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California painter prevailing wage, county by county
A painter's prevailing wage on California public works runs from $64.14 an hour in Tulare County to $88.74 in San Francisco County, wages and employer payments together. The median county is $69.68.
Painter rate in each California county, A to Z
| County | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Issued | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alameda CountyPainter · Santa Clara County group | $56.10 | $29.02 | $85.12 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1 |
Alpine CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Amador CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Butte CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Calaveras CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Colusa CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Contra Costa CountyPainter · Santa Clara County group | $56.10 | $29.02 | $85.12 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1 |
Del Norte CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
El Dorado CountyPainter | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Fresno CountyPainter · Fresno County group | $39.65 | $24.49 | $64.14 | Aug 22, 2026 | 200-294-1 |
Glenn CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Humboldt CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Imperial CountyIndustrial Painter · Orange County group | $50.07 | $21.40 | $71.47 | Aug 22, 2026 | 200-X-2 |
Inyo CountyIndustrial Painter · Kern County group | $50.07 | $21.40 | $71.47 | Aug 22, 2026 | 200-X-2 |
Kern CountyIndustrial Painter · Kern County group | $50.07 | $21.40 | $71.47 | Aug 22, 2026 | 200-X-2 |
Kings CountyPainter · Fresno County group | $39.65 | $24.49 | $64.14 | Aug 22, 2026 | 200-294-1 |
Lake CountyPainter · Monterey County group | $56.10 | $29.02 | $85.12 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1 |
Lassen CountyPainter | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Los Angeles CountyIndustrial Painter | $50.07 | $21.40 | $71.47 | Aug 22, 2026 | 200-X-2 |
Madera CountyPainter · Fresno County group | $39.65 | $24.49 | $64.14 | Aug 22, 2026 | 200-294-1 |
Marin CountyPainter · Santa Clara County group | $56.10 | $29.02 | $85.12 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1 |
Mariposa CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Mendocino CountyPainter · Monterey County group | $56.10 | $29.02 | $85.12 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1 |
Merced CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Modoc CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Mono CountyIndustrial Painter · Kern County group | $50.07 | $21.40 | $71.47 | Aug 22, 2026 | 200-X-2 |
Monterey CountyPainter · Monterey County group | $56.10 | $29.02 | $85.12 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1 |
Napa CountyPainter · Santa Clara County group | $56.10 | $29.02 | $85.12 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1 |
Nevada CountyPainter | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Orange CountyIndustrial Painter · Orange County group | $50.07 | $21.40 | $71.47 | Aug 22, 2026 | 200-X-2 |
Placer CountyPainter | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Plumas CountyPainter | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Riverside CountyIndustrial Painter · Orange County group | $50.07 | $21.40 | $71.47 | Aug 22, 2026 | 200-X-2 |
Sacramento CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
San Benito CountyPainter · Monterey County group | $56.10 | $29.02 | $85.12 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1 |
San Bernardino CountyIndustrial Painter · Orange County group | $50.07 | $21.40 | $71.47 | Aug 22, 2026 | 200-X-2 |
San Diego CountyIndustrial Painter | $50.07 | $21.40 | $71.47 | Aug 22, 2026 | 200-X-2 |
San Francisco CountyPainter | $59.72 | $29.02 | $88.74 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1 |
San Joaquin CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
San Luis Obispo CountyIndustrial Painter · Ventura County group | $50.07 | $21.40 | $71.47 | Aug 22, 2026 | 200-X-2 |
San Mateo CountyPainter · Santa Clara County group | $56.10 | $29.02 | $85.12 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1 |
Santa Barbara CountyIndustrial Painter | $50.07 | $21.40 | $71.47 | Aug 22, 2026 | 200-X-2 |
Santa Clara CountyPainter · Santa Clara County group | $56.10 | $29.02 | $85.12 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1 |
Santa Cruz CountyPainter · Monterey County group | $56.10 | $29.02 | $85.12 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1 |
Shasta CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Sierra CountyPainter | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Siskiyou CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Solano CountyPainter · Santa Clara County group | $56.10 | $29.02 | $85.12 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1 |
Sonoma CountyPainter · Santa Clara County group | $56.10 | $29.02 | $85.12 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1 |
Stanislaus CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Sutter CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Tehama CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Trinity CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Tulare CountyPainter · Fresno County group | $39.65 | $24.49 | $64.14 | Aug 22, 2026 | 200-294-1 |
Tuolumne CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Ventura CountyIndustrial Painter · Ventura County group | $50.07 | $21.40 | $71.47 | Aug 22, 2026 | 200-X-2 |
Yolo CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Yuba CountyPainter · Sacramento County group | $45.85 | $23.83 | $69.68 | Feb 22, 2026 | 200-X-1(SacArea) |
Main painter classification in each county, DIR period 2026-2. DIR sets this trade county by county. You pay the rate for the county where the work is done. Checked October 24, 2026.
