Massachusetts prevailing wage rates, by county
Federal Davis-Bacon base + fringe for every Massachusetts county, next to the market wage, with the determination numbers to cite.
Look up a Massachusetts county
Key trades by county (Building)
| County | Electrician | Plumber | Carpenter | Construction laborer | Heavy equipment operator | Ironworker | Sheet metal worker | Painter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable | $84.36 | $106.27 | $81.55 | $75.80 | $90.88 | $91.13 | $82.09 | $80.32 |
| Berkshire | $81.72 | $83.31 | $71.15 | $63.87 | $71.81 | $75.79 | $79.94 | $67.35 |
| Bristol | $84.36 | $106.27 | $81.55 | $75.80 | $90.88 | $91.13 | $82.09 | $80.32 |
| Dukes | $84.36 | $106.27 | $81.55 | $75.80 | $90.88 | $91.13 | $82.09 | $80.32 |
| Essex | $84.36 | $106.27 | $81.55 | $75.80 | $90.88 | $91.13 | $82.09 | $80.32 |
| Franklin | $81.72 | $83.31 | $71.15 | $63.87 | $71.81 | $75.79 | $79.94 | $67.35 |
| Hampden | $81.72 | $83.31 | $71.15 | $63.87 | $71.81 | $75.79 | $79.94 | $67.35 |
| Hampshire | $81.72 | $83.31 | $71.15 | $63.87 | $71.81 | $75.79 | $79.94 | $67.35 |
| Middlesex | $84.36 | $106.27 | $81.55 | $75.80 | $90.88 | $91.13 | $82.09 | $80.32 |
| Nantucket | $84.36 | $106.27 | $81.55 | $75.80 | $90.88 | $91.13 | $82.09 | $80.32 |
| Norfolk | $84.36 | $106.27 | $81.55 | $75.80 | $90.88 | $91.13 | $82.09 | $80.32 |
| Plymouth | $81.07 | $86.09 | $81.55 | $68.76 | $91.53 | $95.54 | $108.78 | $82.26 |
| Suffolk | $84.36 | $106.27 | $81.55 | $75.80 | $90.88 | $91.13 | $82.09 | $80.32 |
| Worcester | $84.36 | $86.57 | $81.55 | $51.88* | $91.53 | $95.24 | $79.94 | $82.26 |
Building construction type, base + fringe per hour, current revision. * = survey rate. Not the official determination; use the lookup for the determination number and a link to the official text.
Rates that have not kept up
Survey-based rates that are eight or more years old and how they compare with today's market median for the county's metro (or state).
| County | Trade | Survey year | Required package $/hr | Market median $/hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | Construction laborer | 2016 | $51.88 | $29.52 |
Questions this page answers
What is the prevailing wage in Massachusetts?
For federally funded construction, the Davis-Bacon determinations for Massachusetts (24 active documents covering Building, Residential, Heavy and Highway work) set the required base wage and fringe by county and classification. Union-contract rates apply to electricians in 14 of 14 counties with a Building rate; the typical union package is $84.36 an hour.
How many Davis-Bacon determinations cover Massachusetts?
24 active general wage determinations cover Massachusetts: 4 Building, 4 Heavy, 13 Highway, 3 Residential. Together they list rates for 14 counties in the Building type shown here. State-funded projects may fall under a separate Massachusetts prevailing wage law; this page covers the federal rates.
How often do the rates change?
The Department of Labor publishes modifications most Thursdays. The latest change to a Massachusetts determination in our data is dated 2026-08-06. New determination numbers are issued each January.
Sources and notes
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations for Massachusetts, current revisions as of 2026-09-28: Building 4, Heavy 4, Residential 3, Highway 13.
- BLS OEWS May 2025 for market medians.
- Classification labels normalised to trades by Skilled Wages; where a determination lists several electrician or laborer classes, the journeyman / general class is shown. The official text governs.