Sheet Metal Worker prevailing wage in Kern County, California

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 166-108-998, issued August 22, 2026; DIR's expiration date for it is June 30, 2027.

Scheduled increases

DIR has already set these increases. Work on or after each date is paid the higher rate. DIR often leaves part of an increase "to be allocated to wages and/or employer payments" and confirms the split when it comes due, and it can reduce a scheduled increase in a later notice, so check DIR's increase page before you pay it.

The double asterisk after DIR's expiration date means the next rate is already set. If the work runs past that date you have to pay the new rate, and DIR says to build it into contracts signed now (DIR FAQ, Q8).

Rate history since 2024

Total hourly rate for this classification in each DIR release. The chart above draws the same figures with the increases that follow.

Davis-Bacon sheet metal worker rate in Kern County

Federally funded or assisted construction here uses the U.S. Department of Labor's wage determinations. 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).

For highway and heavy work, the matching Davis-Bacon classification is SHEET METAL WORKER (KERN (EXCLUDING PORTION EAST OF HWY 395) & LOS ANGELES (NORTH OF A STRAIGHT LINE DRAWN BETWEEN GORMAN AND BIG PINES INCLUDING CITIES OF LANCASTER AND PALMDALE) COUNTIES) at $75.22 ($45.98 base + $29.24 fringe), from CA20260020 modification 5, published July 30, 2026, rate SHEE0105-004. Against DIR's $84.59: DIR's rate is $9.37 an hour higher. On a job covered by both, the higher rate applies. Note: federal rate covers only part of the county (see federal classification text).

Davis-Bacon rates from SAM.gov, read October 25, 2026. Our federal totals are base plus fringe; DOL prints no total. California Davis-Bacon changes

How Kern County compares

The main sheet metal worker rate in every county that has one, and how the pay splits here and in the nearest counties. All bars use the same scale.

Sheet Metal Worker rates in nearby counties

Current DIR rates. You pay the rate for the county where the work is done, even if your shop is somewhere else.

California sheet metal worker 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.

• H Includes amount withheld for dues check off.
• BB Includes amounts for local pension, national pension plan, 401(a) plan, retiree's supplemental health plan. Pursuant to Labor Code sections 1773.1 and 1773.8, the amount paid for this employer payment may vary resulting in a lower taxable basic hourly wage rate, but the total hourly rates for straight time and overtime may not be less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages.
• C Saturdays in the same work week may be worked at straight-time if job is shut down during the normal workweek due to inclement weather, or reasons beyond the control of the employer.
• BC Rate applies to first 4 daily overtime hours and the first 12 hours on Saturday and Sunday. All other overtime hours is at double time rate.
• Z Rate applies to work on holidays only; sundays are paid at the Saturday overtime hourly rate.

DIR's other marks: # means an apprenticeable craft, * means in effect until superseded, ** means the next rate is already set.