Two kinds of prevailing wage in California
Federal (Davis-Bacon). Construction contracts over $2,000 paid for or assisted with federal money pay the rates in a federal wage determination for the county and construction type. Those rates are on this site, county by county, and the weekly certified payroll is usually the WH-347.
State (California law). State and local public works pay the state's rates under California Labor Code, Part 7, Chapter 1, sections 1720 to 1861 [Lab. Code 1771]. The agency is the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), Labor Commissioner.
A California project paid partly with federal money can be covered by Davis-Bacon and by California's prevailing wage law at the same time. Then you meet both: the federal WH-347 to your prime or agency, and eCPR to the Labor Commissioner. Your contract lists the wage determinations that apply; if federal and state rates differ, ask the awarding body how they want them applied before your first payroll.
California prevailing wage law at a glance
Which projects are covered
- Public works means "construction, alteration, demolition, installation, or repair work done under contract and paid for in whole or in part out of public funds" [Lab. Code 1720]. Maintenance work is covered too.
- Prevailing wage applies to public works projects over $1,000 [Lab. Code 1771].
- Private projects with a public subsidy can be covered. A subsidy is de minimis only if it is both less than $600,000 and less than 2 percent of total project cost [Lab. Code 1720].
How state rates are set
DIR issues general prevailing wage determinations twice a year, on February 22 and August 22. A determination takes effect 10 days after it is issued [DIR FAQ]. Current determinations: DIR prevailing wage determinations.
The rate locks to the call for bids: any call for bids put out on or after a determination's effective date must reflect it [8 CCR 16204]. Determinations marked with one asterisk stay in effect for the life of the project; with two asterisks, the published increases ("predetermined increases") must be paid when they take effect [8 CCR 16204(b)].
Overtime
Public works hours over 8 in a day or 40 in a week must be paid at not less than 1.5 times the basic rate [Lab. Code 1815]. Many California determinations also set Saturday, Sunday and holiday rates; check the determination for each craft.
Contractor registration
Contractors and subcontractors must be registered with DIR to bid on, be listed on, or work on a public works project [Lab. Code 1725.5]. Registration is not required on construction projects of $25,000 or less or maintenance projects of $15,000 or less.
Davis-Bacon wage rates by county in California
Select a county for its federal wage determinations by construction type (building, residential, heavy, highway), with every classification's base and fringe rate.
- Alameda County
- Alpine County
- Amador County
- Butte County
- Calaveras County
- Colusa County
- Contra Costa County
- Del Norte County
- El Dorado County
- Fresno County
- Glenn County
- Humboldt County
- Imperial County
- Inyo County
- Kern County
- Kings County
- Lake County
- Lassen County
- Los Angeles County
- Madera County
- Marin County
- Mariposa County
- Mendocino County
- Merced County
- Modoc County
- Mono County
- Monterey County
- Napa County
- Nevada County
- Orange County
- Placer County
- Plumas County
- Riverside County
- Sacramento County
- San Benito County
- San Bernardino County
- San Diego County
- San Francisco County
- San Joaquin County
- San Luis Obispo County
- San Mateo County
- Santa Barbara County
- Santa Clara County
- Santa Cruz County
- Shasta County
- Sierra County
- Siskiyou County
- Solano County
- Sonoma County
- Stanislaus County
- Sutter County
- Tehama County
- Trinity County
- Tulare County
- Tuolumne County
- Ventura County
- Yolo County
- Yuba County
Federal data: SAM.gov general wage determinations, fetched October 7, 2026. For state rates, use the agency link above.
Certified payroll in California
Electronic certified payroll (eCPR) to the Labor Commissioner, at least monthly. At least every 30 days while work is performed, and within 30 days after the final day of work. System: DIR eCPR (Public Works Website Services).
For California projects LevelWage builds the DIR eCPR XML file (CPR schema version 1.3) along with your WH-347 package, ready to upload. You still upload it under your DIR account.
Read the full California certified payroll guide
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between California prevailing wage and Davis-Bacon?
Does California certified payroll replace the WH-347?
How often do I file eCPR?
Do I need full Social Security numbers on California payroll records?
Where do the county rates on this page come from?
Sources
- California Labor Code 1720 (public works definition)
- California Labor Code 1771 (prevailing wage over $1,000)
- California Labor Code 1771.4 (electronic payroll to the Labor Commissioner)
- California Labor Code 1776 (payroll records)
- California Labor Code 1725.5 (contractor registration)
- California Labor Code 1777.5 (apprentices)
- California Labor Code 1815 (overtime on public works)
- DIR: Certified payroll reporting
- DIR: Prevailing wage FAQ
- DIR: Public works contractor registration
- DIR: Apprentices on public works
- 8 CCR 16204 (determination effective dates)
- 8 CCR 16461 (payroll record forms)
LevelWage prepares reports for your review. This page explains the rules in plain words; it is not legal advice. When a rule matters to a decision, read the source and your contract.