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Prevailing wage rates in Penobscot County, Maine
MDOL's MDOL 2026 rates, effective January 10, 2026 sets 135 rates across 31 trades for public works in Penobscot County. Of each trade's main rate, elevator constructor is the highest at $107.10 an hour and flagger the lowest at $22.25, total.
MDOL 2026 rates, 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.
Penobscot County is in Northern. Rates are published per county. "Locality" in the law is where the work is done plus the areas labor is recruited from (26 MRSA §1304(6)).
MDOL's website rates "are for reference only". Bidders get the project-specific determination from the agency soliciting bids (§1306).
Penobscot County rates by trade, highest first
Each trade's main rate, highest first, split into the base wage and the benefits MDOL lists. All bars share one scale. The table below lists the same rates A to Z with classifications.
- Elevator Constructor$107.10
- Plumber / Pipefitter$64.71
- Utility Lineman$63.75
- Electrician$59.88
- Bricklayer$50.66
- Carpenter$49.70
- Operating Engineer$49.06
- Ironworker$48.41
- Telecom Technician$47.30
- Millwright$46.51
- Laborer$41.62
- Pile Driver$40.27
- Soft Floor Layer$37.65
- Refrigeration Mechanic$37.29
- Engine Mechanic$36.71
- Heavy Equipment Mechanic$35.77
- Drywall Finisher$34.80
- Tile Setter$34.37
- Telephone Line Worker$33.78
- Heat & Frost Insulator$33.40
- Fence Builder$33.08
- Sheet Metal Worker$30.66
- Roofer$29.41
- Earth Driller$28.81
- Glazier$28.35
- Cement Mason$26.94
- Teamster (Truck Driver)$26.94
- Abatement Laborer$25.72
- Painter$25.55
- Highway Maintenance Worker$24.44
- Flagger$22.25
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 MDOL's notes. Click a column heading to sort.
| Trade | Main classification | Total | Base | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asbestos & Lead Abatement Laborer · Penobscot County group | Hazardous Materials Removal Workers | $25.72 | $24.12 | 3 |
| Bricklayer · Penobscot County group | Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $50.66 | $43.02 | 3 |
| Carpenter | Carpenter | $49.70 | $30.01 | 3 |
| Carpet & Soft Floor Layer · Penobscot County group | Floor Layers - Except Carpet/Wood/Hard Tiles | $37.65 | $29.00 | 3 |
| Cement Mason | Cement Masons and Concrete Finisher | $26.94 | $24.42 | 3 |
| Drywall Finisher · Penobscot County group | Tapers | $34.80 | $29.16 | 3 |
| Earth Driller · Penobscot County group | Earth Drillers - Except Oil and Gas | $28.81 | $25.04 | 3 |
| Electrical Utility Lineman · Penobscot County group | Electrical Power - Line Installer and Repairers | $63.75 | $48.12 | 3 |
| Electrician | Electricians | $59.88 | $38.74 | 3 |
| Elevator Constructor · Penobscot County group | Elevator Installers and Repairers | $107.10 | $67.34 | 3 |
| Fence Builder · Penobscot County group | Fence Erectors | $33.08 | $30.90 | 3 |
| Flagger · Penobscot County group | Flaggers | $22.25 | $21.39 | 3 |
| Glazier · Penobscot County group | Glaziers | $28.35 | $23.73 | 3 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics - Except Engines | $35.77 | $30.67 | 3 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker · Penobscot County group | Highway Maintenance Workers | $24.44 | $23.30 | 3 |
| Industrial Engine & Machine Mechanic · Penobscot County group | Industrial Machinery Mechanics | $36.71 | $29.97 | 3 |
| Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker) · Penobscot County group | Insulation Worker - Mechanical | $33.40 | $27.35 | 3 |
| Ironworker | Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $48.41 | $27.16 | 9 |
| Laborer | Construction Laborer | $41.62 | $21.90 | 6 |
| Millwright · Penobscot County group | Millwrights | $46.51 | $35.99 | 3 |
| Operating Engineer | Crane and Tower Operators | $49.06 | $40.43 | 27 |
| Painter · Penobscot County group | Construction and Maintenance Painters | $25.55 | $23.96 | 3 |
| Pile Driver · Penobscot County group | Pile-Driver Operators | $40.27 | $37.15 | 3 |
| Plumber / Pipefitter | Plumbers | $64.71 | $40.00 | 6 |
| Refrigeration & A/C Mechanic · Penobscot County group | Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $37.29 | $32.88 | 3 |
| Roofer · Penobscot County group | Roofers | $29.41 | $24.71 | 3 |
| Sheet Metal Worker · Penobscot County group | Sheet Metal Workers | $30.66 | $24.97 | 3 |
| Teamster (Truck Driver) | Heavy and Tractor - Trailer Truck Drivers | $26.94 | $24.44 | 6 |
| Telecommunications Technician · Penobscot County group | Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers - Except Line Installers | $47.30 | $37.09 | 6 |
| Telephone Line Worker (Outside) · Penobscot County group | Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers | $33.78 | $28.49 | 3 |
| Tile Setter · Penobscot County group | Tile and Marble Setters | $34.37 | $28.91 | 3 |
Davis-Bacon wage determinations for Penobscot County
Federally funded or assisted construction here uses the U.S. Department of Labor's rates. 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). Each trade's page shows its federal rate next to MDOL's.
| Construction | Wage determination | Modification | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building | ME20260051 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Residential | ME20260002 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Highway | ME20260047 | 2 | May 18, 2026 |
| Heavy | ME20260031 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
Specialty WDs also cover Penobscot County for narrow kinds of work, and don't stand in for the rates above: ME20260001 (All Dredging, except self propelled hopper dredges, on the Atlantic coast from the Canadia).
Questions about Penobscot County rates
How much does an electrician make on prevailing wage in Penobscot County?
$59.88 an hour: a $38.74 base wage plus $21.14 in benefits, for the main classification (Electricians), under MDOL 2026 rates, effective January 10, 2026. Overtime and every electrician rate in Penobscot County.
What is the prevailing wage for a laborer in Penobscot County?
$41.62 an hour: a $21.90 base wage plus $19.72 in benefits, for the main classification (Construction Laborer), under MDOL 2026 rates, effective January 10, 2026. Overtime and every laborer rate in Penobscot County.
Does the prevailing wage include fringe benefits?
Yes. The rate is a base wage plus benefits, and the employer owes both for every hour. For elevator constructor, the highest-paid trade in Penobscot County, the $107.10 total is a $67.34 base wage plus $39.76 in benefits.
Do Davis-Bacon rates apply in Penobscot County?
On federally funded or assisted construction, yes: ME20260051 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for building construction, ME20260002 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for residential construction, ME20260047 (modification 2, May 18, 2026) for highway construction and ME20260031 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for heavy construction. 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).
Does Penobscot County share its rates with other counties?
For 22 of its 31 trades, yes: MDOL sets the same rates, row for row, in other counties too. Painter rates, for example, are the same in 2 counties (the Penobscot County group). The other 9 are Penobscot County's own.