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Prevailing wage rates in Baltimore City, Maryland

DOL's Maryland informational rates as printed October 25, 2026 sets 170 prevailing wage rates for 38 trades on public works in Baltimore City. Each trade's main rate runs from $19.24 an hour (fireproofer) to $105.42 (elevator constructor), base wage plus fringe benefits.

Baltimore City prevailing wage by trade, A to Z

38 trades
TradeBase wageFringe benefitsTotal rateSource
Asbestos & Lead Abatement LaborerLABORER - HAZARDOUS MATERIAL HANDLER · 2 rates
$24.46 $10.48 $34.94 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
BoilermakerBOILERMAKER
$48.36 $17.29 $65.65 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Brick TenderLABORER - MASON TENDER · 2 rates
$24.46 $10.48 $34.94 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
BricklayerBRICKLAYER · 4 rates
$38.80 $15.57 $54.37 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
CarpenterCARPENTER · 4 rates
$35.89 $14.60 $50.49 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Carpet & Soft Floor LayerCARPET LAYER · 2 rates
$35.10 $15.33 $50.43 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Cement MasonCEMENT MASON · 2 rates
$27.76 $11.09 $38.85 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Diver & TenderMARINE - DIVER · 3 rates
$42.21 $9.39 $51.60 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
DredgerMARINE - LEVERMAN
$48.48 $15.34 $63.82 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Drywall FinisherDRYWALL - SPACKLING, TAPING, & FINISHING
$35.89 $14.60 $50.49 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Electrical Utility LinemanLINEWORKER/UNDERGROUND MECHANIC · 2 rates
$36.40 $11.33 $47.73 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-H-510
ElectricianELECTRICIAN · 2 rates
$48.95 $20.56 $69.51 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Elevator ConstructorELEVATOR MECHANIC
$58.81 $46.61 $105.42 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Fence BuilderIRONWORKER - FENCE ERECTOR
$48.25 $21.11 $69.36 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Fire Safety SealerFIRESTOPPER
$30.21 $10.68 $40.89 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
FireprooferFIREPROOFER - BY HAND · 2 rates
$17.00 $2.24 $19.24 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
FlaggerLABORER - FLAGGER · 2 rates
$24.46 $5.92 $30.38 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
GlazierGLAZIER
$36.65 $14.61 $51.26 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Inland BoatmanMARINE - DECKHAND · 2 rates
$37.40 $9.22 $46.62 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker)INSULATION WORKER
$40.77 $20.42 $61.19 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
IronworkerIRONWORKER - STRUCTURAL · 4 rates
$37.86 $26.22 $64.08 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
LaborerLABORER - COMMON · 42 rates
$24.46 $5.92 $30.38 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Landscape & Irrigation LaborerLABORER - LANDSCAPING · 2 rates
$24.46 $5.92 $30.38 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Marine Construction WelderMARINE - WELDER
$37.38 $11.85 $49.23 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
MillwrightMILLWRIGHT · 2 rates
$39.50 $17.52 $57.02 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Operating EngineerPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE · 42 rates
$42.00 $19.10 $61.10 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
PainterPAINTER · 3 rates
$29.16 $12.01 $41.17 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Pile DriverPILEDRIVER · 2 rates
$37.74 $17.64 $55.38 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Plaster TenderLABORER - PLASTERER - HANDLER · 3 rates
$24.46 $5.92 $30.38 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Plumber / PipefitterPLUMBER · 4 rates
$47.78 $25.93 $73.71 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Refrigeration & A/C MechanicMECHANICAL SYSTEMS SERVICE TECH- HVAC SYSTEMS · 3 rates
$47.78 $25.93 $73.71 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
RooferROOFER/WATERPROOFER
$34.76 $14.91 $49.67 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Sheet Metal WorkerSHEETMETAL WORKER (INCLUDING METAL ROOFING) · 3 rates
$50.92 $24.61 $75.53 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Teamster (Truck Driver)TRUCK DRIVER - DUMP · 14 rates
$26.73 $7.65 $34.38 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Telecommunications TechnicianCOMMUNICATION INSTALLER TECHNICIAN · 2 rates
$32.83 $16.79 $49.62 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Tile FinisherTILE & TERRAZZO FINISHER · 2 rates
$28.85 $12.85 $41.70 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Tile SetterTILE & TERRAZZO MECHANIC · 2 rates
$34.34 $14.50 $48.84 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-510
Underground Gas MechanicUNDERGROUND GAS MECHANIC
$52.25 $25.60 $77.85 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-H-510

One main rate per trade; open a trade for its other classifications, dated steps and DOL's notes. Maryland informational rates as printed October 25, 2026. A determination applies to a project advertised before it expires, and mid-year changes apply only to newly issued determinations (SFP 17-209; DOL FAQ #47). Checked against labor.maryland.gov on October 25, 2026.

