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State enforcement profile · #1 of 56 by penalties · AT/BELOW-US

California — top-third OSHA penalty rollup

California ranks #1 of 56 by assessed OSHA penalties ($121.6M), with 36,301 inspections on 19,429 tracked employers.

19,429
Employers
36,301
Inspections
$121.6M
OSHA penalties
$285.8M
Back wages

The state in one line

California ranks #1 of 56 U.S. jurisdictions by total OSHA penalties, with 62,917 violations cited across 36,301 inspections and $285.8M in wages recovered for workers.

#1
of 56 states by penalties
1.73
violations per inspection
$6K
avg penalty per employer
7,768
WHD wage-theft cases

This rank counts 30% of the penalty dollars recorded for California: only employers with at least two OSHA inspections or $1,000 or more in Wage & Hour back wages. On every recorded penalty dollar it would rank #1 of 56.

OSHA citation docket

State IMIS book CA · California AT/BELOW-US · MID-PPE

#1/56 · 36,301 insp · $121.6M

  • BOOK 19,429 employers
  • INSP 36,301 inspections
  • RANK #1 of 56
  • PEN $121.6M
  • RATE 1.73 viol/insp
  • VS-US AT/BELOW-US
  • WHD $285.8M
  • PHOTO Texas

Nearest employer-book peer: Texas ($8.9M penalty gap)

California ranks #1 of 56 U.S. jurisdictions by total OSHA penalties, with 62,917 violations cited across 36,301 inspections and $285.8M in wages recovered for workers. OSHA IMIS + DOL WHD citation stamps for this jurisdiction. Read with this state → · Worst-cited employer → · Similar-footprint state → · Compare employers →

California in the OSHA-penalty neighbourhood

Total assessed OSHA penalties among this state and nearest employer-book peers

penalties

What this shows California carries $121.6M in assessed OSHA penalties, ranked #1 of 56 jurisdictions.

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

Where California ranks nationally

Average OSHA penalty per tracked employer, vs all 56 U.S. jurisdictions

$6,256 Top 43% most affordable more affordable than 57% of 56 U.S. jurisdictions

$0–$2,000: 5 U.S. jurisdictions (9%). Below this entry. $2,000–$4,000: 9 U.S. jurisdictions (16%). Below this entry. $4,000–$6,000: 17 U.S. jurisdictions (30%). Below this entry. $6,000–$8,000: 10 U.S. jurisdictions (18%). This entry sits in this band. $8,000–$10,000: 5 U.S. jurisdictions (9%). Above this entry. $10,000–$12,000: 4 U.S. jurisdictions (7%). Above this entry. $12,000–$14,000: 2 U.S. jurisdictions (4%). Above this entry. $14,000–$16,000: 3 U.S. jurisdictions (5%). Above this entry. $16,000–$18,000: 0 U.S. jurisdictions (0%). Above this entry. $18,000–$20,000: 0 U.S. jurisdictions (0%). Above this entry. $20,000–$22,000: 1 U.S. jurisdictions (2%). Above this entry. $22,000–$24,000: 0 U.S. jurisdictions (0%). Above this entry. California $0 $24,000 every U.S. jurisdiction, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $2K-wide band; taller bars hold more U.S. jurisdictions. 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

Do more violations mean harsher penalties?

Each dot is one of the 56 U.S. jurisdictions with both violation and penalty data, placed by total violations cited and the average current penalty per violation. The highlighted dot is California.

