Skip to content

Home / Iowa / Carpenter

Iowa · Carpenter

Iowa carpenter prevailing wage, county by county

A carpenter's Davis-Bacon prevailing wage in Iowa runs from $20.88 an hour in Cerro Gordo County to $63.78 in Appanoose County. The median county is $31.10.

Main carpenter classification in each county, Davis-Bacon wage determinations on SAM.gov, as of October 25, 2026. A contract keeps the wage determination in its bid documents. Modifications published before bid opening apply to it, though one published less than 10 days before can be left out if the agency finds there isn't time to tell bidders (29 CFR 1.6(c)). Checked October 25, 2026.

Black Hawk County carpenter: $28.63 per hourHancock County carpenter: $22.03 per hourWapello County carpenter: $63.78 per hourCedar County carpenter: $63.78 per hourHoward County carpenter: $31.10 per hourWarren County carpenter: $56.93 per hourWayne County carpenter: $29.29 per hourMarshall County carpenter: $63.78 per hourFranklin County carpenter: $31.10 per hourDelaware County carpenter: $55.30 per hourBuchanan County carpenter: $31.10 per hourWebster County carpenter: $22.03 per hourBoone County carpenter: $29.29 per hourRinggold County carpenter: $29.29 per hourShelby County carpenter: $29.29 per hourUnion County carpenter: $29.29 per hourAdams County carpenter: $29.29 per hourMahaska County carpenter: $63.78 per hourAdair County carpenter: $29.29 per hourHamilton County carpenter: $22.03 per hourHardin County carpenter: $31.10 per hourIda County carpenter: $22.03 per hourMarion County carpenter: $63.78 per hourPoweshiek County carpenter: $63.78 per hourPolk County carpenter: $36.10 per hourMadison County carpenter: $56.93 per hourVan Buren County carpenter: $63.78 per hourHenry County carpenter: $63.78 per hourCerro Gordo County carpenter: $20.88 per hourWright County carpenter: $22.03 per hourJones County carpenter: $55.32 per hourCarroll County carpenter: $29.29 per hourGreene County carpenter: $29.29 per hourEmmet County carpenter: $22.03 per hourMitchell County carpenter: $31.10 per hourMontgomery County carpenter: $29.29 per hourBremer County carpenter: $29.74 per hourWashington County carpenter: $27.06 per hourO'Brien County carpenter: $22.03 per hourPocahontas County carpenter: $22.03 per hourDavis County carpenter: $63.78 per hourCrawford County carpenter: $23.63 per hourGrundy County carpenter: $28.72 per hourAudubon County carpenter: $29.29 per hourLinn County carpenter: $55.32 per hourKeokuk County carpenter: $63.78 per hourSac County carpenter: $22.03 per hourWoodbury County carpenter: $50.15 per hourPottawattamie County carpenter: $31.27 per hourMuscatine County carpenter: $63.78 per hourMills County carpenter: $31.53 per hourOsceola County carpenter: $22.03 per hourFayette County carpenter: $31.10 per hourJasper County carpenter: $63.78 per hourDes Moines County carpenter: $63.78 per hourStory County carpenter: $34.95 per hourPlymouth County carpenter: $22.03 per hourAppanoose County carpenter: $63.78 per hourDubuque County carpenter: $55.30 per hourFremont County carpenter: $29.29 per hourDecatur County carpenter: $29.29 per hourWinneshiek County carpenter: $31.10 per hourClay County carpenter: $22.03 per hourJohnson County carpenter: $58.89 per hourLucas County carpenter: $29.29 per hourMonroe County carpenter: $63.78 per hourIowa County carpenter: $63.78 per hourBenton County carpenter: $55.32 per hourKossuth County carpenter: $22.03 per hourScott County carpenter: $63.78 per hourHarrison County carpenter: $31.53 per hourLouisa County carpenter: $63.78 per hourPage County carpenter: $29.29 per hourClayton County carpenter: $55.30 per hourHumboldt County carpenter: $22.03 per hourJefferson County carpenter: $63.78 per hourSioux County carpenter: $22.03 per hourDallas County carpenter: $56.93 per hourCass County carpenter: $29.29 per hourClarke County carpenter: $29.29 per hourMonona County carpenter: $29.29 per hourCalhoun County carpenter: $22.03 per hourJackson County carpenter: $63.78 per hourChickasaw County carpenter: $31.10 per hourGuthrie County carpenter: $56.93 per hourWinnebago County carpenter: $22.03 per hourDickinson County carpenter: $22.03 per hourLee County carpenter: $63.78 per hourTaylor County carpenter: $29.29 per hourButler County carpenter: $31.10 per hourFloyd County carpenter: $31.10 per hourWorth County carpenter: $31.10 per hourCherokee County carpenter: $22.03 per hourPalo Alto County carpenter: $22.03 per hourTama County carpenter: $63.78 per hourBuena Vista County carpenter: $22.03 per hourLyon County carpenter: $22.03 per hourAllamakee County carpenter: $31.10 per hourClinton County carpenter: $55.30 per hour
$20$22$29$31$63$63Carpenter, main rate, base + fringe per hour. Each shade holds about a fifth of the counties.

