Contractor & Prevailing Wage Information

Public Works Projects Under California law, a public works project includes construction, alteration, demolition, installation, repair, or maintenance work funded in whole or in part by a public agency (such as the State, a city, county, or special district). It also includes the hauling and delivery of ready-mixed concrete.

Prevailing Wage Requirement Contractors performing work on public works contracts over $1,000 must pay their workers prevailing wages.

• What is Prevailing Wage? It is the basic hourly rate (including fringe benefits) paid to the majority of workers within a specific craft, classification, or trade in the local geographic area, as determined by the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR).

Contractors who work exclusively on small public works projects are not required to register as a public works contractor or file electronic certified payroll reports for those projects. Contractors are still required to maintain certified payroll records on a continuous basis, and provide them to the Labor Commissioner’s Office upon request. Additionally, awarding agencies are not required to submit the notice of contract award through DIR’s PWC-100 system on projects that fall within the small project exemption.

The small project exemption applies for all public works projects that do not exceed:

• $25,000 for new construction, alteration, installation, demolition or repair
• $15,000 for maintenance

Contractors must make an attempt to hire apprentices when the total project costs exceed $30,000.

A contractor on a public works project must employ one (1) hour of apprentice work for every five (5) hours performed by a journeyman. Title 8 California Code of Regulations, Section 230.1.for each separate craft at the end of a project. Please check the DAS Important notices to determine if any exemptions exist for your craft or trade.

Contractors who do not already employ enough apprentices to meet the ratio requirements must request dispatch of an apprentice from an apprenticeship program (for each apprenticeable craft or trade) by giving the program actual notice of at least 72 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays) before the date on which apprentices are required. A DAS 142 form is provided for this purpose. All requests for dispatch must be in writing and sent by first class mail, fax or email.

Contractors who do not receive a sufficient number of apprentices from their initial request, must request dispatch apprentices from all other apprenticeship committees, if more than one exists in the area of the public works project. To determine which apprenticeship programs are approved for your craft or trade in a specific geographic location on their website.

Navigating California prevailing wage laws and state requirements can be complex. Below are key links, forms, and guidance directly from the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR):

Key Contractor Responsibilities

• Register as a Public Works Contractor – Mandatory annual registration for bidding and working on public projects.

• Prevailing Wage Rates & Determinations – Look up mandatory hourly rates by trade and county.

• Apprenticeship Requirements – Guidelines for submitting forms DAS 140, DAS 142, and CAC 2.

• Electronic Certified Payroll Reporting (eCPR) – Submit required payroll records electronically to the state.
  
  

  Need Live Assistance or Training?

  • DIR Support Center & FAQs – Access official guides, video tutorials, and live webinar training sessions.

  • DIR Main Public Works Portal – Full state resources and contacts.