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Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates in Suffolk County, Massachusetts
4 Davis-Bacon wage determinations cover Suffolk County for building, residential, highway and heavy construction, with 215 rates across 35 trades. Of each trade's main rate, commercial diver is the highest at $113.58 an hour and striping and traffic control worker the lowest at $43.44, base plus fringe.
The Department of Labor modifies these determinations on SAM.gov in weekly batches through the year; the latest Massachusetts modification we hold is dated August 6, 2026. A contract keeps the wage determination in its bid documents. Modifications published before bid opening apply to it, though one published less than 10 days before can be left out if the agency finds there isn't time to tell bidders (29 CFR 1.6(c)). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
Massachusetts also sets its own rates; on jobs covered by both, pay the higher. The Department of Labor Standards issues them per project, by wage request number, and they must be re-requested after 90 days (M.G.L. c. 149 ss. 26-27), so there is no county schedule to show here.
Suffolk County rates by trade, highest first
Each trade's main rate, highest first, split into the base wage and the fringe benefits DOL lists. All bars share one scale. The table below lists the same rates A to Z with classifications.
- Diver & Tender$113.58
- Elevator Constructor$112.61
- Plumber / Pipefitter$106.27
- Bricklayer$102.04
- Tile Setter$102.04
- Terrazzo Worker$102.03
- Terrazzo Finisher$100.77
- Heat & Frost Insulator$92.08
- Pile Driver$91.26
- Ironworker$91.13
- Cement Mason$90.05
- Plasterer$90.05
- Soft Floor Layer$89.24
- Roofer$89.22
- Utility Lineman$88.60
- Tile Finisher$84.58
- Millwright$83.97
- Glazier$82.26
- Electrician$81.07
- Painter$80.32
- Sheet Metal Worker$79.94
- Boilermaker$79.44
- Tunnel Worker$77.18
- Laborer$75.95
- Landscape Laborer$75.90
- Telecom Technician$70.99
- Abatement Laborer$70.65
- Drywall Finisher$70.11
- Flagger$69.40
- Fence Builder$68.90
- Plaster Tender$68.65
- Carpenter$67.18
- Operating Engineer$60.53
- Teamster (Truck Driver)$48.53
- Striping & Traffic Control$43.44
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 DOL's notes. Click a column heading to sort.
| Trade | Main classification | Base + fringe | Base | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asbestos & Lead Abatement Laborer | LABORERS:, HEAVY CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 6 ASBESTOS ABATEMENT; TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS WASTE LABORERS | $70.65 | $40.95 | 5 |
| Boilermaker · Middlesex County group | BOILERMAKER | $79.44 | $50.62 | 2 |
| Bricklayer | BRICKLAYER (BOSTON CHAPTER MIDDLESEX (ARLINGTON, CAMBRIDGE, EVERETT, MALDEN, MEDFORD, MELROSE, SOMERVILLE); NORFOLK (BROOKLINE, MILTON); AND SUFFOLK) | $102.04 | $64.50 | 3 |
| Carpenter | CARPENTER (BARNSTABLE; BRISTOL (EXCEPT ATTLEBORO & NORTH ATTLEBORO); AND NORFOLK (AVON, HOLBROOK, RANDOLPH, STOUGHTON) COUNTIES) | $67.18 | $39.28 | 12 |
| Carpet & Soft Floor Layer | FLOOR LAYER: CARPET (BRISTOL; ESSEX; MIDDLESEX (EXCEPT BELMONT, CAMBRIDGE, EVERETT, MALDEN, MEDFORD, SOMERVILLE); REMAINDER OF NORFOLK COUNTY) | $89.24 | $57.49 | 3 |
| Cement Mason | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER (ESSEX; MIDDLESEX; NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK COUNTY) | $90.05 | $49.19 | 4 |
| Diver & Tender · Middlesex County group | DIVER | $113.58 | $78.11 | 2 |
| Drywall Finisher · Middlesex County group | PAINTER: DRYWALL FINISHING ONLY (BARNSTABLE, BRISTOL, ESSEX, MIDDLESEX, NORFOLK, PLYMOUTH, SUFFOLK, AND WORCESTER COUNTIES) | $70.11 | $39.86 | 1 |
