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Iowa laborer prevailing wage, county by county

A laborer's Davis-Bacon prevailing wage in Iowa runs from $12.81 an hour in Pottawattamie County to $54.16 in Scott County. The median county is $20.76.

Main laborer 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 laborer: $17.19 per hourHancock County laborer: $13.85 per hourWapello County laborer: $24.18 per hourCedar County laborer: $24.18 per hourHoward County laborer: $18.44 per hourWarren County laborer: $47.35 per hourWayne County laborer: $20.94 per hourMarshall County laborer: $24.18 per hourFranklin County laborer: $18.44 per hourDelaware County laborer: $18.44 per hourBuchanan County laborer: $18.44 per hourWebster County laborer: $13.85 per hourBoone County laborer: $19.56 per hourRinggold County laborer: $20.94 per hourShelby County laborer: $20.94 per hourUnion County laborer: $17.67 per hourAdams County laborer: $20.94 per hourMahaska County laborer: $24.18 per hourAdair County laborer: $20.94 per hourHamilton County laborer: $13.85 per hourHardin County laborer: $18.44 per hourIda County laborer: $13.85 per hourMarion County laborer: $24.18 per hourPoweshiek County laborer: $24.18 per hourPolk County laborer: $47.35 per hourMadison County laborer: $16.11 per hourVan Buren County laborer: $24.18 per hourHenry County laborer: $24.18 per hourCerro Gordo County laborer: $21.21 per hourWright County laborer: $13.85 per hourJones County laborer: $48.15 per hourCarroll County laborer: $14.11 per hourGreene County laborer: $20.94 per hourEmmet County laborer: $13.85 per hourMitchell County laborer: $18.44 per hourMontgomery County laborer: $20.94 per hourBremer County laborer: $17.03 per hourWashington County laborer: $20.76 per hourO'Brien County laborer: $13.85 per hourPocahontas County laborer: $13.85 per hourDavis County laborer: $24.18 per hourCrawford County laborer: $20.94 per hourGrundy County laborer: $17.03 per hourAudubon County laborer: $20.94 per hourLinn County laborer: $48.15 per hourKeokuk County laborer: $24.18 per hourSac County laborer: $13.85 per hourWoodbury County laborer: $36.60 per hourPottawattamie County laborer: $12.81 per hourMuscatine County laborer: $24.18 per hourMills County laborer: $12.81 per hourOsceola County laborer: $13.85 per hourFayette County laborer: $18.44 per hourJasper County laborer: $24.18 per hourDes Moines County laborer: $14.48 per hourStory County laborer: $20.38 per hourPlymouth County laborer: $13.85 per hourAppanoose County laborer: $24.18 per hourDubuque County laborer: $43.98 per hourFremont County laborer: $20.94 per hourDecatur County laborer: $20.94 per hourWinneshiek County laborer: $18.44 per hourClay County laborer: $13.85 per hourJohnson County laborer: $20.76 per hourLucas County laborer: $20.94 per hourMonroe County laborer: $24.18 per hourIowa County laborer: $24.18 per hourBenton County laborer: $48.15 per hourKossuth County laborer: $13.85 per hourScott County laborer: $54.16 per hourHarrison County laborer: $12.81 per hourLouisa County laborer: $24.18 per hourPage County laborer: $20.94 per hourClayton County laborer: $18.44 per hourHumboldt County laborer: $13.85 per hourJefferson County laborer: $24.18 per hourSioux County laborer: $17.32 per hourDallas County laborer: $47.35 per hourCass County laborer: $20.94 per hourClarke County laborer: $20.94 per hourMonona County laborer: $20.94 per hourCalhoun County laborer: $13.85 per hourJackson County laborer: $24.18 per hourChickasaw County laborer: $18.44 per hourGuthrie County laborer: $16.11 per hourWinnebago County laborer: $13.85 per hourDickinson County laborer: $16.26 per hourLee County laborer: $46.10 per hourTaylor County laborer: $20.94 per hourButler County laborer: $18.44 per hourFloyd County laborer: $18.44 per hourWorth County laborer: $18.44 per hourCherokee County laborer: $13.85 per hourPalo Alto County laborer: $13.85 per hourTama County laborer: $24.18 per hourBuena Vista County laborer: $13.85 per hourLyon County laborer: $13.85 per hourAllamakee County laborer: $18.44 per hourClinton County laborer: $32.66 per hour
$12$13$18$20$24$54Laborer, main rate, base + fringe per hour. Each shade holds about a fifth of the counties.

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

99 counties, highest main rate first. The top 40 are drawn. The table below lists which counties are in each group.