These are DOL's informational rates. The binding rates are in the project's wage determination, in the bid documents.

Which trades pay the most in Baltimore City?

Elevator constructor, at $105.42 an hour. Each trade's main rate, as its page leads with it, highest first, split into the base wage and the fringe benefits DOL lists, on one scale.

  1. Elevator Constructor$105.42
  2. Underground Gas Mechanic$77.85
  3. Sheet Metal Worker$75.53
  4. Plumber / Pipefitter$73.71
  5. Refrigeration Mechanic$73.71
  6. Electrician$69.51
  7. Fence Builder$69.36
  8. Boilermaker$65.65
  9. Ironworker$64.08
  10. Dredger$63.82
  11. Heat & Frost Insulator$61.19
  12. Operating Engineer$61.10
  13. Millwright$57.02
  14. Pile Driver$55.38
  15. Bricklayer$54.37
  16. Diver & Tender$51.60
  17. Glazier$51.26
  18. Carpenter$50.49
  19. Drywall Finisher$50.49
  20. Soft Floor Layer$50.43
  21. Roofer$49.67
  22. Telecom Technician$49.62
  23. Marine Construction Welder$49.23
  24. Tile Setter$48.84
  25. Utility Lineman$47.73
  26. Inland Boatman$46.62
  27. Tile Finisher$41.70
  28. Painter$41.17
  29. Fire Safety Sealer$40.89
  30. Cement Mason$38.85
  31. Abatement Laborer$34.94
  32. Brick Tender$34.94
  33. Teamster (Truck Driver)$34.38
  34. Flagger$30.38
  35. Laborer$30.38
  36. Landscape Laborer$30.38
  37. Plaster Tender$30.38
  38. Fireproofer$19.24

Which Davis-Bacon wage determinations cover Baltimore City?

Federally funded or assisted construction here uses the U.S. Department of Labor's rates. Maryland's law excludes the federally funded part of a contract that already pays Davis-Bacon rates (MD Labor FAQ). Each trade's page shows its federal rate next to DOL's.

ConstructionWage determinationModificationPublished
BuildingMD202601072June 4, 2026
ResidentialMD202600611May 18, 2026
HighwayMD20260030
Excludes Dredging
3September 28, 2026
HeavyMD20260030
Excludes Dredging
3September 28, 2026

Specialty WDs also cover Baltimore City for narrow kinds of work, and don't stand in for the rates above: MD20260005 (All Dredging, except self-propelled hopper dredges, on the Atlantic Coast and tributary wa).

What changed in these determinations this year

Questions about Baltimore City rates

How much does an electrician make on prevailing wage in Baltimore City?

$69.51 an hour: a $48.95 base wage plus $20.56 in fringe benefits, for the main classification, under Maryland informational rates as printed October 25, 2026. Overtime and every electrician rate in Baltimore City.

What is the prevailing wage for a laborer in Baltimore City?

$30.38 an hour: a $24.46 base wage plus $5.92 in fringe benefits, for the main classification (LABORER - COMMON), under Maryland informational rates as printed October 25, 2026. Overtime and every laborer rate in Baltimore City.

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 Baltimore City, the $105.42 total is a $58.81 base wage plus $46.61 in fringe benefits.

Do Davis-Bacon rates apply in Baltimore City?

On federally funded or assisted construction, yes: MD20260107 (modification 2, June 4, 2026) for building construction, MD20260061 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for residential construction and MD20260030 (modification 3, September 28, 2026) for highway and heavy construction. Maryland's law excludes the federally funded part of a contract that already pays Davis-Bacon rates (MD Labor FAQ).

Does Baltimore City share its rates with other counties?

For 17 of its 38 trades, yes: DOL sets the same rates, row for row, in other counties too. Carpenter rates, for example, are the same in 7 counties (the Baltimore County group). The other 21 are Baltimore City's own.