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Kentucky painter prevailing wage, county by county

A painter's Davis-Bacon prevailing wage in Kentucky runs from $17.79 an hour in Trigg County to $55.91 in Boyd County. The median county is $31.52.

Main painter 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.

Todd County painter: $31.52 per hourScott County painter: $36.43 per hourLee County painter: $25.43 per hourMcLean County painter: $24.67 per hourFranklin County painter: $32.42 per hourEdmonson County painter: $24.67 per hourCarroll County painter: $32.42 per hourGraves County painter: $31.52 per hourMonroe County painter: $24.63 per hourOwsley County painter: $25.43 per hourJackson County painter: $25.43 per hourWhitley County painter: $24.63 per hourHardin County painter: $32.67 per hourBreckinridge County painter: $31.52 per hourUnion County painter: $31.52 per hourWayne County painter: $24.63 per hourShelby County painter: $33.22 per hourWarren County painter: $24.67 per hourRockcastle County painter: $32.42 per hourHancock County painter: $24.67 per hourCasey County painter: $24.63 per hourJessamine County painter: $36.43 per hourHenry County painter: $33.22 per hourCumberland County painter: $24.63 per hourHopkins County painter: $31.52 per hourJohnson County painter: $25.43 per hourKnott County painter: $25.43 per hourKnox County painter: $24.63 per hourLawrence County painter: $25.43 per hourMadison County painter: $32.42 per hourLewis County painter: $32.42 per hourLivingston County painter: $31.52 per hourMcCracken County painter: $31.52 per hourHarlan County painter: $25.43 per hourMagoffin County painter: $25.43 per hourMartin County painter: $25.43 per hourMetcalfe County painter: $24.63 per hourNicholas County painter: $32.42 per hourPerry County painter: $25.43 per hourLarue County painter: $32.67 per hourPike County painter: $25.43 per hourPowell County painter: $32.42 per hourTrigg County painter: $17.79 per hourFleming County painter: $32.42 per hourBath County painter: $32.42 per hourClay County painter: $25.43 per hourCrittenden County painter: $31.52 per hourFulton County painter: $31.52 per hourBoyd County painter: $55.91 per hourCarlisle County painter: $31.52 per hourHenderson County painter: $24.67 per hourLaurel County painter: $24.63 per hourWolfe County painter: $25.43 per hourCaldwell County painter: $31.52 per hourBoyle County painter: $32.42 per hourPulaski County painter: $24.63 per hourHart County painter: $24.63 per hourOhio County painter: $31.52 per hourHarrison County painter: $32.42 per hourTaylor County painter: $24.63 per hourBarren County painter: $24.63 per hourMenifee County painter: $32.42 per hourButler County painter: $24.67 per hourMeade County painter: $32.67 per hourLincoln County painter: $32.42 per hourBell County painter: $25.43 per hourOwen County painter: $32.42 per hourGallatin County painter: $42.30 per hourBourbon County painter: $36.43 per hourBracken County painter: $42.30 per hourRussell County painter: $24.63 per hourLyon County painter: $31.52 per hourGrayson County painter: $31.52 per hourDaviess County painter: $24.67 per hourCampbell County painter: $42.30 per hourRowan County painter: $35.43 per hourGreen County painter: $24.63 per hourMcCreary County painter: $24.63 per hourAllen County painter: $24.67 per hourClinton County painter: $24.63 per hourJefferson County painter: $33.22 per hourFloyd County painter: $25.43 per hourMarion County painter: $24.63 per hourPendleton County painter: $42.30 per hourBoone County painter: $42.30 per hourLogan County painter: $24.63 per hourSpencer County painter: $33.22 per hourRobertson County painter: $32.42 per hourMarshall County painter: $31.52 per hourMorgan County painter: $25.43 per hourMuhlenberg County painter: $31.52 per hourSimpson County painter: $24.63 per hourBallard County painter: $31.52 per hourAdair County painter: $24.63 per hourGreenup County painter: $55.91 per hourLeslie County painter: $25.43 per hourCarter County painter: $25.43 per hourKenton County painter: $42.30 per hourClark County painter: $36.43 per hourCalloway County painter: $31.52 per hourMason County painter: $32.42 per hourElliott County painter: $25.43 per hourGarrard County painter: $32.42 per hourLetcher County painter: $25.43 per hourTrimble County painter: $33.22 per hourHickman County painter: $31.52 per hourFayette County painter: $36.43 per hourWashington County painter: $32.42 per hourWoodford County painter: $36.43 per hourChristian County painter: $17.79 per hourEstill County painter: $32.42 per hourGrant County painter: $42.30 per hourMercer County painter: $32.42 per hourMontgomery County painter: $32.42 per hourWebster County painter: $24.67 per hourBullitt County painter: $33.22 per hourAnderson County painter: $32.42 per hourNelson County painter: $33.22 per hourBreathitt County painter: $25.43 per hourOldham County painter: $33.22 per hour
$17$24$25$32$33$55Painter, main rate, base + fringe per hour. Each shade holds about a fifth of the counties.