How much does a painter make on prevailing wage in California?
$64.14 to $88.74 an hour, base wage plus fringe benefits, depending on the county; the median county pays $69.68. 7 groups of counties with identical rates and 10 counties with rates of their own, highest main rate first, each split into base wage and employer payments on one scale.
- San Francisco County1 county$88.74
- Santa Clara County group8 counties$85.12
- Monterey County group5 counties$85.12
- Orange County group4 counties$71.47
- Kern County group3 counties$71.47
- Ventura County group2 counties$71.47
- Los Angeles County1 county$71.47
- San Diego County1 county$71.47
- Santa Barbara County1 county$71.47
- Sacramento County group22 counties$69.68
- El Dorado County1 county$69.68
- Lassen County1 county$69.68
- Nevada County1 county$69.68
- Placer County1 county$69.68
- Plumas County1 county$69.68
- Sierra County1 county$69.68
- Fresno County group4 counties$64.14
Which counties share a rate
| Counties | Main classification | Base wage | Total rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco County | Painter | $59.72 | $88.74 |
| Santa Clara County group, 8 counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma | Painter | $56.10 | $85.12 |
| Monterey County group, 5 counties: Lake, Mendocino, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz | Painter | $56.10 | $85.12 |
| Orange County group, 4 counties: Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino | Industrial Painter | $50.07 | $71.47 |
| Kern County group, 3 counties: Inyo, Kern, Mono | Industrial Painter | $50.07 | $71.47 |
| Ventura County group, 2 counties: San Luis Obispo, Ventura | Industrial Painter | $50.07 | $71.47 |
| Los Angeles County | Industrial Painter | $50.07 | $71.47 |
| San Diego County | Industrial Painter | $50.07 | $71.47 |
| Santa Barbara County | Industrial Painter | $50.07 | $71.47 |
| Sacramento County group, 22 counties: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Mariposa, Merced, Modoc, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Siskiyou, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne, Yolo, Yuba | Painter | $45.85 | $69.68 |
| El Dorado County* | Painter | $45.85 | $69.68 |
| Lassen County* | Painter | $45.85 | $69.68 |
| Nevada County* | Painter | $45.85 | $69.68 |
| Placer County* | Painter | $45.85 | $69.68 |
| Plumas County* | Painter | $45.85 | $69.68 |
| Sierra County* | Painter | $45.85 | $69.68 |
| Fresno County group, 4 counties: Fresno, Kings, Madera, Tulare | Painter | $39.65 | $64.14 |
7 groups of counties with identical DIR rates, and 10 counties with rates of their own. * County split between areas; its page shows the rate for each part.
These are journeyperson rates. Apprentices are paid from separate DAS determinations that DIR publishes by craft, county and program.
Determinations: 200-294-1, 200-567-2, 200-567-3, 200-X-1, 200-X-1(SacArea), 200-X-15, 200-X-2, 200-X-3
Questions about California painter pay
What is the painter prevailing wage in Los Angeles County?
$71.47 an hour: a $50.07 base wage plus $21.40 in employer payments (fringe benefits), under DIR determination 200-X-2. Overtime and every painter classification in Los Angeles County.
Does painter prevailing wage include fringe benefits?
Yes. In Los Angeles County the $71.47 total is a $50.07 base wage plus $21.40 in employer payments (fringe benefits), about 30% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.
Do apprentice painters 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 painter rate?
DIR sets many trades by area or region rather than one county at a time. Across California, the 58 counties with a painter rate fall into 17 distinct sets of rates, and 7 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 22 counties (the Sacramento County group).
Which county pays painters the most in California?
San Francisco County, at $88.74 an hour for the main classification. The lowest is Tulare County at $64.14, and the median county is $69.68.