angeles County group | Stator Rewinder | $22.145 | $16.90 | 2 |
| Striping & Traffic Control Worker · Southern California | Group 1 | $79.52 | $52.20 | 4 |
| Teamster (Truck Driver) · Southern California | Group I | $81.77 | $44.59 | 11 |
| Telecommunications Technician · Sacramento County group | Telecommunications Technician | $67.71 | $51.97 | 1 |
| Terrazzo Finisher · Los Angeles County group | Terrazzo Finisher | $60.53 | $45.13 | 1 |
| Terrazzo Worker · Los Angeles County group | Terrazzo Worker | $68.51 | $52.67 | 1 |
| Tile Finisher · Los Angeles County group | Tile Finisher | $58.49 | $41.55 | 1 |
| Tile Setter · Los Angeles County group | Tile Layer | $79.13 | $56.52 | 1 |
| Tree Maintenance Laborer · Southern California | Senior Tree Trimmer | $38.57 | $28.79 | 3 |
| Tunnel Worker · Southern California | Group I | $86.16 | $56.45 | 5 |
Davis-Bacon wage determinations for Kern County
Federally funded or assisted construction here uses the U.S. Department of Labor's rates. 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). Each trade's page shows its federal rate next to DIR's.
| Construction | Wage determination | Modification | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building | CA20260020 | 5 | July 30, 2026 |
| Residential | CA20260009 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Highway | CA20260020 | 5 | July 30, 2026 |
| Heavy | CA20260020 | 5 | July 30, 2026 |
Questions about Kern County rates
How much does an electrician make on prevailing wage in Kern County?
$82.01 an hour: a $58.65 base wage plus $23.36 in employer payments (fringe benefits), for the main classification (Inside Wireman, Technician), under DIR determination 061-428-1. Overtime and every electrician rate in Kern County.
What is the prevailing wage for a laborer in Kern County?
$78.65 an hour: a $49.20 base wage plus $29.45 in employer payments (fringe benefits), for the main classification (Group 1), under DIR determination SC-23-102-2-2026-1. Overtime and every laborer rate in Kern County.
Does the prevailing wage include fringe benefits?
Yes. The rate is a base wage plus employer payments (fringe benefits), and the employer owes both for every hour. For elevator constructor, the highest-paid trade in Kern County, the $133.615 total is a $87.48 base wage plus $46.135 in employer payments (fringe benefits).
Do Davis-Bacon rates apply in Kern County?
On federally funded or assisted construction, yes: CA20260020 (modification 5, July 30, 2026) for building, highway and heavy construction and CA20260009 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for residential construction. 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).
Does Kern County share its rates with other counties?
For 42 of its 48 trades, yes: DIR sets the same rates, row for row, in other counties too. Carpenter rates, for example, are the same in 11 counties (Southern California). The other 6 are Kern County's own.