| Electrical Utility Lineman · Middlesex County group | LINE CONSTRUCTION: LINEMAN A. PAID HOLIDAYS: NEW YEAR'S DAY; MEMORIAL DAY; INDEPENDENCE DAY; LABOR DAY; THANKSGIVING DAY; CHRISTMAS DAY AND COLUMBUS DAY, PROVIDED THE EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN EMPLOYED 5 WORKING DAYS PRIOR TO ANY ONE OF THE LISTED HOLIDAYS | $88.60 | $58.41 | 8 |
| Electrician | ELECTRICIAN (BARNSTABLE; BRISTOL (EXCEPT ATTLEBORO, NORTH ATTLEBORO, SEEKONK); DUKES; NANTUCKET AND NORFOLK (AVON, HALBROOK, PLAINVILLE, RANDOLPH, STOUGHTON)) | $81.07 | $50.02 | 7 |
| Elevator Constructor · Middlesex County group | ELEVATOR MECHANIC FOOTNOTE FOR ELEVATOR MECHANICS: A.VACATION: 6%/UNDER 5 YEARS BASED ON REGULAR HOURLY RATE FOR ALL HOURS WORKED. 8%/OVER 5 YEARS BASED ON REGULAR HOURLY RATE FOR ALL HOURS WORKED. B. PAID HOLIDAYS: NEW YEAR'S DAY; MEMORIAL DAY; INDEPENDENCE DAY; LABOR DAY; VETERANS' DAY; THANKSGIVING DAY; THE FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING DAY; AND CHRISTMAS DAY | $112.61 | $74.17 | 2 |
| Fence Builder | LABORERS:, HEAVY CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 2 ASPHALT RAKER; FENCE AND GUARD RAIL ERECTOR; LASER BEAM OPERATOR; MASON TENDER; PIPELAYER; PNEUMATIC DRILL OPERATOR; PNEUMATIC TOOL OPERATOR; WAGON DRILL OPERATOR, JACK HAMMER OPERATOR, PAVEMENT BREAKER, CARBIDE CORE DRILLING MACHINE, CHAIN SAW OPERATOR, BARCO TYPE JUMPING TAMPERS, CONCRETE PUMP, MOTORIZED MORTAR MIXER, RIDE-ON-MOTORIZED BUGGY | $68.90 | $39.20 | 3 |
| Flagger | LABORERS:, HEAVY CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 5 FLAGGER | $69.40 | $39.70 | 3 |
| Glazier · Middlesex County group | GLAZIER (ESSEX; MIDDLESEX; NORFOLK; SUFFOLK) | $82.26 | $46.26 | 1 |
| Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker) · Essex County group | INSULATOR/ASBESTOS WORKER: INCLUDES THE APPLICATION OF ALL INSULATING MATERIALS, PROTECTIVE COVERINGS, COATINGS AND FINISHES TO ALL TYPES OF MECHANICAL SYSTEMS | $92.08 | $55.45 | 2 |
| Ironworker | IRONWORKERS:: (AREA 2) | $91.13 | $53.46 | 6 |
| Laborer | LABORERS:, WRECKING: GROUP 1 ADZEMAN, WRECKING LABORER. (BARNSTABLE, BRISTOL, DUKES, ESSEX, MIDDLESEX, NANTUCKET NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES) | $75.95 | $46.25 | 42 |
| Landscape & Irrigation Laborer | LABORER (LANDSCAPE) | $75.90 | $46.20 | 1 |
| Millwright | MILLWRIGHT (SUFFOLK COUNTY) | $83.97 | $50.47 | 2 |
| Operating Engineer | OPERATOR: MECHANIC | $60.53 | $48.74 | 9 |
| Painter | PAINTER BRUSH, TAPER (REPAINT:) | $80.32 | $44.32 | 16 |
| Pile Driver | PILEDRIVERMAN (SUFFOLK (ALL OF COUNTY); AND THOSE AREAS OF BARNSTABLE, BRISTOL, ESSEX, MIDDLESEX & NORFOLK COUNTIES SITUATED INSIDE BOSTON BELTWAY (I-495) AND NORTH OF CAPE COD CANAL. ALL OF DUKES AND NANTUCKET COUNTIES) | $91.26 | $55.79 | 5 |
| Plaster Tender | LABORERS:, HEAVY CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 1 LABORERS; CARPENTER TENDERS; CEMENT FINISHER TENDERS, PLASTERER TENDERS | $68.65 | $38.95 | 3 |
| Plasterer · Middlesex County group | PLASTERER (MIDDLESEX; NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES) | $90.05 | $49.19 | 2 |
| Plumber / Pipefitter | PLUMBER (ESSEX (LYNN, LYNNFIELD, NAHANT, SAUGUS, AND SWAMPSCOTT); MIDDLESEX (ACTON, ARLINGTON, ASHFORD, AYER-EXCEPT WEST OF GREENVILLE BRANCH OF BOSTON & MAINE RAIL ROAD, BEDFORD, BELMONT, BILLERICA, BOXBORO, BURLINGTON, CAMBRIDGE, CARLISE, CHELMSFORD, CONCORD, DRACUT, DUNSTABLE, EVERETT, FRAMINGHAM, HUDSON, HOLLIISTON, HOPKINTON, LEXINGTON, LINCOLN, LITTLETON, LOWELL, MALDEN, MARLBORO, MAYNARD, MEDFORD, MELROSE, NATICK, NEWTON, NORTH READING, PEPPERELL, READING, SHERBORN, SOMERVILLE, STON | $106.27 | $69.84 | 9 |
