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Delaware prevailing wage rates
Pick a county to see every trade's rate there, or pick a trade to compare it across the state. All 183 rates in force come from the Delaware Department of Labor (DOL): Delaware DOL determinations effective March 13, 2026.
Delaware DOL publishes one set a year, on or before March 15. A project uses the rates in effect when its specifications are published; if the contract isn't signed within 120 days, the rates at signing apply (Regulations 6.3). Checked against industrialaffairs.delaware.gov on October 25, 2026. Federally funded work here also uses the Davis-Bacon rates, shown on each rate page; what changed in them.
The posted determinations are a reference. For a specific project, request certified rates from Delaware DOL (request form).
What is the prevailing wage rate in Delaware?
It depends on the trade and on the county where the work is done. Taking each trade's main rate in each county, DOL's figures run from $28.66 an hour (teamster, Sussex County) to $121.73 (elevator constructor, New Castle County). DOL prints one rate that already includes fringe benefits. Pick a county or a trade below for the exact rate.
Prevailing wage rates by county
- Kent24 trades
- New Castle25 trades
- Sussex24 trades
Rates by trade
Each trade page maps that trade's main rate in every county. Carpenter rates, for example, range from $52.30 to $64.06 an hour.
- Asbestos & Lead Abatement Laborer$30.70–$55.01
- Boilermaker$46.61–$91.87
- Bricklayer$68.29
- Carpenter$52.30–$64.06
- Carpet & Soft Floor Layer$50.43–$63.69
- Cement Mason$53.44–$96.91
- Diver & Tender$105.43
- Electrical Utility Lineman$39.90–$61.02
- Electrician$86.87
- Elevator Constructor$86.57–$121.73
- Glazier$76.04–$88.42
- Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker)$71.54
- Ironworker$79.33
- Laborer$59.65
- Millwright$73.10–$91.00
- Operating Engineer$85.29
- Painter$61.53
- Pile Driver$42.72–$93.37
- Plasterer$29.69–$40.06
- Plumber / Pipefitter$78.26–$85.29
- Roofer$31.28–$36.41
- Sheet Metal Worker$87.84
- Teamster (Truck Driver)$28.66–$58.41
- Terrazzo, Marble & Tile Finisher$73.75–$84.10
- Terrazzo, Marble & Tile Setter$81.93–$93.27
How Delaware's prevailing wage rules work
- Which projects. Contracts for public works over $500,000 for new construction, or $45,000 for alteration, repair, renovation or demolition, where the State or a subdivision is a party and the State paid for any part (29 Del. C. §6960(a)).
- One rate, fringes included. Delaware prints one hourly rate per classification that already includes fringe benefits ("the basic hourly rate of pay plus fringe benefits"). There is no base and fringe split (Regulations 3.1.9, 3.1.12).
- By county and construction type. Rates are set for the county of the work, with one column each for New Castle, Kent and Sussex, on three schedules: Building, Heavy and Highway. No residential schedule is published (Regulations 3.1.7).
- Once a year. The final determination comes out on or before March 15 and stays valid for a year or until replaced. The current set took effect March 13, 2026 (Regulations 6.1–6.3).
- Rates lock at publication of specs. Agencies use the rates in effect on the date the specifications are published, or at contract signing if that is more than 120 days later. Mid-year corrections don't change awarded contracts (Regulations 6.3–6.4).
- Overtime. Delaware's law and regulations set no overtime premium. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act applies: time and a half after 40 hours a week.
- Posted rates are a reference. The posted determinations "are not intended to apply to any specific project". For a project, the agency or contractor requests certified rates from DOL (request form).
- Pay and payroll. Pay weekly, post the wage scale on site, and file sworn certified payroll weekly with DOL (§6960(b)–(c)). Underpaid workers can recover three times the difference.
How we read DOL's data
Delaware's determinations are scanned images. We read every cell by OCR and re-read every number independently. Each figure is the printed rate. How we check.
Download the data
All Delaware rates as CSV or JSON, plus one file per county on the data page.
Apprentice rates
Delaware prints one mechanic rate per classification. Registered apprentices get their agreement's percentage; anyone not registered is paid the mechanic's rate.
Delaware prevailing wage questions
Is Delaware prevailing wage the same as Davis-Bacon?
No. Delaware's own rates cover state and local public works, and Davis-Bacon rates come from the U.S. Department of Labor for federally funded or assisted construction. When a contract requires both the state rate and the Davis-Bacon rate, paying the higher of the two meets both. The contract documents say which apply.
How much does an electrician make on prevailing wage in Delaware?
$86.87 an hour for the main electrician classification wherever DOL lists one. See the electrician rate by county.
How often do Delaware prevailing wage rates change?
Delaware DOL publishes one set a year, on or before March 15. This site shows Delaware DOL determinations effective March 13, 2026, checked October 25, 2026.
Which DOL rates apply to my project?
A project uses the rates in effect when its specifications are published; if the contract isn't signed within 120 days, the rates at signing apply (Regulations 6.3).
Do apprentices get prevailing wage in Delaware?
Delaware prints one mechanic rate per classification. Registered apprentices get their agreement's percentage; anyone not registered is paid the mechanic's rate.