Iowa prevailing wage rates, by county

What contractors must pay each trade on federally funded jobs in Iowa, county by county. Wage plus fringe, next to what the same trade earns on private work.

Data compiled by Skilled WagesSAM.gov determinations as of 2026-11-06

$66.39/hrTypical union electrician ratewage + fringe, per hour

17%Counties on a union rateelectricians, Building

80Wage determinationsIowa

Oct 29Latest change2026, SAM.gov

Look up the prevailing wage in your Iowa county

County

Construction type

Pick a county and type of construction to see every trade with its wage, fringe and total.

Rates by county for the main trades

Rates are set by county, not by city. The Iowa metros with their own pay pages are Omaha (Harrison, Mills, Pottawattamie). Click any county below for every trade on its determination.

Electrician prevailing wage (wage + fringe), Building construction, by county in Iowa. Hatched: survey rate.

Highest electrician rates

1Clinton, Muscatine, Scott$74.56
2Harrison, Mills and 2 more$67.29
3Dallas, Guthrie and 3 more$66.39

Lowest

1Story$28.10
2Buena Vista, Calhoun and 20 more$28.38
3Des Moines$32.43

Building construction, wage + fringe per hour. Counties sharing one rate are grouped. Solid is a union rate, hatched is a survey rate. Click a county for every trade.

Union contract rateSurvey rate (marked * in the table)

County	Electrician	Plumber	Carpenter	Construction laborer	Heavy equipment operator	Ironworker	Sheet metal worker	Painter
Adair	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Adams	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Allamakee	$34.78*	$35.27*	$31.10*	$18.44*	$41.11*	$59.98	$34.25*	$48.71
Appanoose	$32.86*	$46.97*	$35.47*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
Audubon	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Benton	$39.55*	$67.08	$55.32	$48.15	$57.35	$59.98	$64.56	$41.65
Black Hawk	$50.98	$34.02*	$28.63*	$17.19*	$39.69*	$59.98	$32.61*	$41.65
Boone	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$19.56*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Bremer	$50.98	$33.51*	$29.74*	$17.03*	$39.69*	$59.98	$31.98*	$41.65
Buchanan	$34.78*	$35.27*	$31.10*	$18.44*	$41.11*	$59.98	$34.25*	$48.71
Buena Vista	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Butler	$34.78*	$35.27*	$31.10*	$18.44*	$41.11*	$59.98	$34.25*	$48.71
Calhoun	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Carroll	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$14.11*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Cass	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Cedar	$32.86*	$46.97*	$16.04*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$39.96*	$48.71
Cerro Gordo	$34.78*	$34.08*	$20.88*	$21.21*	$41.11*	$59.98	$28.61*	$48.71
Cherokee	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Chickasaw	$34.78*	$35.27*	$31.10*	$18.44*	$41.11*	$59.98	$34.25*	$48.71
Clarke	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Clay	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Clayton	$34.78*	$35.27*	$55.30	$18.44*	$41.11*	$59.98	$34.25*	$48.71
Clinton	$74.56	$73.15	$63.78	$32.66*	$42.66*	$68.49	$60.55	$48.71
Crawford	$34.51*	$68.45	$23.63*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	—	$48.71
Dallas	$66.39	$68.45	$56.93	$47.35	$56.96	$61.34	$64.33	$48.71
Davis	$32.73*	$46.97*	$35.58*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
Decatur	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Delaware	$34.78*	$35.27*	$55.30	$18.44*	$41.11*	$59.98	$34.25*	$48.71
Des Moines	$32.43*	$46.97*	$24.26*	$14.48*	$20.70*	$41.18*	$36.49*	$48.71
Dickinson	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$16.26*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Dubuque	$63.00	$65.33	$55.30	$43.98	$57.35	$59.98	$64.56	$41.65
Emmet	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Fayette	$34.78*	$35.27*	$31.10*	$18.44*	$41.11*	$59.98	$34.25*	$48.71
Floyd	$34.78*	$35.27*	$31.10*	$18.44*	$41.11*	$59.98	$28.91*	$48.71
Franklin	$34.78*	$35.27*	$31.10*	$18.44*	$41.11*	$59.98	$34.25*	$48.71
Fremont	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Greene	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Grundy	$50.98	$33.51*	$28.72*	$17.03*	$39.69*	$59.98	$31.98*	$41.65
Guthrie	$66.39	—	$56.93	$47.35	$54.32*	$68.49	—	$26.41*
Hamilton	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Hancock	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Hardin	$34.78*	$35.27*	$31.10*	$18.44*	$41.11*	$59.98	$34.25*	$48.71
Harrison	$67.29	$68.45	$31.53*	$12.81*	$17.41*	$55.86	$40.79*	$26.41*
Henry	$32.73*	$46.97*	$35.58*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
Howard	$34.78*	$35.27*	$31.10*	$18.44*	$41.11*	$59.98	$34.25*	$48.71
Humboldt	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Ida	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Iowa	$32.73*	$46.97*	$58.89	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
Jackson	$32.73*	$46.97*	$35.58*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
Jasper	$32.73*	$46.97*	$35.47*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
Jefferson	$32.73*	$46.97*	$35.58*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
Johnson	$35.93*	$67.08	$58.89	$20.76*	$39.69*	$59.98	$64.56	$41.65
Jones	$39.55*	$67.08	$55.32	$48.15	$57.35	$59.98	$64.56	$41.65
Keokuk	$32.73*	$46.97*	$35.58*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
Kossuth	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Lee	$32.73*	$46.97*	$55.32	$46.10	$82.75	$62.10	$59.34	$48.71
Linn	$39.28*	$67.08	$55.32	$48.15	$57.35	$59.98	$64.56	$41.65
Louisa	$32.73*	$46.97*	$35.58*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
Lucas	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Lyon	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Madison	$66.39	—	$56.93	$47.35	$54.32*	$68.49	—	$26.41*
Mahaska	$32.73*	$46.97*	$35.58*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
Marion	$32.73*	$46.97*	$35.58*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
Marshall	$32.67*	$46.97*	$35.58*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$64.33	$48.71
Mills	$67.29	$68.45	$31.53*	$12.81*	$17.41*	$55.86	$40.79*	$26.41*
Mitchell	$34.78*	$35.27*	$31.10*	$18.44*	$41.11*	$59.98	$34.25*	$48.71
Monona	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Monroe	$32.73*	$46.97*	$35.58*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
Montgomery	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Muscatine	$74.56	$42.14*	$63.78	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
O'Brien	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Osceola	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Page	$67.29	$34.78*	$29.29*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Palo Alto	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Plymouth	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Pocahontas	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Polk	$66.39	$68.45	$36.10*	$47.35	$56.96	$61.34	$64.33	$48.71
Pottawattamie	$67.29	$68.45	$31.27*	$12.81*	$17.41*	$55.86	$40.79*	$26.41*
Poweshiek	$32.73*	$46.97*	$35.58*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
Ringgold	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Sac	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Scott	$74.56	$73.15	$63.78	$54.16	$82.75	$68.49	$40.90*	$50.37
Shelby	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Sioux	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$17.32*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Story	$28.10*	$68.45	$34.95*	$20.38*	$56.96	$61.34	$64.33	$48.71
Tama	$32.73*	$46.97*	$35.58*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
Taylor	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Union	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$17.67*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Van Buren	$32.73*	$46.97*	$35.58*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
Wapello	$32.73*	$68.45	$33.35*	$24.18*	$42.66*	$41.18*	$59.34	$48.71
Warren	$66.39	$68.45	$56.93	$47.35	$56.96	$61.34	$64.33	$48.71
Washington	$34.20*	$40.66*	$27.06*	$20.76*	$39.69*	$59.98	$64.56	$41.65
Wayne	$34.51*	$34.78*	$29.29*	$20.94*	$35.63*	$23.43*	$64.33	$48.71
Webster	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Winnebago	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*
Winneshiek	$34.78*	$35.27*	$31.10*	$18.44*	$41.11*	$59.98	$34.25*	$48.71
Woodbury	$57.63	$68.45	$50.15	$36.60	$17.41*	$48.05	$28.13*	$26.41*
Worth	$34.78*	$35.27*	$31.10*	$18.44*	$41.11*	$59.98	$34.25*	$48.71
Wright	$28.38*	$66.45	$22.03*	$13.85*	$41.11*	$59.98	$55.40	$24.27*

