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Pile Driver prevailing wage, Santa Clara County group, California (7 counties)

DIR sets the same pile driver rates, row for row, in 7 counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Solano. Every figure on this page applies in each of them.

$111.87an hour, base wage + fringe benefits

$69.51 base wage + $42.36 fringe benefits

On California public works in each of these 7 counties, a pile driver must be paid at least $111.87 an hour in total: $69.51 in wages plus $42.36 in employer payments to health, pension, training and other funds. Daily overtime is $146.625 and Sunday and holiday work is $181.38.

DIR general determination NC-23-31-11-2026-1, issued August 22, 2026. Expires June 30, 2027. Checked against dir.ca.gov on October 24, 2026.

DIR lists 20 pile driver rates for each of these counties, from $97.74 to $161.39 an hour. See all of them.

Base wage and fringe benefits: $69.51 + $42.36

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 $111.87 or more.

Basic hourly rate (taxable wage)	$69.51
Health and welfare	$15.87
Pension (footnote a)	$17.15
Vacation and holiday (footnote b)	$7.48
Training	$1.41
Other payments (footnote c)	$0.45
Total straight-time hourly rate	$111.87

Straight time covers an 8-hour day.

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 NC-23-31-11-2026-1, issued August 22, 2026; DIR's expiration date for it is June 30, 2027.

Every pile driver rate in the Santa Clara County group

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

Diver (wet) up to 50 ft depth$161.39
Diver (stand-by)$119.82
Diver's Tender$118.82
Assistant Tender$111.87
Pile Driver, Wharf, and Dock Builder$111.87
Group A-1$108.63
Group 1$107.88
Group 2$106.06
Group 3$104.38
Group 4$102.61
Group A-1 - Truck Crane Assistant to Engineer$101.65
Group 1 - Truck Crane Assistant to Engineer$100.90
Group 2 - Truck Crane Assistant to Engineer$100.65
Group 3 - Truck Crane Assistant to Engineer$100.36
Group 6$99.97
Group A-1 - Assistant to Engineer$99.37
Group 1 - Assistant to Engineer$98.62
Group 2 - Assistant to Engineer$98.35
Group 3 - Assistant to Engineer$98.13
Group 8$97.74

Total hourly rate of each pile driver classification in the Santa Clara County group, highest first, split into base wage and fringe benefits.

Classification	Base wage	Fringe benefits	Total rate	Daily OT	Determination
Assistant Tender	$69.51	$42.36	$111.87	$146.625	NC-23-31-11-2026-1
Diver (stand-by)	$77.46	$42.36	$119.82	$158.55	NC-23-31-11-2026-1
Diver (wet) up to 50 ft depth	$119.03	$42.36	$161.39	$220.905	NC-23-31-11-2026-1
Diver's Tender	$76.46	$42.36	$118.82	$157.05	NC-23-31-11-2026-1
PILE DRIVER (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Group 1 4 jobs in this group Clamshells Over 7 Cu Yds Derrick Barge Pedestal Mounted Over 100 Tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device Over 100 Tons Truck Crane Or Crawler, Land Or Barge Mounted Over 100 Tons	$71.59	$36.29	$107.88	$143.68	NC-23-63-1-2026-2B
PILE DRIVER (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Group 1 - Assistant to Engineer 4 jobs in this group Clamshells Over 7 Cu Yds Derrick Barge Pedestal Mounted Over 100 Tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device Over 100 Tons Truck Crane Or Crawler, Land Or Barge Mounted Over 100 Tons	$62.33	$36.29	$98.62	$129.79	NC-23-63-1-2026-2B
PILE DRIVER (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Group 1 - Truck Crane Assistant to Engineer 4 jobs in this group Clamshells Over 7 Cu Yds Derrick Barge Pedestal Mounted Over 100 Tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device Over 100 Tons Truck Crane Or Crawler, Land Or Barge Mounted Over 100 Tons	$64.61	$36.29	$100.90	$133.21	NC-23-63-1-2026-2B
PILE DRIVER (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Group 2 5 jobs in this group Clamshells Up To And Including 7 Cu Yds Derrick Barge Pedestal Mounted 45 Tons Up To And Including 100 Tons Fundex F-12 Hydraulic Pile Rig Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device Over 45 Tons Truck Crane Or Crawler, Land Or Barge Mounted, Over 45 Tons Up To And Including 100 Tons	$69.77	$36.29	$106.06	$140.95	NC-23-63-1-2026-2B
PILE DRIVER (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Group 2 - Assistant to Engineer 5 jobs in this group Clamshells Up To And Including 7 Cu Yds Derrick Barge Pedestal Mounted 45 Tons Up To And Including 100 Tons Fundex F-12 Hydraulic Pile Rig Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device Over 45 Tons Truck Crane Or Crawler, Land Or Barge Mounted, Over 45 Tons Up To And Including 100 Tons	$62.06	$36.29	$98.35	$129.38	NC-23-63-1-2026-2B
PILE DRIVER (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Group 2 - Truck Crane Assistant to Engineer 5 jobs in this group Clamshells Up To And Including 7 Cu Yds Derrick Barge Pedestal Mounted 45 Tons Up To And Including 100 Tons Fundex F-12 Hydraulic Pile Rig Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device Over 45 Tons Truck Crane Or Crawler, Land Or Barge Mounted, Over 45 Tons Up To And Including 100 Tons	$64.36	$36.29	$100.65	$132.83	NC-23-63-1-2026-2B
PILE DRIVER (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Group 3 4 jobs in this group Derrick Barge Pedestal Mounted Under 45 Tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device 45 Tons And Under Shid/Scow Piledriver, Any Tonnage Truck Crane Or Crawler, Land Or Barge Mounted 45 Tons And Under	$68.09	$36.29	$104.38	$138.43	NC-23-63-1-2026-2B
PILE DRIVER (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Group 3 - Assistant to Engineer 4 jobs in this group Derrick Barge Pedestal Mounted Under 45 Tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device 45 Tons And Under Shid/Scow Piledriver, Any Tonnage Truck Crane Or Crawler, Land Or Barge Mounted 45 Tons And Under	$61.84	$36.29	$98.13	$129.05	NC-23-63-1-2026-2B
PILE DRIVER (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Group 3 - Truck Crane Assistant to Engineer 4 jobs in this group Derrick Barge Pedestal Mounted Under 45 Tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device 45 Tons And Under Shid/Scow Piledriver, Any Tonnage Truck Crane Or Crawler, Land Or Barge Mounted 45 Tons And Under	$64.07	$36.29	$100.36	$132.40	NC-23-63-1-2026-2B
PILE DRIVER (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Group 4 3 jobs in this group Assistant Operator Forklift, 10 Tons And Over Heavy Duty Repairman/Welder	$66.32	$36.29	$102.61	$135.77	NC-23-63-1-2026-2B
PILE DRIVER (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Group 6 1 job in this group Deck Engineer	$63.68	$36.29	$99.97	$131.81	NC-23-63-1-2026-2B
PILE DRIVER (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Group 8 2 jobs in this group Deckhand Fireman	$61.45	$36.29	$97.74	$128.47	NC-23-63-1-2026-2B
PILE DRIVER (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Group A-1 3 jobs in this group Cranes over 250 Tons Derrick over 250 Tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Devices over 250 Tons	$72.34	$36.29	$108.63	$144.80	NC-23-63-1-2026-2B
PILE DRIVER (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Group A-1 - Assistant to Engineer 3 jobs in this group Cranes over 250 Tons Derrick over 250 Tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Devices over 250 Tons	$63.08	$36.29	$99.37	$130.91	NC-23-63-1-2026-2B
PILE DRIVER (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Group A-1 - Truck Crane Assistant to Engineer 3 jobs in this group Cranes over 250 Tons Derrick over 250 Tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Devices over 250 Tons	$65.36	$36.29	$101.65	$134.33	NC-23-63-1-2026-2B
Pile Driver, Wharf, and Dock Builder	$69.51	$42.36	$111.87	$146.625	NC-23-31-11-2026-1

