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Maine · Carpenter · 2 counties
Carpenter prevailing wage, Kennebec County group, Maine (2 counties)
MDOL sets the same carpenter rates, row for row, in 2 counties: Kennebec and Lincoln. Every figure on this page applies in each of them.
$37.85an hour, base wage + fringe benefits
$27.70 base wage + $10.15 fringe benefits · Building 2 (other than 1 or 2 family homes) · Midcoast region
On Maine public works in each of these 2 counties, a carpenter must be paid at least $37.85 an hour: a $27.70 base wage plus $10.15 in benefits.
MDOL 2026 rates, effective January 10, 2026; this rate, effective January 10, 2026. A rate written into a contract "must remain unchanged during the time the contract is in effect" (26 MRSA §1306). Checked against maine.gov on October 25, 2026.
MDOL lists 3 carpenter rates for each of these counties, from $37.30 to $38.68 an hour. See all of them.
MDOL's website rates "are for reference only". Bidders get the project-specific determination from the agency soliciting bids (§1306).
- MDOL capped this rate's decrease at 15% from 2025 (26 MRSA §1308, as amended by LD 1270).
Base wage and fringe benefits: $27.70 + $10.15
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. MDOL prints the benefits as one hourly figure, not itemized; it can go to health, pension, vacation and training plans, or be paid as cash where the state allows.
| Base wage (taxable) | $27.70 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $10.15 |
| Total hourly rate, as printed | $37.85 |
When does this rate change?
- A rate in a contract stays unchanged for the life of the contract (26 MRSA §1306), so later sets don't change existing jobs.
- MDOL publishes one set a year. The 2026 set took effect January 10, 2026 after a 30-day notice period; the next comes after the July 2026 survey (MDOL 2026 rates).
Every carpenter rate in the Kennebec County group
As MDOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
- CarpenterHeavy & Bridge · Midcoast region$38.68
- CarpenterBuilding 2 (other than 1 or 2 family homes) · Midcoast region$37.85
- CarpenterHighway & Earthwork · Midcoast region$37.30
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CarpenterBuilding 2 (other than 1 or 2 family homes)Midcoast region | $27.70 | $10.15 | $37.85 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| CarpenterHighway & EarthworkMidcoast region | $33.75 | $3.55 | $37.30 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| CarpenterHeavy & BridgeMidcoast region | $30.45 | $8.23 | $38.68 | Jan 10, 2026 |
Davis-Bacon carpenter rates in these counties
The counties share MDOL's rates, but not always the same federal wage determination. Maine's law excludes projects under Davis-Bacon with federally set rates, so a job uses one schedule or the other (26 M.R.S. 1304).
| County | Federal classification | Base + fringe | WD | vs MDOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennebec County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Lincoln County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
How the Kennebec County group compares
The main carpenter rate in every county that has one, and how the pay splits here and nearby. All bars use the same scale.
Every county in Maine
Wage and benefits, nearby
- Kennebec County groupbase $27.70$37.85
- Lincoln Countybase $27.70$37.85
- Androscoggin Countybase $30.01$49.70
- Sagadahoc Countybase $30.01$49.70
Which county is in which carpenter group
Every Maine county with a carpenter rate. Counties MDOL treats alike share one page; the rest have their own.
| Counties | Main classification | Base wage | Total rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County group, 2 localities: Cumberland, York | Carpenter | $30.01 | $49.70 |
| Androscoggin County | Carpenter | $30.01 | $49.70 |
| Penobscot County | Carpenter | $30.01 | $49.70 |
| Sagadahoc County | Carpenter | $30.01 | $49.70 |
| Statewide | Carpenter | $34.02 | $42.44 |
| Oxford County | Carpenter | $27.70 | $38.04 |
| Kennebec County group, 2 localities: Kennebec, Lincoln | Carpenter | $27.70 | $37.85 |
| Somerset County group, 2 localities: Franklin, Somerset | Carpenter | $30.95 | $36.99 |
| Knox County | Carpenter | $27.70 | $34.75 |
| Hancock County | Carpenter | $27.70 | $34.58 |
| Waldo County | Carpenter | $27.70 | $34.58 |
| Aroostook County group, 3 localities: Aroostook, Piscataquis, Washington | Carpenter | $27.65 | $32.14 |
4 groups of counties with identical MDOL rates, and 8 counties with rates of their own.
More from MDOL on this rate
- MDOL's 2026 fair minimum wage rates
- MDOL lists journey-level rates. Apprentice rates are those in a registered sponsorship agreement (26 MRSA §1314).
Are you being paid this rate?
You must get at least the minimum wage, and wage plus benefits of at least the total. Contractors post the rates on site and file payroll monthly with the public authority. An underpaid worker can recover the difference plus an equal penalty (26 MRSA §1312). MDOL Wage and Hour: (207) 623-7900.
Source
Department of Labor (MDOL), MDOL 2026 rates, effective January 10, 2026. For the row this page leads with:
- Kennebec: MDOL-2026-kennebec-b2, page 1
- Lincoln: MDOL-2026-lincoln-b2, page 1
We read every row of MDOL's 2026 county and statewide PDFs and check every number with a second, separate reader. Wage plus benefit equals MDOL's printed total except for 28 one-cent rounding differences; we show the printed total. How we check · Download every Maine rate as CSV · Report an error