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Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates in Nelson County, Kentucky
4 Davis-Bacon wage determinations cover Nelson County for building, residential, highway and heavy construction, with 109 rates across 27 trades. Of each trade's main rate, elevator constructor is the highest at $95.01 an hour and brick tender the lowest at $19.64, 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 Kentucky repealed its law in 2017 (HB 3), which also bars local prevailing wage rules (17RS HB 3).
Nelson 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.
- Elevator Constructor$95.01
- Diver & Tender$75.27
- Boilermaker$72.29
- Plumber / Pipefitter$66.79
- Utility Lineman$66.00
- Sheet Metal Worker$65.98
- Siding & Gutter Installer$65.98
- Millwright$64.67
- Electrician$63.40
- Ironworker$61.97
- Pile Driver$58.45
- Inland Boatman$57.97
- Operating Engineer$54.59
- Carpenter$53.14
- Flagger$49.97
- Tunnel Worker$47.43
- Abatement Laborer$46.53
- Roofer$44.88
- Heat & Frost Insulator$39.50
- Painter$33.22
- Bricklayer$32.37
- Teamster (Truck Driver)$31.63
- Cement Mason$29.91
- Tile Setter$28.74
- Laborer$22.05
- Tile Finisher$21.05
- Brick Tender$19.64
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 · Jefferson County group | LABORERS: GROUP 1 AGING & CURING OF CONCRETE; ASBESTOS ABATEMENT WORKER; ASPHALT PLANT; ASPHALT; BATCH TRUCK DUMP; CARPENTER TENDER; CEMENT MASON TENDER; CLEANING OF MACHINES; CONCRETE; DEMOLITION; DREDGING; ENVIRONMENTAL - NUCLEAR, RADIATION, TOXIC & HAZARDOUS WASTE - LEVEL D; FLAGPERSON; GRADE CHECKER; HAND DIGGING & HAND BACK FILLING; HIGHWAY MARKER PLACER; LANDSCAPING, MESH HANDLER & PLACER; PUDDLER; RAILROAD; RIP-RAP & GROUTER; RIGHT-OF-WAY; SIGN, GUARD RAIL & FENCE INSTALLER; SIGNAL PERSON; SOUND BARRIER INSTALLER; STORM & SANITARY SEWER; SWAMPER; TRUCK SPOTTER & DUMPER; WRECKING OF CONCRETE FORMS; GENERAL CLEANUP (ANDERSON, BULLITT, CARROLL, HARDIN, HENRY, JEFFERSON, LARUE, MARION, MEADE, NELSON, OLDHAM, SHELBY, SPENCER, TRIMBLE & WASHINGTON COUNTIES) | $46.53 | $26.87 | 1 |
| Boilermaker | BOILERMAKER | $72.29 | $43.85 | 1 |
| Brick Tender | LABORER: MASON TENDER - BRICK | $19.64 | $18.51 | 1 |
| Bricklayer | BRICKLAYER | $32.37 | $24.22 | 4 |
| Carpenter | CARPENTER (INCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, DRYWALL HANGING, METAL STUD INSTALLATION, FORM WORK, AND FLOOR LAYING - CARPET AND VINYL) | $53.14 | $30.80 | 5 |
| Cement Mason | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $29.91 | $20.21 | 2 |
| Diver & Tender · Jefferson County group | DIVER | $75.27 | $51.21 | 1 |
| Electrical Utility Lineman | LINE CONSTRUCTION: LINEMAN | $66.00 | $45.78 | 4 |
| Electrician | ELECTRICIAN (INCLUDES LOW VOLTAGE WIRING) | $63.40 | $40.96 | 4 |
| Elevator Constructor | ELEVATOR MECHANIC PAID HOLIDAYS: A. NEW YEAR'S DAY, MEMORIAL DAY, INDEPENDENCE DAY, LABOR DAY, VETERAN'S DAY, THANKSGIVING DAY, THE FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, AND CHRISTMAS DAY. B. EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTES 8% OF REGULAR HOURLY RATE TO VACATION PAY CREDIT FOR EMPLOYEE WHO HAS WORKED IN BUSINESS MORE THAN 5 YEARS; 6% FOR LESS THAN 5 YEARS' SERVICE | $95.01 | $56.57 | 1 |
| Flagger | LABORER: FLAGGER | $49.97 | $35.52 | 1 |