  1. Scott County1 county$54.16
  2. Benton County1 county$48.15
  3. Jones County1 county$48.15
  4. Linn County1 county$48.15
  5. Dallas County1 county$47.35
  6. Polk County1 county$47.35
  7. Warren County1 county$47.35
  8. Lee County1 county$46.10
  9. Dubuque County1 county$43.98
  10. Woodbury County1 county$36.60
  11. Clinton County1 county$32.66
  12. Appanoose County1 county$24.18
  13. Cedar County1 county$24.18
  14. Davis County1 county$24.18
  15. Henry County1 county$24.18
  16. Iowa County1 county$24.18
  17. Jackson County1 county$24.18
  18. Jasper County1 county$24.18
  19. Jefferson County1 county$24.18
  20. Keokuk County1 county$24.18
  21. Louisa County1 county$24.18
  22. Mahaska County1 county$24.18
  23. Marion County1 county$24.18
  24. Marshall County1 county$24.18
  25. Monroe County1 county$24.18
  26. Muscatine County1 county$24.18
  27. Poweshiek County1 county$24.18
  28. Tama County1 county$24.18
  29. Van Buren County1 county$24.18
  30. Wapello County1 county$24.18
  31. Cerro Gordo County1 county$21.21
  32. Adair County1 county$20.94
  33. Adams County1 county$20.94
  34. Audubon County1 county$20.94
  35. Cass County1 county$20.94
  36. Clarke County1 county$20.94
  37. Crawford County1 county$20.94
  38. Decatur County1 county$20.94
  39. Fremont County1 county$20.94
  40. Greene County1 county$20.94

Which counties pay which rate

CountiesMain classificationBase + fringeBase
Scott CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$54.16 $30.06 
Benton CountyLABORER (COMMON OR GENERAL)$48.15 $28.33 
Jones CountyLABORER (COMMON OR GENERAL)$48.15 $28.33 
Linn CountyLABORER (COMMON OR GENERAL)$48.15 $28.33 
Dallas CountyLABORER (COMMON OR GENERAL)$47.35 $29.36 
Polk CountyLABORER (COMMON OR GENERAL)$47.35 $29.36 
Warren CountyLABORER (COMMON OR GENERAL)$47.35 $29.36 
Lee CountyLABORER (COMMON OR GENERAL)$46.10 $28.57 
Dubuque CountyLABORER (COMMON OR GENERAL)$43.98 $25.03 
Woodbury CountyLABORER (COMMON OR GENERAL)$36.60 $20.40 
Clinton CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$32.66 $21.31 
Appanoose CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Cedar CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Davis CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Henry CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Iowa CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Jackson CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Jasper CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Jefferson CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Keokuk CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Louisa CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Mahaska CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Marion CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Marshall CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Monroe CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Muscatine CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Poweshiek CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Tama CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Van Buren CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Wapello CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$24.18 $17.25 
Cerro Gordo CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$21.21 $17.64 
Adair CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Adams CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Audubon CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Cass CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Clarke CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Crawford CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Decatur CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Fremont CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Greene CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Lucas CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Monona CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Montgomery CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Page CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Ringgold CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Shelby CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Taylor CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Wayne CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.94 $16.32 
Johnson CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.76 $16.52 
Washington CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.76 $16.52 
Story CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$20.38 $16.06 
Boone CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$19.56 $15.28 
Allamakee CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$18.44 $15.21 
Buchanan CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$18.44 $15.21 
Butler CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$18.44 $15.21 
Chickasaw CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$18.44 $15.21 
Clayton CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$18.44 $15.21 
Delaware CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$18.44 $15.21 
Fayette CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$18.44 $15.21 
Floyd CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$18.44 $15.21 
Franklin CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$18.44 $15.21 
Hardin CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$18.44 $15.21 
Howard CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$18.44 $15.21 
Mitchell CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$18.44 $15.21 
Winneshiek CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$18.44 $15.21 
Worth CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$18.44 $15.21 
Union CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$17.67 $16.00 
Sioux CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$17.32 $15.96 
Black Hawk CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$17.19 $14.68 
Bremer CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$17.03 $14.56 
Grundy CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$17.03 $14.56 
Dickinson CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$16.26 $12.50 
Guthrie CountyLABORER: PIPELAYER$16.11 $16.11 
Madison CountyLABORER: PIPELAYER$16.11 $16.11 
Des Moines CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$14.48 $14.48 
Carroll CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$14.11 $12.09 
Buena Vista CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Calhoun CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Cherokee CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Clay CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Emmet CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Hamilton CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Hancock CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Humboldt CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Ida CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Kossuth CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Lyon CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
O'Brien CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Osceola CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Palo Alto CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Plymouth CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Pocahontas CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Sac CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Webster CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Winnebago CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Wright CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$13.85 $12.48 
Harrison CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$12.81 $12.81 
Mills CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$12.81 $12.81 
Pottawattamie CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$12.81 $12.81 

No two counties have identical DOL rates for this trade.

Questions about Iowa laborer pay

What is the laborer prevailing wage in Polk County?

$47.35 an hour: a $29.36 base wage plus $17.99 in fringe benefits, under wage determination IA20260071, modification 1. Overtime and every laborer classification in Polk County.

Does laborer prevailing wage include fringe benefits?

Yes. In Polk County the $47.35 total is a $29.36 base wage plus $17.99 in fringe benefits, about 38% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.

Does laborer 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 laborers 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)).

Which county pays laborers the most in Iowa?

Scott County, at $54.16 an hour for the main classification. The lowest is Pottawattamie County at $12.81, and the median county is $20.76.