Maine prevailing wage rates

What is the prevailing wage rate in Maine?

It depends on the trade and on the county where the work is done. Taking each trade's main rate in each county, MDOL's figures run from $22.25 an hour (flagger, Androscoggin County) to $116.71 (elevator constructor, Cumberland County). Each figure is the base wage plus benefits. Pick a county or a trade below for the exact rate.

Rates by trade

Each trade page maps that trade's main rate in every county. Carpenter rates, for example, range from $32.14 to $49.70 an hour.

• Asbestos & Lead Abatement Laborer$24.37–$27.05
• Bricklayer$44.13–$72.38
• Carpenter$32.14–$49.70
• Carpet & Soft Floor Layer$37.65
• Cement Mason$26.34–$80.22
• Drywall Finisher$32.21–$36.90
• Earth Driller$28.81–$30.43
• Electrical Utility Lineman$63.75–$91.85
• Electrician$39.11–$60.27
• Elevator Constructor$107.10–$116.71
• Fence Builder$29.98–$33.08
• Flagger$22.25
• Glazier$28.35–$58.54
• Heavy Equipment Mechanic$31.91–$35.77
• Highway Maintenance Worker$24.44
• Industrial Engine & Machine Mechanic$35.77–$36.71
• Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker)$29.60–$45.63
• Ironworker$32.55–$57.94
• Laborer$26.82–$41.62
• Millwright$39.63–$51.43
• Operating Engineer$40.36–$49.06
• Painter$24.31–$34.80
• Pile Driver$40.27
• Plumber / Pipefitter$32.89–$64.71
• Refrigeration & A/C Mechanic$37.29–$43.71
• Roofer$26.89–$32.98
• Sheet Metal Worker$30.66–$36.92
• Teamster (Truck Driver)$26.94–$33.12
• Telecommunications Technician$46.81–$64.67
• Telephone Line Worker (Outside)$30.19–$52.32
• Tile Setter$34.37

How Maine's prevailing wage rules work

• Which projects. Public works funded in whole or part by state funds, with a contract of $50,000 or more, by the Maine Turnpike Authority or a state agency (26 MRSA §1304). Since 2023 it also covers renewable or energy projects of 2 MW or more with state assistance.
• By county and construction type. MDOL publishes a rate set per county for Building, Highway & Earthwork, and Heavy & Bridge (MDOL 2026 rates). A separate Statewide set is published; MDOL doesn't say when it applies.
• No residential rates. MDOL stopped collecting residential data in 2022: "For projects in the Building 1 subcategory, please use the Building 2 rates" (MDOL).
• Once a year, fixed for the contract. Rates come from a July survey and take effect after a 30-day notice period; the 2026 set took effect January 10, 2026. A rate in a contract stays unchanged for the life of the contract (§1308, §1306).
• 15% cap on decreases. If a rate would fall more than 15% from the year before, MDOL caps the drop at 15% (§1308(1), LD 1270).
• Overtime. The determinations print no overtime and the law sets none of its own. Maine's general rule applies: time and a half after 40 hours a week (26 MRSA §664(3)).
• Wage plus benefit. Each row has a minimum wage, a minimum benefit and a total. A contractor may pay more wage instead of the benefit, as long as the total is met (12-170 CMR ch. 13).
• Posting and payroll. Post the rates on site, keep payroll records at the job, and file a copy monthly with the public authority (§1310, §1311).