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California · Laborer · 40 counties

Laborer prevailing wage, California Area 2 (40 counties)

DIR sets the same laborer rates, row for row, in 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 and Yuba. Every figure on this page applies in each of them.

$71.96an hour, base wage + fringe benefits · Group 1

$39.65 base wage + $32.31 fringe benefits

On California public works in each of these 40 counties, a Group 1 laborer must be paid at least $71.96 an hour in total: $39.65 in wages plus $32.31 in employer payments to health, pension, training and other funds. Daily overtime is $91.79 and Sunday and holiday work is $111.61. DIR puts 50 job titles in Group 1, biohazard cleanup worker and cut granite curb setter among them.

DIR general determination NC-23-102-1-2026-2, issued August 22, 2026. Expires June 27, 2027. Checked against dir.ca.gov on October 24, 2026.

DIR lists 16 laborer rates for each of these counties, from $59.89 to $72.92 an hour. See all of them.

Base wage and fringe benefits: $39.65 + $32.31

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 $71.96 or more.

Basic hourly rate (taxable wage) (footnote b)$39.65
Health and welfare$12.00
Pension$15.46
Vacation and holiday$4.00
Training$0.52
Other payments$0.33
Total straight-time hourly rate$71.96

Straight time covers an 8-hour day.

When does this rate change?

Scheduled increases

Current rate, DIR Aug 22, 2026Increases DIR has already set

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.

Takes effectIncrease per hourTotal after increase
June 28, 2027+$3.62$75.58
June 26, 2028+$3.61$79.19
June 25, 2029+$3.51$82.70
July 1, 2030+$3.51$86.21

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).

Source: DIR increase PDF

Laborer Group 1 job titles

Work DIR classifies in Group 1, copied as printed. The other groups and their rates are in the table below.

Source: Group 1, page 5, Group 1 (B), page 6

Every laborer rate in California Area 2

As DIR lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.

