Davis-Bacon wage rates · New Jersey
Essex County prevailing wage rates
Federal Davis-Bacon wage determinations for Essex County, New Jersey, by construction type. Every rate links to the full table and to the source on SAM.gov.
Wage determinations for Essex County
| Construction type | WD number | Mod | Published | Classifications | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building | NJ20260031 | 1 | May 18, 2026 | 37 | SAM.gov |
| Residential | NJ20260011 | 1 | May 18, 2026 | 15 | SAM.gov |
| Heavy | NJ20260052 | 2 | August 13, 2026 | 22 | SAM.gov |
| Heavy, also | NJ20260003Scope: All dredging, except self propelled hopper dredging, on the Atlantic Coast and tributary waters emptying into the Atlant | 2 | May 18, 2026 | 7 | SAM.gov |
| Highway | NJ20260002 | 2 | May 18, 2026 | 73 | SAM.gov |
Rates for common trades
One representative row per trade from the main wage determination for each type, with its classification as printed. Most trades have several rows (by area, scope or equipment); open the full table to pick the one that fits the work.
Building · WD NJ20260031 Mod 1
Sheltered enclosures with walk-in access for housing people, machinery, equipment or supplies, and all their installations. Includes apartment buildings of 5 stories and up.
- PlumberPLUMBER (EXCLUDING HVAC PIPE INSTALLATION)$62.09 + $45.05
- CarpenterCARPENTER (INCLUDING ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, DRYWALL HANGING, FORMWORK, BATT AND BLOWN INSULATION)$57.42 + $34.17
- LaborerLABORER: ASPHALT SHOVELER, ASPHALT SPREADER, COMMON OR GENERAL LABORER, LANDSCAPE LABORER, PIPELAYER, POWER TOOL OPERATOR AND SCREEDMAN$35.75 + $30.22
- OperatorPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP 1 BACKHOE, INCLUDING BACKHOE TRACK; BOOM; CONCRETE PAVING MACHINE; CRANE (ALL TYPES, INCLUDING OVERHEAD AND STRADDLE TRAVELING TYPE); DRILL (DOWN-THE-HOLE DRILL, ROTARY DRILL, SELF-PROPELLED HYDRAULIC DRILL, SELF-POWERED DRILL); ELEVATING GRADER; EXCAVATOR; FRONT END LOADER (5 CU. YD. AND OVER); PILEDRIVER (LENGTH OF BOOM, INCLUDING LENGTH OF LEADS, SHALL DETERMINE PREMIUM RATE APPLICABLE); TRENCHER HAZARDOUS WASTE REMOVAL WORK: WORK ON A STATE OR FEDERALLY DESIGNATED HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE, WHERE THE WORKER IS IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH HAZARDOUS MATERIAL, AND WHEN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS REQUIRED FOR RESPIRATORY, SKIN AND EYE PROTECTION: 20% PER HOUR ADDITIONAL$61.72 + $37.50
Single family houses and apartment buildings of no more than 4 stories.
- ElectricianELECTRICIAN$62.90 + $39.31
- PlumberPLUMBER$34.78 + $15.20
- CarpenterCARPENTER (INCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING)$48.27 + $11.38
- LaborerLABORER$21.55 + $5.40
Projects that are not building, residential or highway: for example dams, sewer and water lines, utilities and other civil work.