| Inland Boatman · Jefferson County group | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 4 BITUMINOUS DISTRIBUTOR; BURLAP & CURING MACHINE; CEMENT GUN; CONCRETE SAW; CONVEYOR; DECKHAND OILER; GROUT PUMP; HYDRAULIC POST DRIVER; HYDRO SEEDER; MUD JACK; OILER; PAVING JOINT MACHINE; POWER FORM HANDLING EQUIPMENT; PUMP; ROLLER (EARTH); STEERMAN; TAMPING MACHINE; TRACTOR (UNDER 50 H.P.); & VIBRATOR CRANES - WITH BOOMS 150 FT. & OVER (INCLUDING JIB), AND WHERE THE LENGTH OF THE BOOM IN COMBINATION WITH THE LENGTH OF THE PILING LEADS EQUALS OR EXCEEDS 150 FT. - $1.00 OVER GROUP 1 RATE EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO WORK BELOW GROUND LEVEL ARE TO BE PAID 10% ABOVE BASIC WAGE RATE. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO OPEN CUT WORK | $57.97 | $38.37 | 1 |
| Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker) | ASBESTOS WORKER/HEAT & FROST INSULATOR | $39.50 | $26.83 | 2 |
| Ironworker | IRONWORKER (STRUCTURAL AND REINFORCING) | $61.97 | $36.17 | 10 |
| Laborer | LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL | $22.05 | $17.76 | 20 |
| Millwright | MILLWRIGHT | $64.67 | $35.54 | 1 |
| Operating Engineer | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER) | $54.59 | $34.99 | 23 |
| Painter | PAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER) | $33.22 | $21.28 | 5 |
| Pile Driver · Jefferson County group | PILEDRIVERMAN | $58.45 | $34.39 | 1 |
| Plumber / Pipefitter | PLUMBER | $66.79 | $41.90 | 5 |
| Roofer | ROOFER | $44.88 | $30.97 | 2 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | SHEET METAL WORKER (INCLUDES HVAC DUCT INSTALLATION) | $65.98 | $40.32 | 1 |
| Siding & Gutter Installer · Jefferson County group | SHEET METAL WORKER (INCLUDING GUTTER INSTALLER) | $65.98 | $40.32 | 1 |
| Teamster (Truck Driver) | TRUCK DRIVER: DUMP TRUCK | $31.63 | $23.60 | 9 |
| Tile Finisher | TILE FINISHER | $21.05 | $15.42 | 1 |
| Tile Setter | TILE SETTER | $28.74 | $22.64 | 1 |
| Tunnel Worker | LABORER: BLASTER, TUNNEL; CONCRETE FINISHING & POWDERMAN | $47.43 | $29.84 | 1 |
Wage determinations for Nelson 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 | KY20260096 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Residential | KY20260012 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Highway | KY20260038 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Heavy | KY20260075 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
Questions about Nelson County rates
How much does an electrician make on prevailing wage in Nelson County?
$63.40 an hour: a $40.96 base wage plus $22.44 in fringe benefits, for the main classification, under wage determination KY20260096, modification 1. Overtime and every electrician rate in Nelson County.
What is the prevailing wage for a laborer in Nelson County?
$22.05 an hour: a $17.76 base wage plus $4.29 in fringe benefits, for the main classification (LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL), under wage determination KY20260096, modification 1. Overtime and every laborer rate in Nelson 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 elevator constructor, the highest-paid trade in Nelson County, the $95.01 total is a $56.57 base wage plus $38.44 in fringe benefits.
Which Davis-Bacon wage determination covers Nelson County?
It depends on the kind of construction: KY20260096 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for building construction, KY20260012 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for residential construction, KY20260038 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for highway construction and KY20260075 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for heavy construction. Your contract names the one that applies.
Does Nelson County share its rates with other counties?
For 5 of its 27 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 15 counties (the Jefferson County group). The other 22 are Nelson County's own.