Building construction, wage + fringe per hour, current revision. * = survey rate. Not the official determination: the lookup gives the determination number and a link to the official text.

Prevailing wage vs market pay in Iowa

The prevailing wage is what federally funded jobs must pay. The market median is what Iowa employers report paying across all work, with no benefits in it. Every trade in the state is ranked on the highest-paying trades in Iowa page, and every state is compared on the prevailing wage rates by state page.

Trade	Market median $/hr	Prevailing wage $/hr (wage + fringe)	Rate type	Gap
Electrician in Iowa	$29.26	$66.39	Union	+$37.13
Plumber in Iowa	$30.72	$66.45	Union	+$35.73
Carpenter in Iowa	$27.75	$56.93	Union	+$29.18
Construction laborer in Iowa	$23.31	$47.35	Union	+$24.04
Heavy equipment operator in Iowa	$29.01	$57.35	Union	+$28.34
Ironworker in Iowa	$37.21	$59.98	Union	+$22.77
Sheet metal worker in Iowa	$31.95	$59.34	Union	+$27.39
Painter in Iowa	$23.90	$48.71	Union	+$24.81

Prevailing wage is the typical Davis-Bacon rate across counties with one, Building construction. The market median has no benefits in it, so the gap is bigger than the difference in take-home pay. Not the official determination.

Questions this page answers

What is the prevailing wage in Iowa?

On federally funded construction in Iowa, it is the Davis-Bacon rate: a wage plus a fringe amount for benefits, set by county and trade in 80 wage determinations covering Building, Residential, Heavy and Highway work. Electricians are on a union rate in 17 of the 99 counties with a Building rate, and the typical union rate is $66.39 an hour, wage and fringe together.

How many Davis-Bacon wage determinations cover Iowa?

80 active determinations cover Iowa: 52 Building, 4 Heavy, 2 Highway, 24 Residential. The Building ones list rates for 99 counties, shown on this page. This page covers the federal rates; state-funded jobs may fall under Iowa's own prevailing wage law.

How often do the rates change?

The Department of Labor publishes changes most Thursdays. The latest change to a Iowa determination in our data is dated 2026-10-29. New determination numbers come out each January.

Sources and notes

SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations for Iowa, current revisions as of 2026-11-06: Heavy 4, Highway 2, Residential 24, Building 52.
BLS OEWS May 2025 for market medians.
Trade names simplified from the official classification labels by Skilled Wages; where a determination lists several electrician or laborer classes, the journeyman or general class is shown. The official text governs.