- PlumberPIPEFITTER$56.34 + $50.80
- CarpenterCARPENTER: SCAFFOLD BUILDER (THE FIRST SIXTY FEET AT THE REGULAR RATE, 10% PER HOUR ADDITIONAL FOR EACH ADDITIONAL FIFTY FEET THEREAFTER.)$57.42 + $34.17
- LaborerLABORER: MASON TENDER: CEMENT/CONCRETE$29.35 + $23.07
- OperatorPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 BACKHOE, INCLUDING BACKHOE TRACK; BOOM; CONCRETE PAVING MACHINE; CRANE (ALL TYPES, INCLUDING OVERHEAD AND STRADDLE TRAVELING TYPE); DRILL (DOWN-THE-HOLE DRILL, ROTARY DRILL, SELF-PROPELLED HYDRAULIC DRILL, SELF-POWERED DRILL); ELEVATING GRADER; EXCAVATOR; FRONT END LOADER (5 CU. YD. AND OVER); PILEDRIVER (LENGTH OF BOOM, INCLUDING LENGTH OF LEADS, SHALL DETERMINE PREMIUM RATE APPLICABLE) (HAZARDOUS WASTE REMOVAL WORK: WORK ON A STATE OR FEDERALLY DESIGNATED HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE, WHERE THE WORKER IS IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH HAZARDOUS MATERIAL, AND WHEN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS REQUIRED FOR RESPIRATORY, SKIN AND EYE PROTECTION: 20% PER HOUR ADDITIONAL.)PAID$61.72 + $37.50
Roads, streets, highways, runways, bridges, parking areas and related work.
- CarpenterCARPENTER$57.42 + $34.02
- LaborerLABORER: ASPHALT WORK: (GROUP 1) MIDDLESEX COUNTY (south of the Raritan$50.95 + $38.53
- OperatorPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: STEEL ERECTION: (GROUP 1) CRANES (ALL CRANES, LAND OR FLOATING WITH BOOM INCLUDING JIB, 140 FT. AND OVER, ABOVE GROUND); DERRICKS (ALL DERRICKS, LAND, FLOATING OR CHICAGO BOOM TYPE WITH BOOM INCLUDING JIB, 140 FT. AND OVER, ABOVE GROUND) HAZARDOUS WASTE REMOVAL WORK: WORK ON A STATE OR FEDERALLY DESIGNATED HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE, WHERE THE WORKER IS IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH HAZARDOUS MATERIAL, AND WHEN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS REQUIRED FOR RESPIRATORY, SKIN AND EYE PROTECTION: 20% PER HOUR ADDITIONAL$70.24 + $37.50
- IronworkerIRONWORKERS (WARREN COUNTY)$34.05 + $24.00
Base + fringe per hour as printed in the WD. Footnote benefits (paid holidays, vacation) are extra and shown on each full table.
Questions
What is the prevailing wage for plumbers in Essex County?
For building construction on federal or federally assisted work, WD NJ20260031 Mod 1 (published May 18, 2026) lists "PLUMBER (EXCLUDING HVAC PIPE INSTALLATION)" at $62.09 base plus $45.05 fringe, $107.14 an hour in total. Other construction types have their own rates.
What is the prevailing wage for carpenters in Essex County?
For building construction on federal or federally assisted work, WD NJ20260031 Mod 1 (published May 18, 2026) lists "CARPENTER (INCLUDING ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, DRYWALL HANGING, FORMWORK, BATT AND BLOWN INSULATION)" at $57.42 base plus $34.17 fringe, $91.59 an hour in total. Other construction types have their own rates.
What is the prevailing wage for laborers in Essex County?
For building construction on federal or federally assisted work, WD NJ20260031 Mod 1 (published May 18, 2026) lists "LABORER: ASPHALT SHOVELER, ASPHALT SPREADER, COMMON OR GENERAL LABORER, LANDSCAPE LABORER, PIPELAYER, POWER TOOL OPERATOR AND SCREEDMAN" at $35.75 base plus $30.22 fringe, $65.97 an hour in total. Other construction types have their own rates.
How many wage determinations cover Essex County?
SAM.gov lists 5 active general wage determinations for Essex County across 4 construction types. Which one applies depends on the construction type of your project and the WD written into your contract.
Are these the same as state prevailing wage rates?
No. These are federal Davis-Bacon rates for work paid for or assisted with federal money. New Jersey public works can carry state prevailing wage requirements too. See New Jersey prevailing wage.
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