  1. Group 6$72.92
  2. Construction Specialist$72.66
  3. Group 6 (D)$72.54
  4. Group 1 (E)$72.51
  5. Group 6 (A)$72.42
  6. Group 1 (A)$72.18
  7. Group 1 (C)$72.01
  8. Group 1 and Group 1(B)$71.96
  9. Group 6 (C)$71.83
  10. Group 2$71.81
  11. Group 3 and Group 3 (A)$71.71
  12. Group 6 (E)$71.56
  13. Group 7 - Stage 3 (3rd 6 months)$67.77
  14. Group 4 and Group 6 (B)$65.40
  15. Group 7 - Stage 2 (2nd 6 months)$63.83
  16. Group 7 - Stage 1 (1st 6 months)$59.89
Total hourly rate of each laborer classification in California Area 2, highest first, split into base wage and fringe benefits.
ClassificationBase wageFringe benefitsTotal rateDaily OTDetermination
Construction SpecialistArea 2$40.35 $32.31 $72.66 $92.84 NC-23-102-1-2026-2
Group 1 (A)Area 2
10 jobs in this group
  • All work of loading, placing and blasting of all powder & explosives of whatever type, regardless of method used for loading and placing
  • Joy drill model twm-2a
  • Gardener-denver model dh 143 and similar type drills
  • Track drillers
  • Jack leg drillers
  • Wagon drillers
  • Mechanical drillers-all types regardless of type or method of power
  • Blasters and powderman
  • Tree topper
  • Bit grinder
$39.87 $32.31 $72.18 $92.12 NC-23-102-1-2026-2
Group 1 (C)Area 2
2 jobs in this group
  • Burning and welding in connection with laborer's work
  • Synthetic thermoplastics and similar type welding
$39.70 $32.31 $72.01 $91.86 NC-23-102-1-2026-2
Group 1 (E)Area 2
2 jobs in this group
  • Work on and/or in bell hole footings and shafts thereof, and work on and in deep footings (deep footings is a hole 15 feet or more in depth)
  • Shaft is an excavation over fifteen (15) feet deep of any type
$40.20 $32.31 $72.51 $92.61 NC-23-102-1-2026-2
Group 1 and Group 1(B)Area 2$39.65 $32.31 $71.96 $91.79 NC-23-102-1-2026-2
Group 2Area 2
17 jobs in this group
  • Asphalt shovelers
  • Cement dumpers and handling dry cement or gypsum
  • Choke-setter and rigger (clearing work)
  • Concrete bucket dumper and chuteman
  • Concrete chipping and grinding
  • Concrete laborers (wet or dry)
  • Drillers helper, chuck tender, nipper (one chucktender on single machine operation with minimum of one chucktender for each two machines on multiple machine operation. Jackhammers in no way involved in this item.)
  • Guinea chaser (stakeman), grout crew
  • High pressure nozzleman, adductors
  • Hydraulic monitor (over 100 lbs. Pressure)
  • Loading and unloading, carrying and handling of all rods and materials for use in reinforcing concrete construction
  • Pittsburgh chipper, and similar type brush shredders
  • Semi-skilled wrecker (salvaging of other building materials) - see also skilled wrecker (group 1)
  • Sloper
  • Singlefoot, hand held, pneumatic tamper
  • All pneumatic, air, gas and electric tools not listed in groups 1 through 1 (f)
  • Jacking of pipe-under 12 inches
$39.50 $32.31 $71.81 $91.56 NC-23-102-1-2026-2
Group 3 and Group 3 (A)Area 2
19 jobs in this group
  • Construction laborers including bridge laborers, general laborers and cleanup laborers
  • Demolition worker
  • Dumpman, load spotter
  • Flagperson/pedestrian monitor
  • Fire watcher
  • Fence erectors, including temporary fencing
  • Guardrail erectors
  • Gardener, horticultural and landscape laborers (see group 4, for landscape maintenance on new construction during plant establishment period)
  • Jetting
  • Limbers, brush loaders, and pilers
  • Pavement markers (button setters)
  • Pavers/interlocking pavers (all types) and interlocking paver machines
  • Maintenance, repair trackmen and road beds
  • Streetcar and railroad construction track laborers
  • Temporary air and water lines, victaulic or similar
  • Tool room attendant (jobsite only)
  • Tree removal
  • Wheelbarrow, including power driven
  • Composite crew person (operation of vehicles, when in conjunction with laborer's duties)
$39.40 $32.31 $71.71 $91.41 NC-23-102-1-2026-2
Group 4 and Group 6 (B)Area 2
5 jobs in this group
  • All final cleanup of debris, grounds and buildings near the completion of the project including but not limited to street cleaners (not applicable to engineering or heavy highway projects)
  • Cleaning and washing windows (new construction only), service landscape laborers (such as gardener, horticulture, mowing, trimming, replanting, watering during plant establishment period) on new construction
  • Brick cleaners (job site only)
  • Material cleaners (job site only)
  • Gunite trainee (one gunite laborer shall be allowed for each three (3) journeyman (group 6, 6a, 6c, or general laborer) on a crew. In the absence of the journeyman, the gunite trainee receives the journeyman scale.).
$33.09 $32.31 $65.40 $81.95 NC-23-102-1-2026-2
Group 6Area 2
1 job in this group
  • Structural nozzleman
$40.61 $32.31 $72.92 $93.23 NC-23-102-1-2026-2
Group 6 (A)Area 2
3 jobs in this group
  • Nozzleman (including gunman, potman)
  • Rodman
  • Groundman
$40.11 $32.31 $72.42 $92.48 NC-23-102-1-2026-2
Group 6 (C)Area 2
1 job in this group
  • Reboundman
$39.52 $32.31 $71.83 $91.59 NC-23-102-1-2026-2
Group 6 (D)Area 2
1 job in this group
  • Aligner of wire winding machine in connection with guniting or shot crete
$40.23 $32.31 $72.54 $92.66 NC-23-102-1-2026-2
Group 6 (E)Area 2
1 job in this group
  • Aligner helper of wire winding machine in connection with guniting or shot crete
$39.25 $32.31 $71.56 $91.19 NC-23-102-1-2026-2
Group 7 - Stage 1 (1st 6 months)Area 2
1 job in this group
  • Entry level landscape laborer (ratio for entry level is one in three. At least one second period entry level and at least one third period entry level must be employed before employing another first period trainee).
$27.58 $32.31 $59.89 $73.68 NC-23-102-1-2026-2
Group 7 - Stage 2 (2nd 6 months)Area 2
1 job in this group
  • Entry level landscape laborer (ratio for entry level is one in three. At least one second period entry level and at least one third period entry level must be employed before employing another first period trainee).
$31.52 $32.31 $63.83 $79.59 NC-23-102-1-2026-2
Group 7 - Stage 3 (3rd 6 months)Area 2
1 job in this group
  • Entry level landscape laborer (ratio for entry level is one in three. At least one second period entry level and at least one third period entry level must be employed before employing another first period trainee).
$35.46 $32.31 $67.77 $85.50 NC-23-102-1-2026-2

