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Orange County · Pile Driver

Pile Driver prevailing wage in Orange County, California

$105.10an hour, base wage + fringe benefits · Group 1

$65.75 base wage + $39.35 fringe benefits

Orange County uses the same pile driver rates as 10 other counties. See all of them on one page.

On California public works in Orange County, a Group 1 pile driver must be paid at least $105.10 an hour in total: $65.75 in wages plus $39.35 in employer payments to health, pension, training and other funds. Daily overtime is $137.975 and Sunday and holiday work is $170.85. DIR puts 2 job titles in Group 1, engineer oiler and soils inspector among them.

DIR general determination SC-23-63-2-2026-2B, issued August 22, 2026. Expires June 30, 2027. Checked against dir.ca.gov on October 24, 2026.

DIR lists 13 pile driver rates for Orange County, from $105.10 to $111.10 an hour. See all of them.

Base wage and fringe benefits: $65.75 + $39.35

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 $105.10 or more.

Basic hourly rate (taxable wage)$65.75
Health and welfare$17.45
Pension (footnote d)$17.40
Vacation and holiday (footnote e)$2.95
Training$1.10
Other payments$0.45
Total straight-time hourly rate$105.10

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
July 1, 2027+$4.51$109.61

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

Pile Driver 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 4

Every pile driver rate in Orange County

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

  1. Group 13$111.10
  2. Group 12$110.10
  3. Group 11$109.10
  4. Group 10$108.10
  5. Group 9$107.10
  6. Group 8$106.93
  7. Group 7$106.76
  8. Group 6$106.64
  9. Group 5$106.53
  10. Group 4$106.31
  11. Group 3$106.17
  12. Group 2$105.88
  13. Group 1$105.10
Total hourly rate of each pile driver classification in Orange County, highest first, split into base wage and fringe benefits.
ClassificationBase wageFringe benefitsTotal rateDaily OTDetermination
Group 1$65.75 $39.35 $105.10 $137.975SC-23-63-2-2026-2B
Group 10
6 jobs in this group
  • ABI/Fundex Machine
  • Crane Operator (over 50 tons, up to and including 100 ton M.R.C.)
  • Derrick Barge Operator (over 50 tons, up to and including 100 ton M.R.C.)
  • Hoist Operator, Stiff Legs, Guy Derrick or similar type (over 50 tons, up to and including 100 ton M.R.C.)
  • Mobile Tower Crane Operator (over 50 tons, up to and including 100 ton M.R.C.)
  • Shovel, Dragline, Clamshell Operator (over 10 cu. yrds.)
$68.75 $39.35 $108.10 $142.475SC-23-63-2-2026-2B
Group 11
5 jobs in this group
  • Crane Operator (over 100 tons, up to and including 200 ton M.R.C.)
  • Derrick Barge Operator (over 100 tons, up to and including 200 ton M.R.C.)
  • Hoist Operator, Stiff Legs, Guy Derrick or similar type (over 100 tons, up to and including 200 ton M.R.C.)
  • Mobile Tower Crane Operator (over 100 tons, up to and including 200 ton M.R.C.)
  • Tower Crane Operator and Tower Gantry
$69.75 $39.35 $109.10 $143.975SC-23-63-2-2026-2B
Group 12
4 jobs in this group
  • Crane Operator (over 200 tons, up to and including 300 ton M.R.C.)
  • Derrick Barge Operator (over 200 tons, up to and including 300 ton M.R.C.)
  • Hoist Operator, Stiff Legs, Guy Derrick or similar type (over 200 tons, up to and including 300 ton M.R.C.)
  • Mobile Tower Crane Operator (over 200 tons, up to and including 300 ton M.R.C.)