How much does a painter make on prevailing wage in Kentucky?

18 groups of counties with identical rates and 48 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. Boyd County group2 counties$55.91
  2. Grant County group3 counties$42.30
  3. Boone County1 county$42.30
  4. Campbell County1 county$42.30
  5. Kenton County1 county$42.30
  6. Pendleton County1 county$42.30
  7. Scott County group3 counties$36.43
  8. Clark County1 county$36.43
  9. Fayette County1 county$36.43
  10. Jessamine County1 county$36.43
  11. Rowan County1 county$35.43
  12. Shelby County group3 counties$33.22
  13. Oldham County group2 counties$33.22
  14. Bullitt County1 county$33.22
  15. Jefferson County1 county$33.22
  16. Nelson County1 county$33.22
  17. Hardin County1 county$32.67
  18. Larue County1 county$32.67
  19. Meade County1 county$32.67
  20. Harrison County group5 counties$32.42
  21. Lincoln County group5 counties$32.42
  22. Anderson County group2 counties$32.42
  23. Boyle County1 county$32.42
  24. Carroll County1 county$32.42
  25. Franklin County1 county$32.42
  26. Lewis County1 county$32.42
  27. Madison County1 county$32.42
  28. Mason County1 county$32.42
  29. Menifee County1 county$32.42
  30. Mercer County1 county$32.42
  31. Montgomery County1 county$32.42
  32. Owen County1 county$32.42
  33. Graves County group8 counties$31.52
  34. Grayson County group2 counties$31.52
  35. Muhlenberg County group2 counties$31.52
  36. Ohio County group2 counties$31.52
  37. Ballard County1 county$31.52
  38. Calloway County1 county$31.52
  39. Hopkins County1 county$31.52
  40. Marshall County1 county$31.52

