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California prevailing wage and certified payroll
California has its own prevailing-wage law (Labor Code §§1720–1861 (Public Works)) on top of federal Davis-Bacon.
State law
Labor Code §§1720–1861 (Public Works)
Applies to contracts
Over $1,000 (LC 1771); projects ≤ $25,000 new work / ≤ $15,000 maintenance are exempt from registration and eCPR filing (LC 1771.5), but prevailing wage still applies
Certified payroll
Electronic certified payroll (eCPR) to DIR at least monthly, within a month after each payroll period (or more often if the contract says so); online entry or XML upload (CPR XML schema v1.3). Contractors must register with DIR ($400/fiscal year) before bidding.
Daily overtime
After 8 hours in a day, set on the job automatically.
In CertifyWage
DIR eCPR XML produced from the same week as the WH-347.
Notes
Daily overtime after 8 hours and on the 7th day; double time after 12. Apprentices must be registered with DAS; ratio 1:5 journeyman hours.
Federal rules that apply in California too
Davis-Bacon
Federal and federally assisted construction contracts over $2,000 carry a wage determination from SAM.gov. Every laborer and mechanic is paid at least the listed base rate plus fringe for the classification of work actually performed.
Weekly certified payroll
The contractor and every subcontractor submit a certified payroll each week work is performed, with a signed Statement of Compliance. The U.S. Department of Labor’s optional form is the WH-347 (Rev. January 2025).
Overtime
On covered contracts over $100,000, the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act requires time and a half of the basic rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Fringe benefits are not multiplied.
Records
Payroll records are kept for at least three years after the work is completed and made available to the contracting agency and the Department of Labor on request.
The contracting agency’s instructions control when they differ from this summary. Get started or see every state.