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Hawaii prevailing wage rates
Pick a county to see every trade's rate there, or pick a trade to compare it across the state. All 139 rates in force come from the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR): Wage Rate Schedule WRS 511 with addenda 512 and 513 (Oct 2, 2026).
DLIR issues schedules on or about February 15 and September 15, with addenda in between. Hawaii doesn't lock rates at bid: increases apply to contracts already under way from the date DLIR publishes them (HRS 104-2(b)(3)). Checked against labor.hawaii.gov on October 25, 2026. Federally funded work here also uses the Davis-Bacon rates, shown on each rate page; what changed in them.
What is the prevailing wage rate in Hawaii?
It depends on the trade. Taking each trade's main rate in each county, DLIR's figures run from $27.34 an hour (termite treater, Hawaii County) to $122.07 (elevator constructor, Hawaii County). Each figure is the base wage plus fringe benefits. Pick a county or a trade below for the exact rate.
Prevailing wage rates by county
- Hawaii41 trades
- City and County of Honolulu41 trades
- Kalawao41 trades
- Kauai41 trades
- Maui41 trades
Rates by trade
Each trade page maps that trade's main rate in every county.
- Boilermaker$76.33
- Brick Tender$72.16
- Bricklayer$95.67
- Carpenter$87.24
- Carpet & Soft Floor Layer$81.05
- Cement Mason$85.88
- Chlorinator$44.38
- Diver & Tender$111.25
- Drapery Installer$52.05
- Dredger$98.90
- Drywall Finisher$83.84
- Drywall Installer / Lather$87.49
- Electrical Utility Lineman$108.77
- Electrician$94.06
- Elevator Constructor$122.07
- Fence Builder$52.90
- Glazier$93.45
- Gunite Worker$72.16
- Helicopter Pilot & Hoist Operator$100.73
- Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker)$76.65
- Ironworker$95.25
- Laborer$71.66
- Landscape & Irrigation Laborer$48.95
- Landscape Maintenance Laborer$43.55
- Millwright$87.49
- Operating Engineer$96.56
- Painter$77.03
- Plasterer$93.82
- Plumber / Pipefitter$90.11
- Roofer$68.85
- Sheet Metal Worker$88.06
- Teamster (Truck Driver)$97.44
- Telecommunications Technician$59.99
- Termite Treater$27.34
- Terrazzo Finisher$85.74
- Tile Finisher$84.19
- Tile Setter$87.55
- Tuckpointer$95.92
- Tunnel Worker$72.26
- Water Well Driller$71.03
- Window Film & Tinting Installer$32.43
How Hawaii's prevailing wage rules work
- Which projects. Every contract over $2,000 for construction of a public work, meaning a project paid for "to any extent" from state or county funds or tax-exempt bonds, including housing under HRS 46-15 or 201H (HRS 104-1, 104-2(a)).
- One statewide rate. There are no county or island schedules. One Wage Rate Schedule covers Hawaii, Honolulu, Kalawao, Kauai and Maui counties, so every county has the same rates (HRS 104-2(b)(1)).
- Increases apply to existing contracts. "Notwithstanding the provisions of the original contract, the prevailing wages shall be periodically adjusted during the performance of the contract" (HRS 104-2(b)(3)). A new rate applies from its publication date, not retroactively (HAR 12-22-3).
- Future rates are printed. The schedule prints future steps, some into 2031. Each rate page shows the step in force today and the dated steps after it.
- Overtime. Saturdays, Sundays, state holidays and hours over 8 on other days pay at least 1½ times the basic rate plus fringes at straight time; some trades get double time on listed days and triple time on Labor Day (HRS 104-1).
- No residential schedule. Housing paid for with public money uses the same rates. The carve-out is 46-15 or 201H housing under $500,000 built by a private nonprofit (HRS 104-2(a)).
- Payroll and posting. Pay weekly, post the rates on site and give each worker a copy at hire. Certified payroll goes to the contracting agency weekly (HRS 104-3).
- Penalties. From 25% of back wages or $250 per offense on a first violation, up to twice the back wages plus a 3-year suspension on a third (DLIR eH104-3).
How we read DLIR's data
We read every row of WRS 511, 512 and 513 and assemble the pages in force, then check every number with a second, separate PDF reader. Basic plus fringe equals DLIR's printed total on all rows. How we check.
Download the data
All Hawaii rates as CSV or JSON, plus one file per county on the data page.
Apprentice rates
This schedule lists journeyworker rates. DLIR's separate Apprentice Schedule applies only to apprentices individually registered in a DLIR-approved program (HAR 12-22-6).
Hawaii prevailing wage questions
Is Hawaii prevailing wage the same as Davis-Bacon?
No. Hawaii'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. Hawaii's rates may not be lower than the Davis-Bacon rates for the same class on federal projects in the state (HRS 104-2(b)(2)).
How much does an electrician make on prevailing wage in Hawaii?
$94.06 an hour for the main electrician classification wherever DLIR lists one. See the electrician rate by county.
How often do Hawaii prevailing wage rates change?
DLIR issues schedules on or about February 15 and September 15, with addenda in between. This site shows Wage Rate Schedule WRS 511 with addenda 512 and 513 (Oct 2, 2026), checked October 25, 2026.
Which DLIR rates apply to my project?
Hawaii doesn't lock rates at bid: increases apply to contracts already under way from the date DLIR publishes them (HRS 104-2(b)(3)).
Do apprentices get prevailing wage in Hawaii?
This schedule lists journeyworker rates. DLIR's separate Apprentice Schedule applies only to apprentices individually registered in a DLIR-approved program (HAR 12-22-6).