High volume, high penaltyLow volume, high penaltyHigh volume, low penaltyBelow median on both020897.041793.962690.983587.9$26.7$1330.4$2634.1$3937.8$5241.6Total violations citedAverage penalty per violationAlabama, Total violations cited: 14683 · Average penalty per violation: $2955.54Alaska, Total violations cited: 11441 · Average penalty per violation: $1050.89American Samoa, Total violations cited: 829 · Average penalty per violation: $3521.93Arizona, Total violations cited: 8689 · Average penalty per violation: $523.14Arkansas, Total violations cited: 3343 · Average penalty per violation: $3153.71California, Total violations cited: 62917 · Average penalty per violation: $1931.91Colorado, Total violations cited: 11833 · Average penalty per violation: $1925.51Connecticut, Total violations cited: 23647 · Average penalty per violation: $1188.05Delaware, Total violations cited: 1884 · Average penalty per violation: $5004.52District of Columbia, Total violations cited: 2002 · Average penalty per violation: $1600.22Florida, Total violations cited: 20137 · Average penalty per violation: $2911.21Georgia, Total violations cited: 23607 · Average penalty per violation: $2424.16Guam, Total violations cited: 3356 · Average penalty per violation: $1368.12Hawaii, Total violations cited: 9120 · Average penalty per violation: $1397.7Idaho, Total violations cited: 3829 · Average penalty per violation: $1867.02Illinois, Total violations cited: 38576 · Average penalty per violation: $2518.72Indiana, Total violations cited: 4225 · Average penalty per violation: $1430.22Iowa, Total violations cited: 10267 · Average penalty per violation: $1892.75Kansas, Total violations cited: 9514 · Average penalty per violation: $2852.86Kentucky, Total violations cited: 3171 · Average penalty per violation: $1801.2Louisiana, Total violations cited: 3408 · Average penalty per violation: $2525.26Maine, Total violations cited: 8054 · Average penalty per violation: $1235.73Maryland, Total violations cited: 24360 · Average penalty per violation: $537.35Massachusetts, Total violations cited: 12091 · Average penalty per violation: $2401.87Michigan, Total violations cited: 67640 · Average penalty per violation: $671.06Minnesota, Total violations cited: 9173 · Average penalty per violation: $604.31Mississippi, Total violations cited: 4912 · Average penalty per violation: $2280.7Missouri, Total violations cited: 12358 · Average penalty per violation: $2481.04Montana, Total violations cited: 2718 · Average penalty per violation: $2076Nebraska, Total violations cited: 4514 · Average penalty per violation: $3581.2Nevada, Total violations cited: 18844 · Average penalty per violation: $1778.2New Hampshire, Total violations cited: 3281 · Average penalty per violation: $2336.7New Jersey, Total violations cited: 51588 · Average penalty per violation: $2257.14New Mexico, Total violations cited: 2690 · Average penalty per violation: $1987.11New York, Total violations cited: 79647 · Average penalty per violation: $851.4North Carolina, Total violations cited: 18017 · Average penalty per violation: $593.13North Dakota, Total violations cited: 1761 · Average penalty per violation: $4787.03Northern Mariana Islands, Total violations cited: 943 · Average penalty per violation: $1423.52Ohio, Total violations cited: 33085 · Average penalty per violation: $3209.32Oklahoma, Total violations cited: 5020 · Average penalty per violation: $2618.51Oregon, Total violations cited: 21930 · Average penalty per violation: $263.72Pennsylvania, Total violations cited: 34307 · Average penalty per violation: $2124.18Puerto Rico, Total violations cited: 11369 · Average penalty per violation: $851.43Rhode Island, Total violations cited: 3528 · Average penalty per violation: $1806.54South Carolina, Total violations cited: 5382 · Average penalty per violation: $551.38South Dakota, Total violations cited: 1901 · Average penalty per violation: $3123.16Tennessee, Total violations cited: 38865 · Average penalty per violation: $633.23Texas, Total violations cited: 37481 · Average penalty per violation: $3006.51Utah, Total violations cited: 6414 · Average penalty per violation: $1044.66Vermont, Total violations cited: 3044 · Average penalty per violation: $1498.54Virgin Islands, Total violations cited: 2592 · Average penalty per violation: $737.45Virginia, Total violations cited: 29121 · Average penalty per violation: $1651.15Washington, Total violations cited: 28812 · Average penalty per violation: $424.16West Virginia, Total violations cited: 3289 · Average penalty per violation: $2142.24Wisconsin, Total violations cited: 23614 · Average penalty per violation: $2667.32Wyoming, Total violations cited: 2936 · Average penalty per violation: $1582.38
California cites 62,917 total violations at an average current penalty of $1931.91 per violation. The crosshair marks the median jurisdiction on both axes. Across this dataset, citing more violations is mildly ASSOCIATED WITH A LOWER average penalty per violation, not a higher one -- the opposite of what volume alone might suggest.

Top OSHA & wage enforcement actions in California

Ranked by combined OSHA penalties and DOL Wage & Hour Division back wages. Some employers below have wage-theft cases with zero OSHA safety violations, or vice versa; check the Inspections/Violations columns before drawing safety conclusions.

#EmployerInspectionsViolationsPenalty + wages
1Corrections Corporation of America (CCA)California City00$8.1M
2Hewlett-PackardPalo Alto00$5.2M
3California Cartage CompanyCarson00$3.6M
4ZenefitsSan Francisco00$3.4M
5LinkedInMountain View00$3.3M
6AloricaIrvine00$3.2M
7John Muir HealthWalnut Creek55$2.4M
8Munger Bros.- Empire Ranch (8 Mile Road)Stockton00$2.1M
9First Republic BankSan Francisco00$2.0M
10Price TransferCompton00$2.0M
11Lange Trucking Inc.Pleasanton00$2.0M
12Southwest Fuel Management, Inc.Agoura Hills00$1.9M
13CLP Skill Trade Solution Inc.Van Nuys00$1.8M
14San Mateo County HSA Children & Family Ser.Belmont00$1.8M
15Byton North AmericaSanta Clara00$1.7M
16Hewlett Packard (NASA ACES Contra)/PerspectaPalo Alto00$1.7M
17Chevron U.S.a. INC.Richmond65172$1.5M
18Able Building MaintenanceSan Francisco00$1.5M
19National Consolidated Couriers, IncSan Leandro00$1.4M
20L&Y Food, Lotus Poultry, Moon Poultry, et alEl Monte00$1.3M

