Find Out Which California Wage Orders You Need to Post

California has 17 different wage orders covering different industries, job types, and work activities. Figuring out which one (or ones) apply to your business can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to stay compliant and protect your people.

To make this easier, we built a short quiz that helps you quickly identify which California wage order(s) you need to display on your labor law posters. This is based on the official guidance from the California Department of Industrial Relations, and you can view the original document they publish here:
https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/whichiwcorderclassifications.pdf

Take the quiz below to determine which wage order applies to your situation. When you’re done, we’ll give you clear next steps so you can make sure your labor law posters are complete and up to date.

Which California Wage Order Does Your Business Need to Post?

California requires employers to post the correct IWC Wage Order for their industry. Answer 2 quick questions to find yours.

Question 1 of 2

What is the main purpose of your business?

Think about your core activity. What would you tell someone you do when they ask about your company?

We make, build, or produce physical products Factories, assembly, production, repair, processing We sell or rent goods to customers Retail stores, wholesale, equipment rental, e-commerce We serve food, provide lodging, healthcare, or property maintenance Restaurants, hotels, hospitals, janitorial, landscaping, pest control We provide personal care or wellness services Salons, spas, barbershops, fitness, funeral homes We provide professional or office-based services Law, accounting, tech, banking, insurance, consulting We move, store, or deliver goods or people Trucking, warehousing, delivery, moving, junk removal, taxi/rideshare We build, renovate, drill, mine, or log Construction, contractors, drilling, mining, logging We farm, grow, or process agricultural products Farms, ranches, packing houses, processing We provide entertainment, media, or recreation Film, TV, radio, theme parks, sports, theaters None of these quite fit / I'm not sure My business doesn't match these categories

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Question 2 of 2

What type of products or production?

Different types of manufacturing fall under different wage orders.

General manufacturing or assembly Factories, assembly lines, packaging, bottling, repair shops Canning, freezing, or preserving food Canneries, frozen food processing, food preservation Processing agricultural products after harvest Commercial packing houses, grain mills, meat processing Film or motion picture production Studios, production companies, post-production

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Question 2 of 2

What does your retail or rental business focus on?

Selling goods at retail or wholesale Stores, shops, e-commerce, wholesale distributors Renting equipment or goods to customers Equipment rental, party supply rental, costume rental Renting linens or uniforms WITH laundering service Linen supply, uniform rental and laundering

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Question 2 of 2

Which best describes your operation?

These all fall under "Public Housekeeping Industry" (Order 5).

Restaurant, cafe, or food service Restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, catering, food trucks Hotel, motel, or lodging Hotels, motels, inns, bed & breakfasts, apartment buildings Healthcare or residential care facility Hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living, day care centers Property maintenance, cleaning, or grounds Janitorial service, landscaping, pest control, tree service Veterinary or animal care with boarding Vet clinics with overnight stays, animal shelters with feeding

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Question 2 of 2

What type of personal services?

Beauty, hair, nails, or skin care Salons, barbershops, nail salons, estheticians Spa, massage, or wellness services Day spas, massage therapy, wellness centers Fitness or weight management Gyms, personal training studios, weight loss clinics Funeral or mortuary services Funeral homes, mortuaries, cremation services Household or domestic work in private homes Nannies, housekeepers, personal caregivers in homes

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Question 2 of 2

What type of professional services?

Order 4 covers professional, technical, clerical, and mechanical occupations when NOT covered by an industry order.

Legal, accounting, or financial services Law firms, CPA firms, financial advisors, consulting Banking, insurance, or real estate (without property management) Banks, credit unions, insurance agencies, brokerages Technology, engineering, or technical services Software companies, engineering firms, IT services General office, admin, or clerical work Administrative services, data entry, call centers Non-profit, association, or government Non-profits, trade associations, public agencies

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Question 2 of 2

Is MOVING or HAULING the main service customers pay you for?

Transportation (Order 9) covers businesses where conveying persons or property is the main purpose. A plumber who drives a truck is NOT transportation - the truck is just how they get there.