$70.75 $39.35 $110.10 $145.475SC-23-63-2-2026-2B
Group 13
6 jobs in this group
  • Crane Operator (over 300 tons)
  • Derrick Barge Operator (over 300 tons)
  • Helicopter Pilot
  • Hoist Operator, Stiff Legs, Guy Derrick or similar type (over 300 tons)
  • Hydraulically Controlled Lift Gantry Operator BCR Lift System (over 300 tons)
  • Mobile Tower Crane Operator (over 300 tons)
$71.75 $39.35 $111.10 $146.975SC-23-63-2-2026-2B
Group 2
2 jobs in this group
  • Truck Crane Oiler
  • Fiber Wrap Inspector
$66.53 $39.35 $105.88 $139.145SC-23-63-2-2026-2B
Group 3
2 jobs in this group
  • A-Frame or Winch Truck Operator
  • Ross Carrier Operator (Jobsite)
$66.82 $39.35 $106.17 $139.58 SC-23-63-2-2026-2B
Group 4
4 jobs in this group
  • Bridge-Type Unloader and Turntable Operator
  • Helicopter Hoist Operator
  • Ojjo Earth Truss Driver Machine Operator or similar types
  • Snobble Unit (pin-n-go or similar type)
$66.96 $39.35 $106.31 $139.79 SC-23-63-2-2026-2B
Group 5
3 jobs in this group
  • Hydraulic Boom Truck/Knuckleboom
  • Stinger Crane (Austin-Western or similar type)
  • Tugger Hoist Operator (1 drum)
$67.18 $39.35 $106.53 $140.12 SC-23-63-2-2026-2B
Group 6
12 jobs in this group
  • Bridge Crane Operator
  • Cretor Crane Operator
  • Hoist Operator (Chicago Boom and similar type)
  • Lift Mobile Operator
  • Lift Slab Machine Operator (Vagtborg and similar types)
  • Material Hoist and/or Manlift Operator
  • Polar Gantry Crane Operator
  • Prentice Self-Loader
  • Self Climbing Scaffold (or similar type)
  • Shovel, Dragline, Clamshell Operator (over ¾ yd and up to 5 cu yds, M.R.C.)
  • Silent Piler (Giken or similar types)
  • Tugger Hoist Operator (2 drum)
$67.29 $39.35 $106.64 $140.285SC-23-63-2-2026-2B
Group 7
4 jobs in this group
  • Pedestal Crane Operator
  • Shovel, Dragline, Clamshell Operator (over 5 cu yds, M.R.C.)
  • Tower Crane Repairman
  • Tugger Hoist Operator (3 drum)
$67.41 $39.35 $106.76 $140.465SC-23-63-2-2026-2B
Group 8
8 jobs in this group
  • Crane Operator (up to and including 25 ton capacity)
  • Crawler Transporter Operator
  • Derrick Barge Operator (up to and including 25 ton capacity)
  • Hoist Operator, Stiff Legs, Guy Derrick or similar type (up to and including 25 ton capacity)
  • Rotational Telehandler Operator
  • Self-Propelled Modular Transporter (Schuerle, Goldhofer or similar types)
  • Shovel, Dragline, Clamshell Operator (over 7 cu yds M.R.C.)
  • Timber Handler - Sennebogen or similar types (tree hoisting/removal/site clearing)
$67.58 $39.35 $106.93 $140.72 SC-23-63-2-2026-2B
Group 9
7 jobs in this group
  • Crane Operator (over 25 tons, up to and including 50 ton M.R.C.)
  • Derrick Barge Operator (over 25 tons, up to and including 50 ton M.R.C.)
  • Highline Cableway Operator
  • Hoist Operator, Stiff Legs, Guy Derrick or similar type (over 25 tons, up to and including 50 ton M.R.C.)
  • K-Crane
  • Polar Crane Operator
  • Self Erecting Tower Crane Operator Maximum Lifting Capacity ten (10) tons
$67.75 $39.35 $107.10 $140.975SC-23-63-2-2026-2B

Davis-Bacon pile driver rate in Orange 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).

We don't put a federal figure next to DIR's here, because this page leads with a classification the federal determinations don't list one to one. The federal rows for this trade are below; match the classification to the work.