How much does a carpenter make on prevailing wage in Iowa?

7 groups of counties with identical rates and 50 with rates of their own, highest main rate first. The top 40 are drawn. The table below lists which counties are in each group.

  1. Mahaska County group7 counties$63.78
  2. Appanoose County1 county$63.78
  3. Cedar County1 county$63.78
  4. Davis County1 county$63.78
  5. Des Moines County1 county$63.78
  6. Iowa County1 county$63.78
  7. Jasper County1 county$63.78
  8. Lee County1 county$63.78
  9. Louisa County1 county$63.78
  10. Marion County1 county$63.78
  11. Marshall County1 county$63.78
  12. Muscatine County1 county$63.78
  13. Poweshiek County1 county$63.78
  14. Scott County1 county$63.78
  15. Tama County1 county$63.78
  16. Wapello County1 county$63.78
  17. Johnson County1 county$58.89
  18. Dallas County1 county$56.93
  19. Guthrie County1 county$56.93
  20. Madison County1 county$56.93
  21. Warren County1 county$56.93
  22. Benton County1 county$55.32
  23. Jones County1 county$55.32
  24. Linn County1 county$55.32
  25. Delaware County group2 counties$55.30
  26. Clinton County1 county$55.30
  27. Dubuque County1 county$55.30
  28. Woodbury County1 county$50.15
  29. Polk County1 county$36.10
  30. Story County1 county$34.95
  31. Harrison County1 county$31.53
  32. Mills County1 county$31.53
  33. Pottawattamie County1 county$31.27
  34. Buchanan County group9 counties$31.10
  35. Allamakee County1 county$31.10
  36. Floyd County1 county$31.10
  37. Howard County1 county$31.10
  38. Bremer County1 county$29.74
  39. Shelby County group10 counties$29.29
  40. Cass County group2 counties$29.29

