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Prevailing wage rates in San Diego County, California
DIR's 2026-2 determinations set 223 rates across 49 trades for public works in San Diego County. Of each trade's main rate, elevator constructor is the highest at $119.815 an hour in total, and landscape maintenance laborer the lowest at $17.26.
General determinations for DIR's 2026-2 release, issued August 22, 2026. A project pays the rates in effect on its bid advertisement date, and new determinations take effect 10 days after DIR issues them (DIR FAQ). Checked against dir.ca.gov on October 24, 2026.
San Diego County rates by trade, highest first
Each trade's main rate, highest first, split into the taxable wage and the employer payments DIR itemizes. All bars share one scale. The table below lists the same rates A to Z with classifications.
- Elevator Constructor$119.815
- Dredger$115.70
- Field Surveyor$110.38
- Pile Driver$105.06
- Inspector & Tester$104.49
- Operating Engineer$103.71
- Boilermaker$101.43
- Utility Lineman$101.19
- Plumber / Pipefitter$94.22
- Ironworker$92.47
- Sheet Metal Worker$91.44
- Heat & Frost Insulator$91.30
- Metal Roofer$86.44
- Tunnel Worker$86.16
- Cement Mason$83.53
- Gunite Worker$81.99
- Plasterer$81.20
- Plaster Tender$80.95
- Carpenter$80.71
- Electrician$80.44
- Striping & Traffic Control$79.52
- Tile Setter$79.13
- Glazier$78.71
- Drywall Installer / Lather$78.63
- Housemover$78.60
- Abatement Laborer$78.54
- Laborer$76.87
- Landscape Laborer$76.67
- Fence Builder$76.19
- Directional Drilling$75.06
- Painter$71.47
- Bricklayer$70.25
- Telecom Technician$69.36
- Terrazzo Worker$68.51
- Drywall Finisher$68.39
- Fire Safety Sealer$67.51
- Brick Tender$67.19
- Line Clearance Trimmer$67.13
- Marble Finisher$65.55
- Soft Floor Layer$65.31
- Teamster (Truck Driver)$62.69
- Terrazzo Finisher$60.53
- Tile Finisher$58.49
- Roofer$57.69
- Furniture Installer$41.78
- Tree Maintenance$38.57
- Stator Rewinder$22.145
- Hauling Driver$19.465
- Landscape Maintenance$17.26
All trades and classifications, A to Z
One main rate per trade, with its classification and base wage. Open a trade for its other classifications, overtime, footnotes and increases. Click a column heading to sort.
| Trade | Main classification | Total | Base | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asbestos & Lead Abatement Laborer · Southern California | Asbestos and Lead Abatement Worker | $78.54 | $49.20 | 1 |
| Boilermaker · Area 1 | Boilermaker-Blacksmith (Area 1) | $101.43 | $57.98 | 4 |
| Brick Tender | Brick Tender | $67.19 | $42.60 | 1 |
| Bricklayer | Bricklayer | $70.25 | $50.09 | 2 |
| Carpenter | Carpenter | $80.71 | $51.11 | 11 |
| Carpet & Soft Floor Layer · San Diego County group | Resilient Tile Layer | $65.31 | $43.52 | 1 |
| Cement Mason | Cement Mason Building Construction: TYPE I & II | $83.53 | $49.18 | 2 |
| Construction Inspector & Materials Tester | Group 1 | $104.49 | $63.18 | 3 |
| Directional Drilling Laborer · Southern California | Group 1 (Drilling Crew Laborer) | $75.06 | $50.66 | 4 |
| Dredger · Southern California | Leverman | $115.70 | $68.90 | 9 |
| Drywall Finisher | Drywall Finisher | $68.39 | $43.59 | 1 |
| Drywall Installer / Lather | Drywall Installer/Latherer | $78.63 | $47.65 | 2 |
| Electrical Utility Lineman · Los Angeles County group | Lineman, Cable Splicer | $101.19 | $74.43 | 23 |
| Electrician | Inside Wireman, Technician | $80.44 | $58.95 | 8 |
| Elevator Constructor · Southern California | Mechanic | $119.815 | $72.36 | 4 |
| Fence Builder · Southern California | Fence Builder | $76.19 | $48.25 | 1 |
| Field Surveyor · Los Angeles County group | Chief of Party (018.167-010) | $110.38 | $68.91 | 3 |
| Fire Safety Sealer · Southern California | Asbestos Worker, Fire Safety Technician - Class IV (6001 or more hrs) | $67.51 | $46.60 | 8 |
| Glazier · San Diego County group | Glazier | $78.71 | $55.40 | 1 |
| Gunite Worker · Southern California | Ground Wire Man, Nozzleman, Rodman | $81.99 | $55.88 | 5 |
| Hauling Driver (On/Off Site) · San Diego County group | Driver: Dump Truck | $19.465 | $17.00 | 2 |
| Housemover · Southern California | Housemover | $78.60 | $49.25 | 1 |
| Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker) · Southern California | Mechanic | $91.30 | $63.76 | 2 |
| Ironworker | Iron Worker (Ornamental, Reinforcing, Structural) (Area 4) | $92.47 | $53.35 | 2 |
| Laborer | Group 1 | $76.87 | $49.20 | 10 |
| Landscape & Irrigation Laborer | Landscape/Irrigation Laborer | $76.67 | $47.57 | 3 |
| Landscape Maintenance Laborer | Landscape Maintenance Laborer (complex work) | $17.26 | $16.90 | 2 |
| Line Clearance Tree Trimmer · Los Angeles County group | Tree Trimmer | $67.13 | $45.37 | 6 |
| Marble Finisher · Los Angeles County group | Marble Finisher | $65.55 | $46.97 | 1 |
| Metal Roofing Installer | Metal Roofing Systems Installer | $86.44 | $54.32 | 3 |
| Modular Furniture Installer · Southern California | Modular Installer: Installer | $41.78 | $27.00 | 2 |
| Operating Engineer | Group 1 | $103.71 | $62.40 | 36 |
| Painter | Industrial Painter | $71.47 | $50.07 | 5 |
| Pile Driver | Group 1 | $105.06 | $63.75 | 13 |
| Plaster Tender · Los Angeles County group | Plaster Tender | $80.95 | $51.32 | 2 |
| Plasterer | Plasterer | $81.20 | $47.77 | 1 |
| Plumber / Pipefitter | Plumber, Industrial and General Pipefitter | $94.22 | $64.83 | 7 |
| Roofer · San Diego County group | Roofer | $57.69 | $43.12 | 2 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | Sheet Metal Worker (HVAC) | $91.44 | $58.73 | 3 |
| Stator Rewinder · Los Angeles County group | Stator Rewinder | $22.145 | $16.90 | 2 |
| Striping & Traffic Control Worker · Southern California | Group 1 | $79.52 | $52.20 | 4 |
| Teamster (Truck Driver) | Group 1 | $62.69 | $33.12 | 7 |
| Telecommunications Technician · Los Angeles County group | Telecommunications Technician | $69.36 | $53.42 | 1 |
| Terrazzo Finisher · Los Angeles County group | Terrazzo Finisher | $60.53 | $45.13 | 1 |
| Terrazzo Worker · Los Angeles County group | Terrazzo Worker | $68.51 | $52.67 | 1 |
| Tile Finisher | Tile Finisher | $58.49 | $41.55 | 1 |
| Tile Setter · Los Angeles County group | Tile Layer | $79.13 | $56.52 | 1 |
| Tree Maintenance Laborer · Southern California | Senior Tree Trimmer | $38.57 | $28.79 | 3 |
| Tunnel Worker | Group I | $86.16 | $56.45 | 5 |
Davis-Bacon wage determinations for San Diego County
Federally funded or assisted construction here uses the U.S. Department of Labor's rates. 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). Each trade's page shows its federal rate next to DIR's.
| Construction | Wage determination | Modification | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building | CA20260001 | 3 | May 18, 2026 |
| Residential | CA20260001 | 3 | May 18, 2026 |
| Highway | CA20260001 | 3 | May 18, 2026 |
| Heavy | CA20260001 | 3 | May 18, 2026 |
Questions about San Diego County rates
How much does an electrician make on prevailing wage in San Diego County?
$80.44 an hour: a $58.95 base wage plus $21.49 in employer payments (fringe benefits), for the main classification (Inside Wireman, Technician), under DIR determination 061-569-2. Overtime and every electrician rate in San Diego County.
What is the prevailing wage for a laborer in San Diego County?
$76.87 an hour: a $49.20 base wage plus $27.67 in employer payments (fringe benefits), for the main classification, under DIR determination SD-23-102-4-2026-1. Overtime and every laborer rate in San Diego County.
Does the prevailing wage include fringe benefits?
Yes. The rate is a base wage plus employer payments (fringe benefits), and the employer owes both for every hour. For elevator constructor, the highest-paid trade in San Diego County, the $119.815 total is a $72.36 base wage plus $47.455 in employer payments (fringe benefits).
Do Davis-Bacon rates apply in San Diego County?
On federally funded or assisted construction, yes: CA20260001 (modification 3, May 18, 2026) for building, residential, highway and heavy construction. 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).
Does San Diego County share its rates with other counties?
For 27 of its 49 trades, yes: DIR sets the same rates, row for row, in other counties too. Asbestos and lead abatement laborer rates, for example, are the same in 12 counties (Southern California). The other 22 are San Diego County's own.