ConstructionFederal classificationBase wageTotal rateWD
Building, Highway, HeavyCARPENTER: (3) PILEDRIVERMEN/DERRICK BARGEMAN, BRIDGE OR DOCK CARPENTER, HEAVY FRAMER, ROCK BARGEMAN OR SCOWMAN, ROCKSLINGER, SHINGLER (COMMERCIAL)CARP0213-001$52.37 $78.55 CA20260024 Mod 4
Building, Highway, HeavyOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 1- Engineer oiler; Fork lift operator (includes loed, lull or similar types) PREMIUM PAY: …ENGI0012-024$64.75 $97.95 CA20260024 Mod 4
Building, Highway, HeavyOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 2- Truck crane oiler PREMIUM PAY: $10.00 PER HOUR SHALL BE PAID ON ALL POWER EQUIPMENT …ENGI0012-024$65.53 $98.73 CA20260024 Mod 4
Building, Highway, HeavyOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 3- A-frame or winch truck operator; Ross carrier operator (jobsite) PREMIUM PAY: $10.00 PER …ENGI0012-024$65.82 $99.02 CA20260024 Mod 4
Building, Highway, HeavyOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 4- Bridge-type unloader and turntable operator; Helicopter hoist operator PREMIUM PAY: $10.00 …ENGI0012-024$65.96 $99.16 CA20260024 Mod 4
Building, Highway, HeavyOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 5 HYDRAULIC BOOM TRUCK; STINGER CRANE (AUSTIN-WESTERN OR SIMILAR TYPE); TUGGER HOIST OPERATOR …ENGI0012-024$66.18 $99.38 CA20260024 Mod 4
Building, Highway, HeavyOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 6 Bridge crane operator; Cretor crane operator; Hoist operator (Chicago boom and similar …ENGI0012-024$66.29 $99.49 CA20260024 Mod 4
Building, Highway, HeavyOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 7 PEDESTAL CRANE OPERATOR; SHOVEL, BACKHOE, DRAGLINE, CLAMSHELL OPERATOR (OVER 5 CU. YDS. …ENGI0012-024$66.41 $99.61 CA20260024 Mod 4
Building, Highway, HeavyOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 8 Crane operator (up to and including 25 ton capacity); Crawler transporter operator; Derrick …ENGI0012-024$66.58 $99.78 CA20260024 Mod 4
Building, Highway, HeavyOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 9 Crane operator (over 25 tons and up to and including 50 tons mrc); Derrick barge operator …ENGI0012-024$66.75 $99.95 CA20260024 Mod 4
Building, Highway, HeavyOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 10- Crane operator (over 50 tons and up to and including 100 tons mrc); Derrick barge operator …ENGI0012-024$67.75 $100.95 CA20260024 Mod 4
Building, Highway, HeavyOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 11- Crane operator (over 100 tons and up to and including 200 tons mrc); Derrick barge …ENGI0012-024$68.75 $101.95 CA20260024 Mod 4
Building, Highway, HeavyOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 12- Crane operator (over 200 tons up to and including 300 tons mrc); Derrick barge operator …ENGI0012-024$69.75 $102.95 CA20260024 Mod 4
Building, Highway, HeavyOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 13 Crane operator (over 300 tons); Derrick barge operator (over 300 tons); Helicopter pilot; …ENGI0012-024$70.75 $103.95 CA20260024 Mod 4
ResidentialOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 1: ENGINEER OILER; FORK LIFT OPERATOR (INCLUDES LOED, LULL OR SIMILAR TYPES) PREMIUM PAY: …ENGI0012-001$46.65 $71.90 CA20260017 Mod 5
ResidentialOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 2: TRUCK CRANE OILER PREMIUM PAY: $10.00 PER HOUR SHALL BE PAID ON ALL POWER EQUIPMENT …ENGI0012-001$47.43 $72.68 CA20260017 Mod 5
ResidentialOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 3: A-FRAME OR WINCH TRUCK OPERATOR; ROSS CARRIER OPERATOR (JOBSITE) PREMIUM PAY: $10.00 PER …ENGI0012-001$47.72 $72.97 CA20260017 Mod 5
ResidentialOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 4: BRIDGE-TYPE UNLOADER AND TURNTABLE OPERATOR; HELICOPTER HOIST OPERATOR PREMIUM PAY: $10.00 …ENGI0012-001$47.86 $73.11 CA20260017 Mod 5
ResidentialOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 5: HYDRAULIC BOOM TRUCK; STINGER CRANE (AUSTIN-WESTERN OR SIMILAR TYPE); TUGGER HOIST OPERATOR …ENGI0012-001$48.08 $73.33 CA20260017 Mod 5
ResidentialOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 6: BRIDGE CRANE OPERATOR; CRETOR CRANE OPERATOR; HOIST OPERATOR (CHICAGO BOOM AND SIMILAR …ENGI0012-001$48.19 $73.44 CA20260017 Mod 5
ResidentialOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 7: PEDESTAL CRANE OPERATOR; SHOVEL, BACKHOE, DRAGLINE, CLAMSHELL OPERATOR (OVER 5 CU. YDS. …ENGI0012-001$48.31 $73.56 CA20260017 Mod 5
ResidentialOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 8: CRANE OPERATOR (UP TO AND INCLUDING 25 TON CAPACITY); CRAWLER TRANSPORTER OPERATOR; DERRICK …ENGI0012-001$48.48 $73.73 CA20260017 Mod 5
ResidentialOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 9: CRANE OPERATOR (OVER 25 TONS AND UP TO AND INCLUDING 50 TONS MRC); DERRICK BARGE OPERATOR …ENGI0012-001$48.65 $73.90 CA20260017 Mod 5
ResidentialOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 10: CRANE OPERATOR (OVER 50 TONS AND UP TO AND INCLUDING 100 TONS MRC); DERRICK BARGE OPERATOR …ENGI0012-001$49.65 $74.90 CA20260017 Mod 5
ResidentialOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 11: CRANE OPERATOR (OVER 100 TONS AND UP TO AND INCLUDING 200 TONS MRC); DERRICK BARGE …ENGI0012-001$50.65 $75.90 CA20260017 Mod 5
ResidentialOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 12: CRANE OPERATOR (OVER 200 TONS UP TO AND INCLUDING 300 TONS MRC); DERRICK BARGE OPERATOR …ENGI0012-001$51.65 $76.90 CA20260017 Mod 5
ResidentialOPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, CRANES, PILEDRIVING & HOISTING: GROUP 13: CRANE OPERATOR (OVER 300 TONS); DERRICK BARGE OPERATOR (OVER 300 TONS); HELICOPTER PILOT; …ENGI0012-001$52.65 $77.90 CA20260017 Mod 5