Davis-Bacon laborer 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).

CountyFederal classificationBase + fringeWDvs DIR
Alpine CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Amador CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Butte CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Calaveras CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Colusa CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Del Norte CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
El Dorado CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Fresno CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Glenn CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Humboldt CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Kings CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Lake CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Lassen CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Madera CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Mariposa CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Mendocino CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Merced CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Modoc CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Monterey CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Napa CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Nevada CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Placer CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Plumas CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Sacramento CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
San Benito CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
San Joaquin CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Santa Cruz CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Shasta CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Sierra CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Siskiyou CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Solano CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Sonoma CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Stanislaus CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Sutter CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Tehama CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Trinity CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Tulare CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Tuolumne CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Yolo CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Yuba CountyFederal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match

How California Area 2 compares

The main laborer 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

$71.96Alpine$78.65Imperial
SacramentoNearby: Alpine $71.96, Amador $71.96, Butte $71.96, Calaveras $71.96, Colusa $71.96, Del Norte $71.96, El Dorado $71.96, Fresno $71.96, Glenn $71.96, Humboldt $71.96, Kings $71.96, Lake $71.96, Lassen $71.96, Madera $71.96, Mariposa $71.96, Mendocino $71.96, Merced $71.96, Modoc $71.96, Monterey $71.96, Napa $71.96, Nevada $71.96, Placer $71.96, Plumas $71.96, San Benito $71.96, San Joaquin $71.96, Santa Cruz $71.96, Shasta $71.96, Sierra $71.96, Siskiyou $71.96, Solano $71.96, Sonoma $71.96, Stanislaus $71.96, Sutter $71.96, Tehama $71.96, Trinity $71.96, Tulare $71.96, Tuolumne $71.96, Yolo $71.96, Yuba $71.96Each column is a group of counties with about the same main rate; its height is how many. 18 counties pay more than Sacramento, 39 the same, 0 less.

Base wage and fringe benefits, nearby

  1. California Area 2base $39.65 · Area 2$71.96
  2. Solano Countybase $39.65 · Area 2$71.96
  3. Yolo Countybase $39.65 · Area 2$71.96
  4. Contra Costa Countybase $40.65 · Area 1$72.96

Which county is in which laborer group

Every California county with a laborer 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.

CountiesMain classificationBase wageTotal rate
Southern California, 11 counties: Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, VenturaGroup 1$49.20 $78.65 
San Diego CountyGroup 1$49.20 $76.87 
Area 1, 6 counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa ClaraGroup 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, YubaGroup 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.

California laborer 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.

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

Every trade's rates, county by county: 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

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 $71.96. 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-23-102-1-2026-2, page 2: www.dir.ca.gov/oprl/2026-2/PWD/Determinations/Northern/NC-023-102-1.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