Educational Services · Berkeley, CA

University of California, Berkeley

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), University of California, Berkeley has a mixed safety record: 18 violations across 7 inspections. See the full breakdown below.

Top 10% by penalty22% serious
$46,220
OSHA penalties
18
Violations cited
7
OSHA inspections
$780
Back wages owed

University of California, Berkeley in Berkeley, CA has been the subject of 7 OSHA workplace inspections and 18 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $46,220. The employer also has 1 Wage and Hour Division (WHD) case on record, covering Fair Labor Standards Act enforcement. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

OSHA has inspected University of California, Berkeley 7 times across a longer 16-year span, an infrequent cadence. These inspections resulted in 18 violations, averaging 2.6 per inspection, above what's typical for a single visit. Its total OSHA penalty ranks in the top 10% of penalized employers nationally. Of these, 4 were classified as serious - indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Against the Educational Services industry average of 3 inspections per employer, this runs well above peers (2.8x the sector average) on inspection frequency. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $780 in back wages owed to 1 affected worker. For comparison, Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, TX is another educational services employer with 0 OSHA inspections on record and $0 in current penalties.

2.6
violations per inspection
22.2%
of violations were serious
94%
of penalized employers rank lower
$780
in back wages recovered

How this employer compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Educational Services per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows University of California, Berkeley runs far above peers (15.3x the sector average) in total OSHA penalties.

Source U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforcement extracts As of 2026

Where this penalty ranks nationally

Total current OSHA penalty vs every U.S. employer with a nonzero penalty

$46,220 Bottom 6% least affordable more affordable than 6% of 100,495 U.S. employers with a penalty

$0–$5,000: 44,435 U.S. employers with a penalty (44%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 20,628 U.S. employers with a penalty (21%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 11,165 U.S. employers with a penalty (11%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 6,629 U.S. employers with a penalty (7%). Below this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 4,205 U.S. employers with a penalty (4%). Below this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 2,885 U.S. employers with a penalty (3%). Below this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 2,052 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Below this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1,483 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Below this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1,120 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Below this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 792 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). This entry sits in this band. $50,000–$55,000: 5,101 U.S. employers with a penalty (5%). Above this entry. This employer $0 $55,000 every penalized U.S. employer, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more U.S. employers with a penalty. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforcement extracts · 2026

What the Data Says About University of California, Berkeley

The federal enforcement record for University of California, Berkeley in Berkeley, CA includes 7 OSHA inspections and 18 violations, translating to 2.57 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 4 (22.2%) were classified as serious, 0 (0.0%) as willful, and 0 (0.0%) as repeat. Serious violations denote hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm; willful and repeat categories indicate intentional disregard or recurrence of previously cited hazards.

OSHA assessed $65,725 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $46,220 - a 29.7% reduction. Average penalty per inspection works out to $6,603. Against the Educational Services industry average of $3,013 per employer, this record runs far above peers (15.3x the sector average). The Wage and Hour Division added 1 case producing $780 in back wages owed to 1 affected worker.

Inspection activity spans from 2010-03-09 to 2025-09-26, a window of roughly 16 years.

Enforcement detail

OSHA Inspection History

Total Inspections

7

First Inspection

2010-03-09

Last Inspection

2025-09-26

Inspection Span

16 yrs

Violations / Inspection

2.6

Avg Penalty / Inspection

$6,603

Industry Avg / Inspection

$1,198

What this shows 7 inspections over 16 years, averaging 2.6 violations per visit. That's $6,603 per inspection vs. the Educational Services average of $1,198.

Enforcement detail

Violation Breakdown

4

Serious

22.2% of total

0

Willful

0.0% of total

0

Repeat

0.0% of total

14

Other-Than-Serious

77.8% of total

What this shows Serious violations involve hazards that could cause death or serious physical harm. Willful violations indicate intentional or knowing disregard of the law. Repeat violations are for hazards previously cited within the past 5 years.

