North Carolina prevailing wage rates, by county

Federal Davis-Bacon base + fringe for every North Carolina county, next to the market wage, with the determination numbers to cite.

Data compiled by Skilled WagesSAM.gov determinations as of 2026-09-28

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

32%Counties with a union electrician rateBuilding type

97Active determinationsNorth Carolina

May 18Latest modification2026, SAM.gov

Look up a North Carolina county

County

Construction type

Choose a county and construction type to list every classification with base, fringe and total.

Key trades by county (Building)

Davis-Bacon electrician package (base + fringe), Building construction, by county in North Carolina. Hatched: survey rate.

Highest electrician packages

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 type, base + fringe per hour; counties sharing a rate are grouped. Swatch: union contract rate or survey rate. Select a county to see every classification.

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 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
Alleghany	Electrician	2011	$15.77	$27.31
Ashe	Electrician	2011	$15.77	$27.31
Avery	Electrician	2011	$15.77	$27.31
Alleghany	Plumber	2011	$19.84	$27.44
Ashe	Plumber	2011	$19.84	$27.44
Avery	Plumber	2011	$19.84	$27.44
Alleghany	Carpenter	2011	$17.85	$23.61
Anson	Carpenter	2011	$15.57	$24.50
Ashe	Carpenter	2011	$17.85	$23.61
Alleghany	Construction laborer	2011	$12.17	$21.50
Anson	Construction laborer	2011	$14.03	$22.04
Ashe	Construction laborer	2011	$12.17	$21.50
Alleghany	Heavy equipment operator	2011	$20.01	$23.71
Anson	Heavy equipment operator	2011	$18.48	$24.46
Ashe	Heavy equipment operator	2011	$20.01	$23.71
Alleghany	Ironworker	2011	$24.37	$23.43
Ashe	Ironworker	2011	$24.37	$23.43
Avery	Ironworker	2011	$24.37	$23.43
Alleghany	Sheet metal worker	2011	$14.71	$24.39
Anson	Sheet metal worker	2011	$16.97	$24.46
Ashe	Sheet metal worker	2011	$14.71	$24.39
Alleghany	Painter	2011	$16.64	$21.21
Anson	Painter	2011	$17.01	$21.59
Ashe	Painter	2011	$16.64	$21.21

Questions this page answers

What is the prevailing wage in North Carolina?

For federally funded construction, the Davis-Bacon determinations for North Carolina (97 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 32 of 100 counties with a Building rate; the typical union package is $45.41 an hour.

How many Davis-Bacon determinations cover North Carolina?

97 active general wage determinations cover North Carolina: 41 Building, 20 Heavy, 6 Highway, 30 Residential. Together they list rates for 100 counties in the Building type shown here. State-funded projects may fall under a separate North Carolina 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 North Carolina determination in our data is dated 2026-05-18. New determination numbers are issued each January.

Sources and notes

SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations for North Carolina, current revisions as of 2026-09-28: Building 41, Heavy 20, Highway 6, Residential 30.
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.