Yes - customers pay us to move, haul, or deliver things Trucking, moving companies, couriers, junk removal, garbage collection Yes - customers pay us to transport them somewhere Taxi, rideshare, limo, shuttle, charter bus, ambulance We store goods or vehicles for customers Warehouses, storage facilities, parking garages We rent vehicles to customers Car rental, truck rental, boat rental No - we go TO customers to perform a service (moving is just how we get there) Contractors, repair services, home services

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Question 2 of 2

What type of on-site work?

Order 16 covers on-site construction, drilling, logging, and mining occupations.

Construction, renovation, or demolition General contractors, specialty trades, remodeling Drilling operations Oil, gas, or water well drilling Mining or quarrying Mines, quarries, excavation operations Logging or timber operations Logging companies, timber harvesting Initial earth moving for landscaping Grading, excavation for landscaping projects

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Question 2 of 2

What type of agricultural work?

Where the work happens matters for wage order classification.

Farming, ranching, or growing operations Farms, ranches, orchards, vineyards, nurseries Preparing products for market ON the farm On-farm packing, sorting, grading of your own crops Processing products AWAY from the farm (commercial) Commercial packing houses, grain elevators, processing plants Canning, freezing, or preserving Canneries, frozen food facilities, food preservation

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Question 2 of 2

What type of entertainment or media?

Film or motion picture production Studios, production companies, post-production Broadcasting (radio, TV) Radio stations, TV stations that broadcast Amusement, recreation, or sports Theme parks, theaters, sports facilities, bowling, golf Live entertainment venues Concert halls, clubs, casinos, event venues Cable TV or streaming (primarily selling a service) Cable companies, streaming services

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Question 2 of 2

Let me help narrow it down. Which sounds closest?

Even if it's not exact, pick the one that feels most similar to what your business does.

Most of our work is done at a desk, computer, or office Professional, technical, or clerical work We sell things to customers (products, not services) Any kind of retail, wholesale, or rental of goods We provide food, lodging, maintenance, or care for people Hospitality, food service, cleaning, healthcare We provide hands-on personal services to individuals Beauty, wellness, fitness, or personal care Still doesn't fit - my business is truly unique None of the above categories apply

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Final Check

Are you sure your business doesn't fit any of these?

Important: Order 17 (Miscellaneous) is a catch-all, but the California DLSE has not identified ANY occupations that currently qualify for it. Almost every business fits into one of the 16 specific orders. Review these one more time:

Let me look at the main categories again Go back to Question 1 Manufacturing, production, assembly, repair Retail, wholesale, selling or renting goods Restaurants, hotels, hospitals, cleaning, landscaping Salons, spas, fitness, personal care Office work, professional services, tech, consulting Trucking, delivery, moving, warehousing Construction, drilling, mining, logging Farming, ranching, agriculture Entertainment, recreation, amusement None of these - I need to contact the DLSE for guidance

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Let's find the right fit

What do customers actually pay you to DO when you arrive?

If moving/hauling isn't your main service, your wage order is based on what work you perform, not how you get there.

Construction, renovation, repair, or installation Contractors, electricians, plumbers, HVAC, remodeling Cleaning, maintenance, landscaping, or pest control Janitorial, house cleaning, landscaping, pest control, tree service Personal services or care In-home care, mobile pet grooming, mobile beauty services Repair or service equipment/products Appliance repair, equipment service, mobile mechanics Professional or consulting services IT services, inspections, consulting Let me start over from the beginning

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Your Required Wage Order

Wage Order 4

Professional, Technical, Clerical

What This Order Covers

Description will appear here.

One Wage Order Covers All Your Employees

Per California DLSE guidelines, this wage order covers ALL employees in your business - including office staff, bookkeepers, drivers, and anyone else who works for you. You do not need to post multiple wage orders.

Disclaimer: This quiz provides general guidance only and is not legal advice. Wage order classification can be complex and may depend on specific circumstances. We recommend consulting with an employment attorney or the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) if you are unsure which wage order applies to your business.

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Take Quiz Again

If you’d like to review or download the individual California wage orders directly, you can access them from the California Department of Industrial Relations here:
https://www.dir.ca.gov/IWC/WageOrderIndustries.htm

This is the same source the quiz is based on and can be helpful if you want to double-check classifications or keep a copy for your records.