Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates in Bell County, Kentucky
4 Davis-Bacon wage determinations cover Bell County for building, residential, highway and heavy construction, with 96 rates across 24 trades. Of each trade's main rate, boilermaker is the highest at $72.29 an hour and refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic the lowest at $16.00, base plus fringe.
The Department of Labor modifies these determinations on SAM.gov in weekly batches through the year; the latest Kentucky modification we hold is dated July 30, 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 against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
Davis-Bacon is the only prevailing wage here (federally funded or assisted work). Kentucky repealed its law in 2017 (HB 3), which also bars local prevailing wage rules (17RS HB 3).
Bell County rates by trade, highest first
Each trade's main rate, highest first, split into the base wage and the fringe benefits DOL lists. All bars share one scale. The table below lists the same rates A to Z with classifications.
- Boilermaker$72.29
- Electrician$70.50
- Heat & Frost Insulator$68.92
- Ironworker$63.78
- Drywall Installer / Lather$63.61
- Utility Lineman$62.64
- Operating Engineer$54.59
- Plumber / Pipefitter$51.38
- Cement Mason$49.65
- Glazier$47.22
- Brick Tender$45.71
- Pile Driver$39.05
- Bricklayer$36.49
- Sheet Metal Worker$35.86
- Abatement Laborer$34.16
- Tile Setter$31.87
- Laborer$31.56
- Carpenter$29.74
- Roofer$29.72
- Flagger$27.20
- Painter$25.43
- Tile Finisher$25.12
- Teamster (Truck Driver)$23.32
- Refrigeration Mechanic$16.00
All trades and classifications, A to Z
One main rate per trade, with its classification and base wage. Open a trade for its other classifications, dated steps and DOL's notes. Click a column heading to sort.
| Trade | Main classification | Base + fringe | Base | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asbestos & Lead Abatement Laborer · Pulaski County group | LABORER: GROUP 1 AGING AND CURING OF CONCRETE (ANY MODE OR METHOD), ASBESTOS ABATEMENT WORKER, ASPHALT PLANT LABORERS, ASPHALT LABORERS, BATCH TRUCK DUMPERS, CARPENTER TENDERS, CEMENT MASON TENDERS, CLEANING OF MACHINES, CONCRETE LABORERS, DEMOLITION LABORERS, DREDGING LABORERS, DRILL TENDER, ENVIRONMENTAL LABORER - NUCLEAR, RADIATION, TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS WASTE - LEVEL D, FLAGMEN, GRADE CHECKERS, ALL HAND DIGGING AND HAND BACK FILLING, HIGHWAY MARKER PLACERS, LANDSCAPING LABORERS, MESH HANDLERS AND PLACERS, PUDDLER, RAILROAD LABORERS, RIP-RAP AND GROUTERS, RIGHT OF WAY LABORERS, SIGN, GUARD RAIL AND FENCE INSTALLERS (ALL TYPES), SIGNALMEN, SOUND BARRIER INSTALLER, STORM AND SANITARY SEWER LABORERS, SWAMPERS, TRUCK SPOTTERS AND DUMPERS, WRECKING OF CONCRETE FORMS, GENERAL CLEANUP | $34.16 | $21.80 | 1 |
| Boilermaker | BOILERMAKER | $72.29 | $43.85 | 2 |
| Brick Tender | LABORER: MASON TENDER - BRICK | $45.71 | $28.16 | 1 |
| Bricklayer | BRICKLAYER | $36.49 | $24.61 | 3 |
| Carpenter | CARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY) | $29.74 | $20.69 | 5 |
| Cement Mason | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $49.65 | $33.60 | 4 |
| Drywall Installer / Lather | CARPENTER (DRYWALL HANGING AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION ONLY) | $63.61 | $37.04 | 1 |
| Electrical Utility Lineman · Floyd County group | LINE CONSTRUCTION: LINEMAN | $62.64 | $43.84 | 3 |
| Electrician | ELECTRICIAN | $70.50 | $41.15 | 7 |
| Flagger · Floyd County group | LABORER: FLAGGER | $27.20 | $18.31 | 1 |
| Glazier | GLAZIER | $47.22 | $32.89 | 1 |
| Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker) | ASBESTOS WORKER/HEAT & FROST INSULATOR | $68.92 | $38.05 | 1 |
| Ironworker | IRONWORKER: ORNAMENTAL | $63.78 | $36.73 | 7 |
| Laborer | LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL | $31.56 | $20.36 | 14 |
| Operating Engineer | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER) | $54.59 | $34.99 | 15 |
| Painter | PAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER) | $25.43 | $18.36 | 5 |
| Pile Driver · Pulaski County group | CARPENTER: PILEDRIVER | $39.05 | $24.55 | 1 |
| Plumber / Pipefitter | PLUMBER | $51.38 | $32.60 | 6 |
| Refrigeration & A/C Mechanic · Madison County group | HVAC MECHANIC: HVAC ELECTRICAL/ TEMPERATURE CONTROLS INSTALLATION | $16.00 | $16.00 | 1 |
| Roofer | ROOFER | $29.72 | $22.31 | 1 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | SHEET METAL WORKER (HVAC DUCT INSTALLATION ONLY) | $35.86 | $22.86 | 3 |
| Teamster (Truck Driver) | TRUCK DRIVER: DUMP TRUCK | $23.32 | $17.07 | 11 |
| Tile Finisher | TILE FINISHER | $25.12 | $17.67 | 1 |
| Tile Setter | TILE SETTER | $31.87 | $25.77 | 1 |
Wage determinations for Bell County
The WD that applies depends on the kind of construction. Every rate on this page names its WD and modification.
| Construction | Wage determination | Modification | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building | KY20260019 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Residential | KY20260003 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Highway | KY20260107 | 2 | July 30, 2026 |
| Heavy | KY20260060 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
Questions about Bell County rates
How much does an electrician make on prevailing wage in Bell County?
$70.50 an hour: a $41.15 base wage plus $29.35 in fringe benefits, for the main classification, under wage determination KY20260019, modification 1. Overtime and every electrician rate in Bell County.
What is the prevailing wage for a laborer in Bell County?
$31.56 an hour: a $20.36 base wage plus $11.20 in fringe benefits, for the main classification (LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL), under wage determination KY20260019, modification 1. Overtime and every laborer rate in Bell County.
Does the prevailing wage include fringe benefits?
Yes. The rate is a base wage plus fringe benefits, and the employer owes both for every hour. For boilermaker, the highest-paid trade in Bell County, the $72.29 total is a $43.85 base wage plus $28.44 in fringe benefits.
Which Davis-Bacon wage determination covers Bell County?
It depends on the kind of construction: KY20260019 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for building construction, KY20260003 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for residential construction, KY20260107 (modification 2, July 30, 2026) for highway construction and KY20260060 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for heavy construction. Your contract names the one that applies.
Does Bell County share its rates with other counties?
For 5 of its 24 trades, yes: DOL sets the same rates, row for row, in other counties too. Asbestos and lead abatement laborer rates, for example, are the same in 42 counties (the Pulaski County group). The other 19 are Bell County's own.