Which counties pay which rate

CountiesMain classificationBase + fringeBase
Mahaska County group, 7 localities: Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Monroe, Van BurenCARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)$63.78 $34.25 
Appanoose CountyCARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)$63.78 $34.25 
Cedar CountyCARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)$63.78 $34.25 
Davis CountyCARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)$63.78 $34.25 
Des Moines CountyCARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)$63.78 $34.25 
Iowa CountyCARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)$63.78 $34.25 
Jasper CountyCARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)$63.78 $34.25 
Lee CountyCARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)$63.78 $34.25 
Louisa CountyCARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)$63.78 $34.25 
Marion CountyCARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)$63.78 $34.25 
Marshall CountyCARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)$63.78 $34.25 
Muscatine CountyCARPENTER (INCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, DRYWALL HANGING, AND FORM WORK)$63.78 $34.25 
Poweshiek CountyCARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)$63.78 $34.25 
Scott CountyCARPENTER (INCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, DRYWALL HANGING, AND FORM WORK)$63.78 $34.25 
Tama CountyCARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)$63.78 $34.25 
Wapello CountyCARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)$63.78 $34.25 
Johnson CountyCARPENTER (INCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, DRYWALL HANGING, FORM WORK, AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION)$58.89 $34.14 
Dallas CountyCARPENTER (INCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING)$56.93 $35.50 
Guthrie CountyCARPENTER (INCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING)$56.93 $35.50 
Madison CountyCARPENTER (INCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING)$56.93 $35.50 
Warren CountyCARPENTER (INCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING)$56.93 $35.50 
Benton CountyCARPENTER (INCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, DRYWALL HANGING, FORM WORK, AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION)$55.32 $31.17 
Jones CountyCARPENTER (INCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, DRYWALL HANGING, FORM WORK, AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION)$55.32 $31.17 
Linn CountyCARPENTER (INCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, DRYWALL HANGING, FORM WORK, AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION)$55.32 $31.17 
Delaware County group, 2 localities: Clayton, DelawareCARPENTER (INCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING, AND FORM WORK)$55.30 $30.55 
Clinton CountyCARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)$55.30 $30.55 
Dubuque CountyCARPENTER (INCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, DRYWALL HANGING, FORM WORK, AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION)$55.30 $30.55 
Woodbury CountyCARPENTER (INCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING)$50.15 $30.72 
Polk CountyCARPENTER, INCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING$36.10 $24.93 
Story CountyCARPENTER$34.95 $23.78 
Harrison CountyCARPENTER$31.53 $21.61 
Mills CountyCARPENTER$31.53 $21.61 
Pottawattamie CountyCARPENTER$31.27 $21.35 
Buchanan County group, 9 localities: Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw, Fayette, Franklin, Hardin, Mitchell, Winneshiek, WorthCARPENTER, INCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING, AND FORM WORK$31.10 $20.94 
Allamakee CountyCARPENTER, INCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING, AND FORM WORK$31.10 $20.94 
Floyd CountyCARPENTER, INCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING, AND FORM WORK$31.10 $20.94 
Howard CountyCARPENTER, INCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING, AND FORM WORK$31.10 $20.94 
Bremer CountyCARPENTER$29.74 $22.13 
Shelby County group, 10 localities: Decatur, Fremont, Greene, Lucas, Monona, Montgomery, Ringgold, Shelby, Taylor, WayneCARPENTER$29.29 $21.75 
Cass County group, 2 localities: Cass, ClarkeCARPENTER$29.29 $21.75 
Adair CountyCARPENTER$29.29 $21.75 
Adams CountyCARPENTER$29.29 $21.75 
Audubon CountyCARPENTER$29.29 $21.75 
Boone CountyCARPENTER$29.29 $21.75 
Carroll CountyCARPENTER$29.29 $21.75 
Page CountyCARPENTER$29.29 $21.75 
Union CountyCARPENTER$29.29 $21.75 
Grundy CountyCARPENTER$28.72 $20.64 
Black Hawk CountyCARPENTER$28.63 $20.51 
Washington CountyCARPENTER, INCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, DRYWALL HANGING, FORM WORK, AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION$27.06 $23.97 
Crawford CountyCARPENTER$23.63 $19.17 
Buena Vista County group, 11 localities: Buena Vista, Calhoun, Clay, Hamilton, Hancock, Ida, Osceola, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Sac, WrightCARPENTER$22.03 $17.93 
Plymouth County group, 8 localities: Cherokee, Emmet, Humboldt, Kossuth, Lyon, O'Brien, Plymouth, WinnebagoCARPENTER$22.03 $17.93 
Dickinson CountyCARPENTER$22.03 $17.93 
Sioux CountyCARPENTER$22.03 $17.93 
Webster CountyCARPENTER$22.03 $17.93 
Cerro Gordo CountyCARPENTER, INCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING, AND FORM WORK$20.88 $18.54 

7 groups of counties with identical DOL rates, and 50 counties with rates of their own.

Questions about Iowa carpenter pay

What is the carpenter prevailing wage in Polk County?

$36.10 an hour: a $24.93 base wage plus $11.17 in fringe benefits, under wage determination IA20260071, modification 1. Overtime and every carpenter classification in Polk County.

Does carpenter prevailing wage include fringe benefits?

Yes. In Polk County the $36.10 total is a $24.93 base wage plus $11.17 in fringe benefits, about 31% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.

Does carpenter prevailing wage pay overtime in Iowa?

Davis-Bacon rates are straight time. On contracts over $100,000, the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act requires 1½ times the basic rate for hours over 40 in a workweek (40 U.S.C. 3702). The fringe is owed for every hour at its straight-time amount.

Do apprentice carpenters get this rate?

Davis-Bacon determinations list journeyworker rates. Apprentices in a program registered with DOL or a recognized state agency can be paid the program's percentage of the rate, within its ratio; anyone else gets the full rate (29 CFR 5.5(a)(4)).

Why do some counties have the same carpenter rate?

DOL often publishes the same carpenter rates for several counties. Across Iowa, the 99 counties with a carpenter rate fall into 57 distinct sets of rates, and 7 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 11 counties (the Buena Vista County group).