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Prevailing wage rates in Howard County, Maryland

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

Howard County prevailing wage by trade, A to Z

38 trades
TradeBase wageFringe benefitsTotal rateSource
Asbestos & Lead Abatement LaborerLABORER - HAZARDOUS MATERIAL HANDLER · 2 rates
$31.01 $9.35 $40.36 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
BoilermakerBOILERMAKER
$48.36 $17.29 $65.65 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Brick TenderLABORER - MASON TENDER · 2 rates
$31.01 $9.35 $40.36 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
BricklayerBRICKLAYER · 4 rates
$38.80 $15.57 $54.37 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
CarpenterCARPENTER · 4 rates
$35.89 $14.60 $50.49 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Carpet & Soft Floor LayerCARPET LAYER · 2 rates
$35.10 $15.33 $50.43 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Cement MasonCEMENT MASON · 2 rates
$27.76 $11.09 $38.85 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Diver & TenderMARINE - DIVER · 3 rates
$42.21 $9.39 $51.60 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
DredgerMARINE - LEVERMAN
$48.48 $15.34 $63.82 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Drywall FinisherDRYWALL - SPACKLING, TAPING, & FINISHING
$35.89 $14.60 $50.49 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Electrical Utility LinemanLINEWORKER/UNDERGROUND MECHANIC · 2 rates
$29.81 $5.22 $35.03 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-H-027
ElectricianELECTRICIAN · 2 rates
$49.50 $20.80 $70.30 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Elevator ConstructorELEVATOR MECHANIC
$58.81 $46.61 $105.42 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Fence BuilderIRONWORKER - FENCE ERECTOR
$48.25 $21.11 $69.36 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Fire Safety SealerFIRESTOPPER
$30.21 $10.68 $40.89 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
FireprooferFIREPROOFER - BY HAND · 2 rates
$17.00 $2.24 $19.24 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
FlaggerLABORER - FLAGGER · 2 rates
$23.32 $4.24 $27.56 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
GlazierGLAZIER
$36.65 $14.61 $51.26 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Inland BoatmanMARINE - DECKHAND · 2 rates
$37.40 $9.22 $46.62 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker)INSULATION WORKER
$40.77 $20.42 $61.19 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
IronworkerIRONWORKER - STRUCTURAL · 4 rates
$39.30 $27.14 $66.44 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
LaborerLABORER - COMMON · 42 rates
$23.32 $4.24 $27.56 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Landscape & Irrigation LaborerLABORER - LANDSCAPING · 2 rates
$23.32 $4.24 $27.56 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Marine Construction WelderMARINE - WELDER
$37.38 $11.85 $49.23 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
MillwrightMILLWRIGHT · 2 rates
$39.50 $17.52 $57.02 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Operating EngineerPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE · 42 rates
$42.00 $19.10 $61.10 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
PainterPAINTER · 3 rates
$28.86 $11.94 $40.80 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Pile DriverPILEDRIVER · 2 rates
$37.74 $17.64 $55.38 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Plaster TenderLABORER - PLASTERER - HANDLER · 3 rates
$23.32 $4.24 $27.56 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Plumber / PipefitterPLUMBER · 4 rates
$45.00 $21.24 $66.24 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Refrigeration & A/C MechanicMECHANICAL SYSTEMS SERVICE TECH- HVAC SYSTEMS · 3 rates
$55.00 $25.30 $80.30 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
RooferROOFER/WATERPROOFER
$52.71 $14.06 $66.77 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Sheet Metal WorkerSHEETMETAL WORKER (INCLUDING METAL ROOFING) · 3 rates
$50.92 $24.61 $75.53 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Teamster (Truck Driver)TRUCK DRIVER - DUMP · 14 rates
$26.25 $7.60 $33.85 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Telecommunications TechnicianCOMMUNICATION INSTALLER TECHNICIAN · 2 rates
$32.60 $16.85 $49.45 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Tile FinisherTILE & TERRAZZO FINISHER · 2 rates
$28.85 $12.85 $41.70 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Tile SetterTILE & TERRAZZO MECHANIC · 2 rates
$34.34 $14.50 $48.84 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027
Underground Gas MechanicUNDERGROUND GAS MECHANIC
$28.79 $6.62 $35.41 MD-INFO-2026-10-25-H-027

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 Howard County?

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. Refrigeration Mechanic$80.30
  3. Sheet Metal Worker$75.53
  4. Electrician$70.30
  5. Fence Builder$69.36
  6. Roofer$66.77
  7. Ironworker$66.44
  8. Plumber / Pipefitter$66.24
  9. Boilermaker$65.65
  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. Telecom Technician$49.45
  22. Marine Construction Welder$49.23
  23. Tile Setter$48.84
  24. Inland Boatman$46.62
  25. Tile Finisher$41.70
  26. Fire Safety Sealer$40.89
  27. Painter$40.80
  28. Abatement Laborer$40.36
  29. Brick Tender$40.36
  30. Cement Mason$38.85
  31. Underground Gas Mechanic$35.41
  32. Utility Lineman$35.03
  33. Teamster (Truck Driver)$33.85
  34. Flagger$27.56
  35. Laborer$27.56
  36. Landscape Laborer$27.56
  37. Plaster Tender$27.56
  38. Fireproofer$19.24

Which Davis-Bacon wage determinations cover Howard County?

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
BuildingMD202601182June 4, 2026
ResidentialMD202600641May 18, 2026
HighwayMD20260041
Excludes Dredging
3September 28, 2026
HeavyMD20260041
Excludes Dredging
3September 28, 2026

Specialty WDs also cover Howard County 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 Howard County rates

How much does an electrician make on prevailing wage in Howard County?

$70.30 an hour: a $49.50 base wage plus $20.80 in fringe benefits, for the main classification, under Maryland informational rates as printed October 25, 2026. Overtime and every electrician rate in Howard County.

What is the prevailing wage for a laborer in Howard County?

$27.56 an hour: a $23.32 base wage plus $4.24 in fringe benefits, for the main classification (LABORER - COMMON), under Maryland informational rates as printed October 25, 2026. Overtime and every laborer rate in Howard County.

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

Do Davis-Bacon rates apply in Howard County?

On federally funded or assisted construction, yes: MD20260118 (modification 2, June 4, 2026) for building construction, MD20260064 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for residential construction and MD20260041 (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 Howard County share its rates with other counties?

For 21 of its 38 trades, yes: DOL sets the same rates, row for row, in other counties too. Electrician rates, for example, are the same in 2 counties (the Howard County group). The other 17 are Howard County's own.