Enforcement detail

Penalty Analysis

Initial Penalty Assessed

$65,725

Current Penalty Amount

$46,220

Penalty Reduction

29.7%

Combined Impact (OSHA + WHD)

$47,000

What this shows Penalties were reduced by $19,505 from the initial assessment of $65,725. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Wage & Hour Findings

WHD Cases
1
Back Wages Owed
$780
Employees Affected
1
WHD Violations
2
Avg Back Wages per Employee
$780
Avg Back Wages per Case
$780

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that University of California, Berkeley owed $780 in back wages to 1 employee across 1 case and 2 violations. WHD enforces federal labor laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), covering minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor standards.

Industry Safety Context: Educational Services

How University of California, Berkeley compares to the Educational Services sector, which has 3,199 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric University of California, Berkeley Industry Avg
Inspections 7 2.5
Violations 18 5.7
Total Penalty $46,220 $3,013
Avg Penalty per Inspection $6,603 $1,198

Nearby & Similar Employers in Educational Services

Compare University of California, Berkeley vs Jarvis Christian College side-by-side →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is University of California, Berkeley safe to work at?
Based on OSHA records, University of California, Berkeley's workplace safety record is mixed, with some compliance concerns. The employer has 18 violations across 7 inspections, including 4 serious violations. Compared to Educational Services industry peers, this is above average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does University of California, Berkeley have?
University of California, Berkeley has 18 OSHA violations on record, including 4 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $46,220.
How many OSHA inspections has University of California, Berkeley had?
University of California, Berkeley has had 7 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2010-03-09 and the most recent on 2025-09-26. This averages 2.6 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for University of California, Berkeley?
University of California, Berkeley has been assessed $46,220 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $65,725 (a 29.7% reduction). Additionally, $780 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does University of California, Berkeley have any serious or willful violations?
Yes. University of California, Berkeley has 4 serious violations. Serious violations involve hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Willful violations indicate the employer intentionally or knowingly disregarded the law.
Has University of California, Berkeley been cited for wage theft?
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 1 enforcement case against University of California, Berkeley, resulting in $780 in back wages owed to 1 affected worker. These cases involve violations of federal labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, and other worker protections.
What industry does University of California, Berkeley operate in?
University of California, Berkeley operates in the Educational Services sector (NAICS code 611310). This industry has 3,199 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 8,044 total OSHA inspections and $9.64M in cumulative penalties.
What should I do if University of California, Berkeley owes me wages?
If you believe University of California, Berkeley owes you wages, you can file a complaint with the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/complaints or by calling 1-866-487-9243. WHD investigates violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act including unpaid minimum wage, overtime, and unauthorized deductions. The DOL has previously found $780 in back wages owed by this employer across 1 case.
How does University of California, Berkeley's safety record compare to industry average?
University of California, Berkeley's total OSHA penalty of $46,220 is above the Educational Services industry average of $3,013 per employer (15.3x the average). The employer has 7 inspections compared to the industry average of 2.5 per employer. For a direct comparison, Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, TX is a similar educational services employer with $0 in current penalties.

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What to check next

University of California, Berkeley's record is one establishment in a larger pattern. Use it as a research checklist, not a verdict on the employer overall.

These figures are the federal enforcement record on file and reflect past inspections, not a statement about current workplace conditions. See the disclaimer for how to read them.

Data Sources & Methodology

Data as of 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA, WHD).

Source: OSHA Enforcement Data

Inspection and violation records from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor, covering the period 2010–2026. Includes inspection dates, violation types (serious, willful, repeat, other-than-serious), and penalty amounts. Penalties shown are current assessed amounts and may differ from original citations due to settlement, contest, or reduction.

Source: Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Compliance actions from the WHD, covering enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), including minimum wage, overtime, and child labor violations. Back wages represent amounts owed to affected employees as determined by WHD investigations.

Employer Matching

Employers are matched across OSHA and WHD datasets by name, state, and city. Employers included in PlainWorker have 2 or more OSHA inspections or $1,000+ in WHD back wages. Data is updated monthly from data.dol.gov.

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Every figure on PlainWorker is rendered directly from official U.S. Department of Labor OSHA and Wage & Hour Division enforcement records, no number is typed in by an editor. This employer's ratios (penalty-per-violation, industry comparisons) are computed live from the 7 inspections on record. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.