Which wage determination applies to my project in Kern County?

The wage determination incorporated into your contract is the one that governs, per 29 CFR 1.6. For new highway work in Kern County, CA, the current active determination is CA20260020. Verify with your contracting officer before bidding or paying.

How often do these rates change?

DOL publishes wage determination modifications weekly, generally on Fridays. The determination behind this page was last modified July 30, 2026.

What is the difference between the base rate and the fringe rate?

The base rate is the minimum hourly wage; the fringe amount is an additional hourly benefit obligation you can meet with bona fide benefit contributions or pay in cash. On this schedule the median fringe is about 50% of base.

My classification is not listed for Kern County. What do I do?

If the work classification you need is not on the determination, the contractor requests a conformance (additional classification and rate) through the contracting agency using Standard Form 1444. Do not substitute a similar-sounding classification.

What counts as highway construction?

Highway covers roads, streets, runways, and similar paving work not incidental to building, residential, or heavy construction.

Does the federal rate or the California state prevailing wage apply?

They are separate systems. Davis-Bacon rates apply to federally funded or assisted work; a state prevailing wage law can apply to state-funded work. A project can be covered by both, in which case the higher rate for each classification effectively controls. This page shows the federal determination only.

Is the WH-347 form mandatory?

The WH-347 itself is optional; what is mandatory on covered work is submitting weekly certified payroll with the same information and a signed Statement of Compliance. Most contractors use the WH-347 layout because agencies expect it.

PREVAILWAGE

Pulling the rate table…

Highway prevailing wage rates for Kern County, CA | PrevailWage

Highway prevailing wage rates for Kern County, CA

DOL marked wage determination CA20260020 modified July 30, 2026 (revision 5). Verify against the source below before filing.

Rates on this page changed recently: the governing determination carries a modification dated July 30, 2026. The active federal wage determination covering highway construction in Kern County, CA lists 149 classifications with published rates, base pay from $21.45 to $72.23 per hour. The determination was last modified July 30, 2026.

Classifications: 149; with published rates
Median base: $52.88; per hour
Median fringe: 50%; of base pay
Last modified: July 30, 2026

Published rates

Classification	Base	Fringe	WD
ASBESTOS REMOVAL LABORER SCOPE OF WORKINCLUDES SITE MOBILIZATION, INITIAL SITE CLEANUP, SITE PREPARATION, REMOVAL OF ASBESTOS-CONTAINING MATERIAL AND TOXIC WASTE, ENCAPSULATION, ENCLOSURE AND DISPOSAL OF ASBESTOS- CONTAINING MATERIALS AND TOXIC WASTE BY HAND OR WITH EQUIPMENT OR MACHINERY; SCAFFOLDING, FABRICATION OF TEMPORARY WOODEN BARRIERS AND ASSEMBLY OF DECONTAMINATION STATIONS	$46.48	$25.93	CA20260020
ASBESTOS REMOVAL WORKER/HAZARDOUS MATERIAL HANDLERINCLUDES PREPARATION, WETTING, STRIPPING, REMOVAL, SCRAPPING, VACUUMING, BAGGING AND DISPOSING OF ALL INSULATION MATERIALS FROM MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, WHETHER THEY CONTAIN ASBESTOS OR NOT (INYO AND KERN)	$23.52	$13.37	CA20260020
ASBESTOS WORKERS/INSULATOR

The highest published base on this schedule belongs to PLUMBER at $72.23 per hour plus $26.81 fringe; the schedule's median base is $52.88.

The governing determination was modified July 30, 2026, within the last 30 days. Contractors mid-bid in Kern County should re-check figures against the determination text before submitting.

100% of the rate lines here carry union local identifiers, so the published figures track negotiated agreements, which is why some classifications carry high fringe amounts relative to base.

Using these rates

Read the modification number

A wage determination is cited as number plus modification, for example CA20260020 Mod dated July 30, 2026. Your certified payroll should reflect the determination in your contract, not necessarily the newest one.

Put the WD in your bid file

Save the full determination text with your bid papers the day you price the job. If rates change later, the contract determination is your record of what you bid against.

Check rates the Friday before payroll

DOL publishes modifications weekly, generally Fridays. A quick check before running payroll catches a mid-project modification before it shows up in an agency review instead.

Match classifications by duties, not titles

The classification that applies is determined by the work performed, not the worker's title. A foreman who works with the tools is generally due the rate for the hours on the tools.

Fringe crediting basics

You can meet the fringe obligation with bona fide benefit plan contributions, cash, or a combination. Track the hourly equivalent of what you contribute; agencies ask for the math.

Statement of Compliance wording

The signed Statement of Compliance may be the WH-347 back page or another document with identical wording. The signature is a federal certification by your company's officer; accuracy is on the certifier.

Questions

Which wage determination applies to my project in Kern County?: The wage determination incorporated into your contract is the one that governs, per 29 CFR 1.6. For new highway work in Kern County, CA, the current active determination is CA20260020. Verify with your contracting officer before bidding or paying.
How often do these rates change?: DOL publishes wage determination modifications weekly, generally on Fridays. The determination behind this page was last modified July 30, 2026.
What is the difference between the base rate and the fringe rate?: The base rate is the minimum hourly wage; the fringe amount is an additional hourly benefit obligation you can meet with bona fide benefit contributions or pay in cash. On this schedule the median fringe is about 50% of base.
My classification is not listed for Kern County. What do I do?: If the work classification you need is not on the determination, the contractor requests a conformance (additional classification and rate) through the contracting agency using Standard Form 1444. Do not substitute a similar-sounding classification.
What counts as highway construction?: Highway covers roads, streets, runways, and similar paving work not incidental to building, residential, or heavy construction.
Does the federal rate or the California state prevailing wage apply?: They are separate systems. Davis-Bacon rates apply to federally funded or assisted work; a state prevailing wage law can apply to state-funded work. A project can be covered by both, in which case the higher rate for each classification effectively controls. This page shows the federal determination only.

Sources

CA20260020 rev. 5 · modified July 30, 2026

Synced from SAM.gov August 1, 2026. The wage determination incorporated into your contract is the legally operative document.