North Carolina prevailing wage rates, by county

What contractors must pay each trade on federally funded jobs in North Carolina, 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 2026-11-13

$45.41/hrTypical union electrician ratewage + fringe, per hour

32%Counties on a union rateelectricians, Building

97Wage determinationsNorth Carolina

May 18Latest change2026, SAM.gov

Look up the prevailing wage in your North Carolina 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 North Carolina metros with their own pay pages are Charlotte (Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell and more); Raleigh (Franklin, Johnston, Wake); Virginia Beach (Camden, Currituck, Gates). Click any county below for every trade on its determination.

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

Highest electrician rates

1Anson, Cabarrus and 6 more$45.97
2Buncombe, Haywood and 2 more$45.91
3Davidson, Davie and 6 more$45.41

Lowest

1Alleghany, Ashe and 16 more$15.77
2Caswell, Granville and 4 more$16.01
3Alexander, Burke and 2 more$18.16

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
Alamance	$44.43	$30.26*	$23.37*	$15.74*	$19.45*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Alexander	$18.16*	$47.44	$28.43*	$12.63*	$16.58*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Alleghany	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$12.17*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Anson	$45.97	$44.35	$15.57*	$14.03*	$18.48*	$47.75	$16.97*	$17.01*
Ashe	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$12.17*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Avery	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$12.17*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Beaufort	$18.57*	$20.13*	$17.03*	$11.24*	$17.04*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.33*
Bertie	$18.57*	$20.13*	$17.03*	$11.24*	$17.04*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.33*
Bladen	$20.43*	$19.71*	$18.92*	$11.92*	$18.89*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.57*
Brunswick	$28.08*	$23.11*	$24.18*	$13.63*	$23.89*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Buncombe	$45.91	$35.05*	$26.82*	$16.25*	$16.58*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Burke	$18.16*	$47.44	$28.43*	$12.63*	$16.58*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Cabarrus	$45.97	$27.77*	$26.49*	$16.91*	$16.58*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Caldwell	$18.16*	$47.44	$28.43*	$12.63*	$16.58*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Camden	$18.57*	$20.13*	$17.03*	$11.24*	$17.04*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.33*
Carteret	$18.57*	$20.13*	$17.03*	$11.24*	$17.04*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.33*
Caswell	$16.01*	$19.84*	$18.09*	$12.89*	$15.96*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.87*
Catawba	$18.16*	$47.44	$28.43*	$12.58*	$16.58*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Chatham	$44.43	$30.26*	$23.37*	$15.74*	$19.45*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Cherokee	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$12.17*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Chowan	$18.57*	$20.13*	$17.03*	$11.24*	$17.04*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.33*
Clay	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$12.17*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Cleveland	$20.43*	$19.71*	$18.92*	$11.92*	$18.89*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.57*
Columbus	$20.43*	$19.71*	$18.92*	$11.92*	$18.89*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.57*
Craven	$28.08*	$23.11*	$24.69*	$15.27*	$23.89*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Cumberland	$28.08*	$23.40*	$24.69*	$19.76*	$23.89*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Currituck	$28.08*	$23.11*	$24.69*	$15.27*	$23.89*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Dare	$18.57*	$20.13*	$17.03*	$11.24*	$17.04*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.33*
Davidson	$45.41	$21.75*	$20.76*	$12.94*	$19.22*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.36*
Davie	$45.41	$21.75*	$20.76*	$12.94*	$19.22*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.36*
Duplin	$20.43*	$19.71*	$18.92*	$11.92*	$18.89*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.57*
Durham	$44.43	$30.26*	$23.37*	$11.72*	$19.45*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Edgecombe	$44.43	$30.26*	$22.83*	$10.88*	$19.45*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Forsyth	$45.41	$21.75*	—	$12.94*	$19.22*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.36*
Franklin	$44.43	$30.26*	$23.75*	$16.91*	$25.00*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Gaston	$45.97	$27.77*	$25.28*	$16.91*	$16.58*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Gates	$28.08*	$23.11*	$24.69*	$15.27*	$23.89*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Graham	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$12.17*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Granville	$16.01*	$19.84*	$18.09*	$12.89*	$15.96*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.87*
Greene	$21.37*	$22.04*	$19.78*	$10.20*	$20.39*	$47.75	$17.21*	$12.35*
Guilford	$45.41	$21.75*	$29.83*	$12.10*	$19.22*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.36*
Halifax	$16.01*	$19.84*	$18.09*	$12.89*	$15.96*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.87*
Harnett	$20.43*	$19.71*	$18.92*	$11.92*	$18.89*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.57*
Haywood	$45.91	$35.05*	$26.82*	$16.25*	$16.58*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Henderson	$45.91	$35.05*	$26.82*	$16.25*	$16.58*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Hertford	$18.57*	$20.13*	$17.03*	$11.24*	$17.04*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.33*
Hoke	$28.08*	$23.40*	$24.69*	$19.76*	$23.89*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Hyde	$18.57*	$20.13*	$17.03*	$11.24*	$17.04*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.33*
Iredell	$45.97	$27.77*	$26.49*	$21.79*	$16.58*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Jackson	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$14.03*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Johnston	$44.43	$30.26*	$23.75*	$16.91*	$25.00*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Jones	$28.08*	$23.11*	$24.69*	$15.27*	$23.89*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Lee	$20.43*	$19.71*	$18.92*	$11.92*	$18.89*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.57*
Lenoir	$20.43*	$19.71*	$18.92*	$11.92*	$18.89*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.57*
Lincoln	$45.97	$27.77*	$26.49*	$16.91*	$16.58*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Macon	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$12.17*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Madison	$45.91	$35.05*	$26.82*	$16.25*	$16.58*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Martin	$18.57*	$20.13*	$17.03*	$11.24*	$17.04*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.33*
McDowell	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$12.17*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Mecklenburg	$45.97	$28.02*	$29.15*	$15.90*	$16.58*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Mitchell	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$12.17*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Montgomery	$20.43*	$19.71*	$18.92*	$11.92*	$18.89*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.57*
Moore	$20.43*	$19.71*	$18.92*	$11.92*	$18.89*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.57*
Nash	$44.43	$30.26*	$22.83*	$10.88*	$19.45*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
New Hanover	$28.08*	$23.11*	$26.10*	$11.92*	$23.89*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Northampton	$16.01*	$19.84*	$18.09*	$12.89*	$15.96*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.87*
Onslow	$28.08*	$23.11*	$20.74*	$12.79*	$23.89*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Orange	$44.43	$30.26*	$23.37*	$15.74*	$19.45*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Pamlico	$28.08*	$23.11*	$24.69*	$15.27*	$23.89*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Pasquotank	$18.57*	$20.13*	$17.03*	$12.20*	$17.04*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.33*
Pender	$28.08*	$23.11*	$24.18*	$13.63*	$23.89*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Perquimans	$18.57*	$20.13*	$17.03*	$11.24*	$17.04*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.33*
Person	$44.43	$30.26*	$23.37*	$15.74*	$19.45*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Pitt	$44.43	$30.26*	$22.83*	$10.88*	$19.45*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Polk	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$12.17*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Randolph	$45.41	$21.75*	$24.45*	$12.53*	$19.22*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.36*
Richmond	$20.43*	$19.71*	$18.92*	$11.92*	$18.89*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.57*
Robeson	$20.43*	$19.71*	$18.92*	$11.92*	$18.89*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.57*
Rockingham	$45.41	$21.75*	$24.45*	$12.53*	$19.22*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.36*
Rowan	$45.97	$27.77*	$26.49*	$16.91*	$16.58*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Rutherford	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$12.17*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Sampson	$20.43*	$19.71*	$18.92*	$11.92*	$18.89*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.57*
Scotland	$20.43*	$19.71*	$18.92*	$11.92*	$18.89*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.57*
Stanly	$20.43*	$19.71*	$18.92*	$14.76*	$18.89*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.57*
Stokes	$45.41	$21.75*	$20.76*	$12.94*	$19.22*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.36*
Surry	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$12.17*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Swain	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$12.17*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Transylvania	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$12.17*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Tyrrell	$18.57*	$20.13*	$17.03*	$11.24*	$17.04*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.33*
Union	$45.97	$27.77*	$26.49*	$16.91*	$16.58*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Vance	$16.01*	$19.84*	$18.09*	$12.89*	$15.96*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.87*
Wake	$44.43	$30.26*	$23.60*	$16.74*	$25.00*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Warren	$16.01*	$19.84*	$18.09*	$12.89*	$15.96*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.87*
Washington	$18.57*	$20.13*	$17.03*	$11.24*	$17.04*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.33*
Watauga	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$11.56*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Wayne	$44.43	$30.26*	$23.75*	$10.20*	$25.00*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.60*
Wilkes	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$12.17*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*
Wilson	$20.43*	$19.71*	$18.92*	$11.92*	$18.89*	$24.37*	$14.37*	$16.57*
Yadkin	$45.41	$21.75*	$20.76*	$12.94*	$19.22*	$47.75	$32.94*	$16.36*
Yancey	$15.77*	$19.84*	$17.85*	$12.17*	$20.01*	$24.37*	$14.71*	$16.64*