Which counties pay which rate

CountiesMain classificationBase + fringeBase
Boyd County group, 2 localities: Boyd, GreenupPAINTER: BRUSH AND ROLLER$55.91 $31.96 
Grant County group, 3 localities: Bracken, Gallatin, GrantPAINTER: BRUSH AND ROLLER$42.30 $28.29 
Boone CountyPAINTER: BRUSH AND ROLLER$42.30 $28.29 
Campbell CountyPAINTER: BRUSH AND ROLLER$42.30 $28.29 
Kenton CountyPAINTER: BRUSH AND ROLLER$42.30 $28.29 
Pendleton CountyPAINTER: BRUSH AND ROLLER$42.30 $28.29 
Scott County group, 3 localities: Bourbon, Scott, WoodfordPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$36.43 $25.14 
Clark CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$36.43 $25.14 
Fayette CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$36.43 $25.14 
Jessamine CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$36.43 $25.14 
Rowan CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$35.43 $22.74 
Shelby County group, 3 localities: Shelby, Spencer, TrimblePAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$33.22 $21.28 
Oldham County group, 2 localities: Henry, OldhamPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$33.22 $21.28 
Bullitt CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$33.22 $21.28 
Jefferson CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$33.22 $21.28 
Nelson CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$33.22 $21.28 
Hardin CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$32.67 $20.83 
Larue CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$32.67 $20.83 
Meade CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$32.67 $20.83 
Harrison County group, 5 localities: Bath, Fleming, Harrison, Nicholas, RobertsonPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$32.42 $21.28 
Lincoln County group, 5 localities: Estill, Garrard, Lincoln, Powell, RockcastlePAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$32.42 $21.28 
Anderson County group, 2 localities: Anderson, WashingtonPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$32.42 $21.28 
Boyle CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$32.42 $21.28 
Carroll CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$32.42 $21.28 
Franklin CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$32.42 $21.28 
Lewis CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$32.42 $21.28 
Madison CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$32.42 $21.28 
Mason CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$32.42 $21.28 
Menifee CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$32.42 $21.28 
Mercer CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$32.42 $21.28 
Montgomery CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$32.42 $21.28 
Owen CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$32.42 $21.28 
Graves County group, 8 localities: Caldwell, Carlisle, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, LyonPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$31.52 $20.19 
Grayson County group, 2 localities: Breckinridge, GraysonPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$31.52 $20.19 
Muhlenberg County group, 2 localities: Muhlenberg, ToddPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$31.52 $20.19 
Ohio County group, 2 localities: Ohio, UnionPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$31.52 $20.19 
Ballard CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$31.52 $20.19 
Calloway CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$31.52 $20.19 
Hopkins CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$31.52 $20.19 
Marshall CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$31.52 $20.19 
McCracken CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$31.52 $20.19 
Floyd County group, 14 localities: Breathitt, Floyd, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, WolfePAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$25.43 $18.36 
Clay County group, 2 localities: Clay, JacksonPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$25.43 $18.36 
Bell CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$25.43 $18.36 
Carter CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$25.43 $18.36 
Elliott CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$25.43 $18.36 
Lawrence CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$25.43 $18.36 
Pike CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$25.43 $18.36 
Daviess County group, 3 localities: Daviess, Hancock, McLeanPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$24.67 $18.79 
Allen County group, 2 localities: Allen, ButlerPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$24.67 $18.79 
Edmonson CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$24.67 $18.79 
Henderson CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$24.67 $18.79 
Warren CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$24.67 $18.79 
Webster CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$24.67 $18.79 
Barren County group, 10 localities: Barren, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Knox, McCreary, Metcalfe, Monroe, Russell, WaynePAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$24.63 $18.20 
Taylor County group, 2 localities: Green, TaylorPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$24.63 $18.20 
Adair CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$24.63 $18.20 
Hart CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$24.63 $18.20 
Laurel CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$24.63 $18.20 
Logan CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$24.63 $18.20 
Marion CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$24.63 $18.20 
Pulaski CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$24.63 $18.20 
Simpson CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$24.63 $18.20 
Whitley CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$24.63 $18.20 
Christian CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$17.79 $17.45 
Trigg CountyPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER)$17.79 $17.45 

18 groups of counties with identical DOL rates, and 48 counties with rates of their own.

Questions about Kentucky painter pay

What is the painter prevailing wage in Jefferson County?

$33.22 an hour: a $21.28 base wage plus $11.94 in fringe benefits, under wage determination KY20260093, modification 1. Overtime and every painter classification in Jefferson County.

Does painter prevailing wage include fringe benefits?

Yes. In Jefferson County the $33.22 total is a $21.28 base wage plus $11.94 in fringe benefits, about 36% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.

Does painter prevailing wage pay overtime in Kentucky?

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 painters 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 painter rate?

DOL often publishes the same painter rates for several counties. Across Kentucky, the 120 counties with a painter rate fall into 66 distinct sets of rates, and 18 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 14 counties (the Floyd County group).