All employers in California

EmployerCityInspectionsPenalty
R&R Builders LLCPacific Palisades2$8K
Law Offices of Dennis A Dascanio APCOntario0$0
Tyme to Bowl LaneOroville3$8K
Anjali House IClovis0$0
Leonie HouseClovis0$0
Golden Care HomesClovis0$0
Towne Ford SalesRedwood City0$0
Valley Center Fire Protection DistrictValley Center1$0
House to Home RemodelingEncinitas0$0
B. Boston & Associates, Inc.Los Angeles0$0
Pace Supply CORPStockton2$8K
Nor-Cal Scaffolding, INC.San Francisco4$8K
Beachwood House, INC.Santa Rosa0$0
Stockton Unified School DistrictStockton15$8K
7-Eleven Store #39017Tustin0$0
Everingham Brothers Bait CompanySan Diego2$8K
Health NetWoodland Hills0$0
Crusader Fence Co., Inc.Rancho Cordova0$0
National Pallets Co. IncWest Sacramento0$0
Flexport, INC.Highland2$8K
L & L vineyardsHealdsburg0$0
Dr. Atul PatelHayward0$0
United Building Company, INC.Palm Springs2$8K
99 Cents Only StoresOakland2$8K
La Pradera Carniceria - AzusaAzusa0$0
Imerys Minerals California INC.Lompoc3$8K
Healthcare Services Group, INC.Long Beach2$8K
Garden City Sanitation, INC.Santa Clara2$8K
Lou's Doors, INC.San Jose2$8K
House of Furniture & MattressGilroy0$0
Four Seasons RoofingChico9$5K
Dna Ridge Rock, INC.Lower Lake5$8K
Tanya Fashion INCLos Angeles2$8K
TL Production INCLos Angeles2$8K
Sygnos INC.San Diego0$0
JNL Marble & Granite, Inc.Tracy0$0
Falck Northern California CORP.Hayward3$8K
Pace Supply CORPSacramento2$8K
Acemi Nursery, INC.Kerman2$8K
Haute House Home Furnishings, INC.Los Angeles3$8K
Uc los Angeles - Facilities ManagementLos Angeles2$8K
Kern Medical CenterBakersfield4$8K
Aunt Beth's Cookie KeepersLake Forest0$0
Allwayz TowingLancaster0$0
City of EurekaEureka3$8K
Rite-Way Meat Packers, INC.Vernon3$8K
MKB ConstructionSanta Rosa2$8K
Amware Pallet Services, LLCFresno8$8K
Surf City Auto Group, INC.Huntington Beach2$8K
Los Angeles LOMOD CorporationLos Angeles0$0
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Industries in California

Enforcement and wage-compliance data broken out by industry sector within California.

Accommodation & Food ServicesAdministrative & Waste ServicesAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing & HuntingArts, Entertainment & RecreationConstructionEducational ServicesFinance & InsuranceHealthcare & Social AssistanceInformationManagement of CompaniesManufacturingMining, Quarrying, Oil & GasOtherOther ServicesProfessional & Technical ServicesPublic AdministrationReal Estate & RentalRetail TradeTransportation & WarehousingUnknownUtilitiesWholesale Trade

Top Cities in California

The 20 cities with the most employers in the federal enforcement record within California (of 513 total).

Los Angeles (1,466)San Diego (582)Sacramento (544)San Francisco (537)Fresno (465)Redding (326)San Jose (302)Stockton (302)Bakersfield (296)Oakland (290)Chico (227)Modesto (212)Ontario (187)Anaheim (182)Riverside (166)Santa Ana (156)Irvine (147)Long Beach (140)Madera (134)Tracy (121)

View all 513 cities in California →

Nationwide states with similar OSHA penalties or violation rates

Two enforcement-record peer sets for California: nearest jurisdictions by total assessed OSHA penalties and by violations per inspection. These are cross-state neighborhoods, not the employer-book peers above.

Similar total OSHA penalties

Other top-third penalty states outside California's employer-book footprint — matched by total assessed OSHA penalties ($121.6M here).

New Jersey $116.4M Texas $112.7M Ohio $106.2M Illinois $97.2M

Similar violations per inspection

States with lower inspection-weighted violation rates near California's 1.73 per inspection.

Kansas 1.77/insp Oklahoma 1.78/insp Kentucky 1.69/insp Utah 1.67/insp

Source: OSHA Enforcement Data, U.S. Department of Labor · Verify with OSHA establishment search →
Source: Wage & Hour Division Compliance Actions, U.S. Department of Labor · DOL WHD data →