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 North Carolina

The prevailing wage is what federally funded jobs must pay. The market median is what North Carolina employers report paying across all work, with no benefits in it. Every trade in the state is ranked on the highest-paying trades in North Carolina 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 North Carolina	$27.31	$45.41	Union	+$18.10
Plumber in North Carolina	$27.44	$47.44	Union	+$20.00
Carpenter in North Carolina	$23.61	$18.92	Survey	$-4.69
Construction laborer in North Carolina	$21.50	$12.17	Survey	$-9.33
Heavy equipment operator in North Carolina	$23.71	$19.05	Survey	$-4.66
Ironworker in North Carolina	$23.43	$47.75	Union	+$24.32
Sheet metal worker in North Carolina	$24.39	$14.71	Survey	$-9.68
Painter in North Carolina	$21.21	$16.60	Survey	$-4.61

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 North Carolina?

On federally funded construction in North Carolina, it is the Davis-Bacon rate: a wage plus a fringe amount for benefits, set by county and trade in 97 wage determinations covering Building, Residential, Heavy and Highway work. Electricians are on a union rate in 32 of the 100 counties with a Building rate, and the typical union rate is $45.41 an hour, wage and fringe together.

How many Davis-Bacon wage determinations cover North Carolina?

97 active determinations cover North Carolina: 41 Building, 20 Heavy, 6 Highway, 30 Residential. The Building ones list rates for 100 counties, shown on this page. This page covers the federal rates; state-funded jobs may fall under North Carolina's own prevailing wage law.

How often do the rates change?

The Department of Labor publishes changes most Thursdays. The latest change to a North Carolina determination in our data is dated 2026-05-18. New determination numbers come out each January.

Sources and notes

SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations for North Carolina, current revisions as of 2026-11-13: Building 41, Heavy 20, Highway 6, Residential 30.
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.