Davis-Bacon pile driver 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).

County	Federal classification	Base + fringe	WD	vs DIR
Alameda County	Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Contra Costa County	Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Marin County	Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
San Francisco County	Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
San Mateo County	Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Santa Clara County	Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match
Solano County	Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match

How the Santa Clara County group 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

Santa Clara $111.8712

$105.06San Diego$111.87Alameda

Santa ClaraNearby: Alameda $111.87, Contra Costa $111.87, Marin $111.87, San Francisco $111.87, San Mateo $111.87, Solano $111.87Each column is a group of counties with about the same main rate; its height is how many. 0 counties pay more than Santa Clara, 45 the same, 12 less.

Base wage and fringe benefits, nearby

Santa Clara County groupbase $69.51$111.87
Santa Cruz Countybase $69.51$111.87
Alameda Countybase $69.51$111.87
San Luis Obispo Countybase $65.75$105.10

Which county is in which pile driver group

Every California county with a pile driver 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.

Counties	Main classification	Base wage	Total rate
Sacramento County group, 39 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, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, Yuba	Pile Driver, Wharf, and Dock Builder	$69.51	$111.87
Santa Clara County group, 7 counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano	Pile Driver, Wharf, and Dock Builder	$69.51	$111.87
Southern California, 11 counties: Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura	Group 1	$65.75	$105.10
San Diego County	Group 1	$63.75	$105.06

3 groups of counties with identical DIR rates, and 1 county with rates of its own.

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.

a Includes an amount per hour for Annuity Trust Fund. 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.
b Includes an amount per hour for work fees.
c Includes Industry Promotion, Carpenters International Training Fund, Pile Drivers Employers Contract Administration, Contract Work Preservation, Millwright Pile Driver Fund and Vacation/Holiday/Sick Leave Admin (VHSLA).
d Rate applies to the first 2 daily overtime hours and the first 8 hours worked on Saturdays. All other time is paid at the Sunday/Holiday overtime rate. For work associated with cast-in-place piles, drill shaft, Tubex piles, Tubex grout injection piles, geo piles, soil improvement piles, sand piles, augured cast in place piles, CISS and CIDH: Rate applies to all hours worked after 8 hours Monday-Friday and all hours worked on Saturday.
e On bridges, powerhouses and dams, men working from bosun's chairs or swinging scaffolds or suspended from rope, cable, safety belts, or any device used as a substitute for or in lieu thereof (excluding piledriving rigs) shall receive $0.15 per hour above this rate.

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

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 $111.87. 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-23-31-11-2026-1, page 1: www.dir.ca.gov/oprl/2026-2/PWD/Determinations/Northern/NC-023-31-11.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