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 Orange County compares

The main pile driver 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

$105.06San Diego$111.87Alameda
OrangeNearby: Los Angeles $105.10, San Diego $105.06, Ventura $105.10Each column is a group of counties with about the same main rate; its height is how many. 46 counties pay more than Orange, 10 the same, 1 less.

Base wage and fringe benefits, nearby

  1. Orange Countybase $65.75$105.10
  2. Los Angeles Countybase $65.75$105.10
  3. San Diego Countybase $63.75$105.06
  4. Ventura Countybase $65.75$105.10

Pile Driver 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.

DIR's pile driver rates for Orange County are the same as in 10 other counties: Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo and 2 more.

CountyClassificationBase wageTotal ratevs Orange County
Orange CountyGroup 1$65.75 $105.10 
Los Angeles CountyGroup 1$65.75 $105.10 same
Ventura CountyGroup 1$65.75 $105.10 same
Riverside CountyGroup 1$65.75 $105.10 same
San Bernardino CountyGroup 1$65.75 $105.10 same
Kern CountyGroup 1$65.75 $105.10 same
San Diego CountyGroup 1$63.75 $105.06 −$0.04

California pile driver 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

All Orange County prevailing wage rates

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 $105.10. 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 SC-23-63-2-2026-2B, page 1: www.dir.ca.gov/oprl/2026-2/PWD/Determinations/Southern/SC-023-63-2(B).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 Orange County as CSV · Report an error