| Roofer · Middlesex County group | ROOFERS: (ALL TEAR-OFF AND/OR REMOVAL OF ANY TYPES OF ROOFING AND ALL SPUDDING, SWEEPING, VACUUMING AND/OR CLEANUP OF ANY AND ALL AREAS OF ANY TYPE WHERE A ROOF IS TO BE RELAID) | $89.22 | $53.53 | 2 |
| Sheet Metal Worker · Middlesex County group | SHEET METAL WORKER (WORCESTER (EXCEPT HARVARD & LANCASTER)) | $79.94 | $43.48 | 1 |
| Striping & Traffic Control Worker | TRAFFIC CONTROL: FLAGGER | $43.44 | $23.00 | 2 |
| Teamster (Truck Driver) | TRUCK DRIVER: FLATBED TRUCK | $48.53 | $48.53 | 22 |
| Telecommunications Technician · Essex County group | TELEDATA SYSTEM INSTALLER (BARNSTABLE; BRISTOL (EXCEPT ATTLEBORO, NORTH ATTLEBORO, SEEKONK); DUKES; NANTUCKET AND NORFOLK (AVON, HALBROOK, PLAINVILLE, RANDOLPH, STOUGHTON)) | $70.99 | $42.52 | 3 |
| Terrazzo Finisher · Middlesex County group | TERRAZZO FINISHER | $100.77 | $63.44 | 2 |
| Terrazzo Worker · Middlesex County group | MARBLE, TILE & TERRAZZO WORKERS | $102.03 | $64.52 | 2 |
| Tile Finisher · Middlesex County group | MARBLE & TILE FINISHER | $84.58 | $49.32 | 2 |
| Tile Setter · Suffolk County group | TILE LAYER (BARNSTABLE, BRISTOL, SUFFOLK AND WORCESTER) | $102.04 | $64.50 | 1 |
| Tunnel Worker · Middlesex County group | LABORERS: GROUP 5 (ROCK SHAFT, CONCRETE LINING OF SAME AND TUNNEL IN FREE AIR) | $77.18 | $47.48 | 25 |
Wage determinations for Suffolk County
The WD that applies depends on the kind of construction. Every rate on this page names its WD and modification.
| Construction | Wage determination | Modification | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building | MA20260001 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Residential | MA20260004 | 2 | August 6, 2026 |
| Highway | MA20260024 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Heavy | MA20260008 Heavy and Marine Construction Projects | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
Specialty WDs also cover Suffolk County for narrow kinds of work, and don't stand in for the rates above: MA20260006 (Massachusetts All Dredging, except self-propelled hopper dredges, on the Atlantic Coast & ).
Questions about Suffolk County rates
How much does an electrician make on prevailing wage in Suffolk County?
$81.07 an hour: a $50.02 base wage plus $31.05 in fringe benefits, for the main classification, under wage determination MA20260001, modification 1. Overtime and every electrician rate in Suffolk County.
What is the prevailing wage for a laborer in Suffolk County?
$75.95 an hour: a $46.25 base wage plus $29.70 in fringe benefits, for the main classification, under wage determination MA20260001, modification 1. Overtime and every laborer rate in Suffolk 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 commercial diver, the highest-paid trade in Suffolk County, the $113.58 total is a $78.11 base wage plus $35.47 in fringe benefits.
Which Davis-Bacon wage determination covers Suffolk County?
It depends on the kind of construction: MA20260001 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for building construction, MA20260004 (modification 2, August 6, 2026) for residential construction, MA20260024 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for highway construction and MA20260008 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for heavy construction. Your contract names the one that applies.
Does Suffolk County share its rates with other counties?
For 16 of its 35 trades, yes: DOL sets the same rates, row for row, in other counties too. Insulator rates, for example, are the same in 4 counties (the Essex County group). The other 19 are Suffolk County's own.