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California laborer prevailing wage, county by county
A laborer's prevailing wage on California public works runs from $71.96 an hour in Yuba County to $78.65 in Imperial County, wages and employer payments together. The median county is $71.96.
Laborer rate in each California county, A to Z
| County | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Issued | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alameda CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 1) · Area 1 | $40.65 | $32.31 | $72.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Alpine CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Amador CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Butte CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Calaveras CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Colusa CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Contra Costa CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 1) · Area 1 | $40.65 | $32.31 | $72.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Del Norte CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
El Dorado CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Fresno CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Glenn CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Humboldt CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Imperial CountyGroup 1 · Southern California | $49.20 | $29.45 | $78.65 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-23-102-2-2026-1 |
Inyo CountyGroup 1 · Southern California | $49.20 | $29.45 | $78.65 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-23-102-2-2026-1 |
Kern CountyGroup 1 · Southern California | $49.20 | $29.45 | $78.65 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-23-102-2-2026-1 |
Kings CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Lake CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Lassen CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Los Angeles CountyGroup 1 · Southern California | $49.20 | $29.45 | $78.65 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-23-102-2-2026-1 |
Madera CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Marin CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 1) · Area 1 | $40.65 | $32.31 | $72.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Mariposa CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Mendocino CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Merced CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Modoc CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Mono CountyGroup 1 · Southern California | $49.20 | $29.45 | $78.65 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-23-102-2-2026-1 |
Monterey CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Napa CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Nevada CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Orange CountyGroup 1 · Southern California | $49.20 | $29.45 | $78.65 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-23-102-2-2026-1 |
Placer CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Plumas CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Riverside CountyGroup 1 · Southern California | $49.20 | $29.45 | $78.65 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-23-102-2-2026-1 |
Sacramento CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
San Benito CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
San Bernardino CountyGroup 1 · Southern California | $49.20 | $29.45 | $78.65 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-23-102-2-2026-1 |
San Diego CountyGroup 1 | $49.20 | $27.67 | $76.87 | Sep 29, 2026 | SD-23-102-4-2026-1 |
San Francisco CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 1) · Area 1 | $40.65 | $32.31 | $72.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
San Joaquin CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
San Luis Obispo CountyGroup 1 · Southern California | $49.20 | $29.45 | $78.65 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-23-102-2-2026-1 |
San Mateo CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 1) · Area 1 | $40.65 | $32.31 | $72.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Santa Barbara CountyGroup 1 · Southern California | $49.20 | $29.45 | $78.65 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-23-102-2-2026-1 |
Santa Clara CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 1) · Area 1 | $40.65 | $32.31 | $72.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Santa Cruz CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Shasta CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Sierra CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Siskiyou CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Solano CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Sonoma CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Stanislaus CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Sutter CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Tehama CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Trinity CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Tulare CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Tuolumne CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Ventura CountyGroup 1 · Southern California | $49.20 | $29.45 | $78.65 | Aug 22, 2026 | SC-23-102-2-2026-1 |
Yolo CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Yuba CountyGroup 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) · Area 2 | $39.65 | $32.31 | $71.96 | Aug 22, 2026 | NC-23-102-1-2026-2 |
Main laborer 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 a laborer make on prevailing wage in California?
$71.96 to $78.65 an hour, base wage plus fringe benefits, depending on the county; the median county pays $71.96. DIR sets this trade by area. 3 groups of counties with identical rates and 1 county with rates of their own, highest main rate first, each split into base wage and employer payments on one scale.
- Southern California11 counties · Group 1$78.65
- San Diego County1 county · Group 1$76.87
- Area 16 counties · Group 1; Group 1(B)$72.96
- Area 240 counties · Group 1; Group 1(B)$71.96
Which counties share a rate
| Counties | Main classification | Base wage | Total rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern California, 11 counties: Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura | Group 1 | $49.20 | $78.65 |
| San Diego County | Group 1 | $49.20 | $76.87 |
| Area 1, 6 counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara | Group 1; Group 1(B) (Area 1) | $40.65 | $72.96 |
| Area 2, 40 counties: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, Yuba | Group 1; Group 1(B) (Area 2) | $39.65 | $71.96 |
3 groups of counties with identical DIR rates, and 1 county with rates of its own.
These are journeyperson rates. Apprentices are paid from separate DAS determinations that DIR publishes by craft, county and program.
Determinations: NC-23-102-1-2026-2, NC-23-102-1-2026-2A, SC-23-102-2-2026-1, SD-23-102-3-2026-1, SD-23-102-4-2026-1
Questions about California laborer pay
What is the laborer prevailing wage in Los Angeles County?
$78.65 an hour: a $49.20 base wage plus $29.45 in employer payments (fringe benefits), under DIR determination SC-23-102-2-2026-1. Overtime and every laborer classification in Los Angeles County.
Does laborer prevailing wage include fringe benefits?
Yes. In Los Angeles County the $78.65 total is a $49.20 base wage plus $29.45 in employer payments (fringe benefits), about 37% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.
Do apprentice laborers 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 laborer rate?
DIR sets many trades by area or region rather than one county at a time. Across California, the 58 counties with a laborer rate fall into 4 distinct sets of rates, and 3 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 40 counties (California Area 2).
Which county pays laborers the most in California?
Imperial County, at $78.65 an hour for the main classification. The lowest is Yuba County at $71.96, and the median county is $71.96.